During the Summer we often decide to take on a Summer Job to make some money to put towards a car, school, or other expenses. One job area quite a few may find, is working as a Camp Councelor. When part of the Boy Scouts of America, the opportunities for camp staff also arise. For two summers I have been working at a Boy Scout Summer Camp, and so far I've seen differences in each year, and learned quite a few things.
1. The Social Interaction
Allows you to meet people from all over, and find other opportunites. At a Boy Scout Summer Camp, you hear about the places other scouts have been and the positions they've held. You meet people who become your friends, and can have a fun summer with.
On the sometimes downside however, there are also conflicts that can arise. People are unique, and different personalities can clash, hard. From a camper, to a parent, and even to a fellow staff member, some differences are hard to deal with. A disagreement can play a large impact on your experience, and career.
2. The Experience
Working at a Camp can allow you to be away from home, and live a little independently for a few weeks out of the summer. New experiences allow you to take on new challenges, learn new skills, meet new people and camp in a cabin or tent. You learn camp songs, skillsets to demonstrate, how to advise and lead, and a whole list of things we may find ourselves learning.
The expereince can also become negative. You can become homesick, or uncomfortable in the environment. Disagreements can also leave you wanting to leave, or dread the rest of the time there. Camp Staff isn't always easy either, and sometimes the work can be too much. There's more than just counceling and the skillset itself can be grueling to learn, and sometimes terrifying. Comfort zones are tested and patience is sometimes tested.
3. What you take away from it
You can either come home loving the experience, or hating it. Each camp season has a new theme, a new set of staff, and a new generation of campers. In a Boy Scout Camp, a huge number of staff are or were Boy Scouts themselves. The other portion of staff may not be, where clashes can arise. There are elements of the program instilled at camp, and sometimes individuals who may not approach certain principles the same way, or understand them.
I've watched the dynmanic's of staff and the effects certain elements can have during a summer camp season. If you clash at staff week, you'll probably have a grudge with someone till the last day. If you struggle at the beginning you may feel like you have an expectation to meet or an impression to change.
You come home with good and bad stories to share, and most of them do turn to be good. The lessons shape us to grow, and know better in other situations. We get to find new experiences, friends, and skills we may not have had before. With everything we come across at camp, It comes down to what we find to take away from. Did we learn something new? Did we conquer a fear? Did we make a difference? Do I know better for the future? and "Should I come back?".
If you think of working at a scout camp, I always encourage, because why not? It doesn't hurt to try something new!
