I have been going to camp since I was a toddler, and now have been a camp counselor for the last five years. After years of experience, I can confidently tell you that being a camp counselor is the BEST job, and here's why.
You get to be a kid again.
Every camp counselor knows that the job description requires you to act your campers' age. For them to have fun, you need to get into the activities with them and actually get your hands dirty.
Trust me when I tell you that reliving your glory days of arts and crafts, playing at the park, and running around screaming is every bit as fun as it looks.
Kids teach you as much (or more) as you teach them.
When you sign up for this position, you might be thinking you are here to teach the kids and provide them with valuable lessons.
While this is totally true, and definitely one of the main reasons I am a camp counselor every year, I have come to learn that they teach me as much, if not more than I teach them. Their brains work in really different ways, and for that I am grateful.
You feel challenged every day.
I'd be lying if I said every day of camp is sunshine and rainbows, as hard as we may try, there are always obstacles. Whether it be drama in the group or a camper asking you a question you have no clue how to answer, you will face challenges every single day.
Your campers will keep you on your toes, and that is way better than feeling bored or uninterested.
You re-learn the life lessons that may have slipped through the cracks.
While I am teaching my campers, I am also re-teaching myself, and it is truly incredible. At my camp, we have a program called STARFISH, which is an acronym for behaviors that are really important for young children to learn.
STARFISH stands for sensitivity, teamwork, appreciation, respect, friendship, I believe in myself, sportsmanship, and healthy habits, which I think we can all agree are foundational behaviors for becoming a good human.
As a counselor, I encourage my kids to exhibit these behaviors as much as possible, and every time I remind them, it's a great reminder for myself too. Don't expect campers to do things that you don't even do, and most importantly, be a good human!f
You get paid to have fun.
While your other friends are getting paid for their classic 9-5 jobs, or maybe not even getting paid for their boring internships, you are literally getting paid to have fun. Of course, you have a ton of responsibilities, but one of those responsibilities is to have a good time.
The kids won't have fun if you don't, so it's literally your job to have fun. Please let me know of another job that pays you to have fun because I can't seem to think of any!
So, if you were already considering being a camp counselor in the future, or even if you weren't, I'm here to tell you that now is the time.
Go on, get paid to have fun, become best friends with five-year-olds, and fall in love with your job. You might even cry on the last day (don't worry, it's not embarrassing, I do every year)!
