1. When the water tank was empty for three days.
When you work at a camp that is in the middle of no-man’s-land, water is sacred. When the sign says five-minute showers, then you better be taking a five-minute shower. When the water supply ran dry we couldn't shower, couldn’t wash our dirty laundry, and we couldn’t even wash dishes. It was a nightmare.
2. Staff members who don’t want to be here.
So, now seems like the perfect time to tell you what I do. I am (currently) the director of arts and crafts at camp. I have two staff members that I am in charge of who do not want to be here. They are good kids, but they really are a pain in the butt. If they don’t want to be here, then why don’t they quit?
3. They boys who stare at you too much.
OK, I’m like a six… a seven if I actually try, but to teenage boys I’m like an eleven. It is kind of creepy when boys younger than my own little brother form crushes on me. It’s just weird. But hey, that’s what happens when you’re a girl in an all boy’s summer camp.
4. There is no service or Wi-Fi.
This is hitting more towards my Odyssey life than my summer camp life. I can go days, even weeks without internet, but that is not the case when you write for The Odyssey. It is so hard to find an internet connection in time to submit these articles to my editor. So now I am making a public, early apology. I am so sorry editor for probably being a tad late (insert heart emoji here). Also, I can’t check social media, so I have no idea what anyone is up to right now.
*editor's note: You are forgiven! Also, I call bullshit you being a "six" like you claim. You're clearly like a 20*
5. Missing family and friends.
I won’t be able to see any of my friends and family for the next seven weeks, and it is starting to take its toll. I am working out of the state, which means no weekends home for me. I am spending yet another summer away from home.
6. There are flies and animals everywhere!
If you are like me and grew up camping in your living room, then you would know how badly I am at ‘ruffing it.’ I found a dying bat in my cabin the other day, and that wasn’t the worst of it. There are flies and bugs everywhere you go. The second you open a door the entire fly population swarms in, and they only live for about 10 minutes and then die right in your cabin.
7. The fear that I won’t be good at my job.
This fear began right when I was first hired. I was so nervous about going to a completely different setting than I am used to, and doing a job I had never done before. I was so scared that I was going to do something wrong and get fired. I was so terrified of this that I almost didn’t go.
As much as I wanted to quit, working at a summer camp is actually the best summer job you can get. Yes, there are sometimes that it all becomes too much, but in the end, you have an entire staff that is there for you and a job that few people say they did. It is definitely a privilege working with the people I am with and being at the place I am now. Being at summer camp is the best!