For some, it feels like a calling to work with kids. For others, they try it out and fall in love. Either way, working at a summer camp can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, regardless of their background or future. It is a special combination of fun and education and growth that can only be found at a summer camp. To be a part of all of that is really something to behold.
Summer camps are unique. They aren't school, they aren't vacation, they're somewhere in between. Nonetheless, rest assured that campers are going to grow and change, and being their mentor through that can help you grow as well. Seeing a child that arrives shy and unable to communicate with others on the first day can be tough, but that's where the fulfillment begins to form. Helping that child overcome hurdles can help you overcome your own. Three weeks later, when you see that child playing games with their friends, you'll know you helped make that happen.
Maybe you see a little bit of yourself in a camper. You can understand their interests, their fears, their humor, and you can connect with that camper in a way that is rare—a sight to behold. Guiding a camper through their summer allows you to explore your own interests, fears, and humors.
Yes, there will be bad days, but would it be as rewarding if there weren't? Campers will get hurt, they'll get scrapes, they'll get into arguments, but in the end, it is part of their growth. Understanding how to help a child when they're going through these sort of things can get frustrating. There will be days where you'll want to quit and find a job elsewhere. But what stops you? The camper. Knowing that this little human looks up to you with all of their heart will keep you coming back again and again to help with summer camps. Will there be parents who are unhappy with what's happening at camp? Probably. But again, that won't stop you.
Coming home with armfuls of bracelets, drawings, and being covered in markers and chalk are the badges we wear as camp counselors. These badges show the world that we're making a difference, one friendship bracelet at a time.
