Some people may say that spending your summers earning practically no money and dealing with screaming children at all hours of the day seems a bit crazy, but those who actively seek out these jobs know otherwise. Spending your summers with kids you'll only know for probably a week at a time can seem a bit crazy, but we all know it's worth it to change some kids lives. Here are 10 truths all camp counselors know to be true.
1. You're a little bit crazy.
All camp counselors, whether we like to admit it or not, are definitely a little insane. It's usually not our fault, dealing with children all day can do that to us, but it's a fact we all come to accept. After all, nobody could do the things we do and remain completely normal.
2. You're the "mom friend" of your friend group.
Maybe you weren't the mom friend before, but after chasing kids around all summer you definitely are now. You have at least three forms of snacks in every bag you carry, you always have a bobby pin or a hair tie with you, and you know everyone's business all the time. Deep down, it's your preparedness that all your friends adore about you.
3. Nobody can shower as fast as you.
Between teaching kids how to take five minute showers and only having a few short breaks a day, you've gotten showering down to an art. Also, you know exactly how to deal with showers that are too cold or too hot. You are the master of the shower and everyone needs to know.
4. You can pack a backpack like it's nobody's business.
Your camp backpack is a masterpiece, and it holds more stuff than anyone ever thought was possible. When you're a camp counselor you need to be prepared for any situation, and that leads to having a very well-stocked backpack. Getting all of your school stuff or a week's worth of clothes into a backpack? No problem. You can take on the world easily with nothing but your camp backpack.
5. You have the ability to start a camp song at the drop of a hat.
You can base a camp song off of almost any word in any conversation no matter where you are. You can probably even sing the Princess Pat in your sleep. Although your friends may not always appreciate your vast arsenal of camp songs, you know that deep down they're jealous of your skills.
6. You've become a pro at multitasking.
After having to watch a large group of kids, all of whom have different needs and varying amounts of independence, you've learned the art of multitasking. Between always counting kids to keeping everyone focused on the task at hand, you're a pro at doing multiple things at once.
7. You are a professional crafter.
You can make friendship bracelets in record time, you're the master at starting boondoggles, and you have the ability to turn any random objects you have laying around into an awesome craft project. Your collection of past crafts is also second to none, and you are usually sporting a wide collection of bracelets you or someone else from camp made.
8. You have the strongest digestive system known to man.
It's no secret that camp food isn't exactly worthy of a five star rating. In fact, sometimes it would get no stars at all. After eating camp food all summer your stomach can take anything you put in it, no matter how bad. You've also probably learned how to poop in public, because sometimes that food just wants to get out of you very quickly.
9. You are unashamed to go out in public in camp clothes.
Sometimes you don't have the energy to change for your night off or you just run out of clothes. Going out in public wearing a shirt that is probably tie dyed, ripped, stained, and too small is no problem for you. You aren't ashamed of the fact that you have a wide variety of tan lines, and you're probably proudest of the strange tan lines that come with wearing sandals all summer. You are the definition of "clean up nice".
10. You know that family doesn't end with blood.
Your fellow staff members become your best friends and eventually they're basically family. You spend all summer together and go through so much as a team that by the end of the summer you don't remember what life was like without them. You rely on each other for so much and trust each other so deeply that you find you love these people with all your heart. Camp is the best bonding experience of all time, and it is where you find your closest and truest friends.
