Everyone should work at Camp Sonshine at least once in their life. Camp Sonshine is the greatest place on earth, and no one should miss out on it. If you've heard of Camp Sonshine or have ever thought about working there, DO IT! Do not miss out on one of the most life-changing and enriching experiences you will ever have.
Forget Disney, Camp Sonshine is the happiest place on earth! This is especially true for the campers. Upon arriving at camp for training, the first thing we are taught is that "camp is for the campers." While it can sometimes sound a little harsh, it is absolutely right. There is so much joy that comes from watching their faces light up every morning, and it's awesome to know that you really are making a difference in their lives. Whether it be talking about what their favorite part of the day was, eating lunch with them, playing a game, or going to the pool, you are constantly with them, and you have the power to influence the rest of their lives. They pick up on whether or not you want to be there with them, and they will remember how you made them feel.
Camp is not a vacation. It might be near our nation's capital, but don't let that fool you (even though D.C. is really cool). As a counselor, you are expected to work long hours. Working at camp involves extremely early mornings and late nights. You are not only expected to do your job as a counselor, but are also expected to continue working after the counselors level. Whether it be working with parking and directing crew, cleaning inside, working outside, or preparing that night's delicious meal, there is always more to do. And guess what? It is absolutely worth it. It sounds like too much for one person to handle, but I can't honestly think of a more enjoyable time in my life.
Beyond the sheer amount of work you are expected to do, the kind of work also requires a lot from you. The kind of work you do at Camp Sonshine is very humble work. You clean bathrooms, mop floors, work outside, and help cook dinner and prepare lunches, all on top of your duties that come with being in charge of children. You learn very quickly that nothing at camp is about you. Sounds like it would be awful, right? Wrong. Because nothing is about you, you learn to put your focus on everyone else. You learn how to be intentional and make lasting friendships, while also being a great counselor and changing lives.
Camp Sonshine is a Christian-based camp and I have never grown in my relationship with the Lord more in such a short amount of time. One of the awesome things that happens at camp is that most of the activities are Christ focused in some way or another, but a lot of it is also up to the counselor to share with their campers. How then, could we possibly lead others (especially young children) in their relationships with the Lord if we are not solid in our own? That principle hit me hard the first week of camp and it pushed me to seek Him constantly — even when it wasn't easy. I think this, in and of itself, is the single most important thing I learned while working at camp. Without this, not only would camp not have purpose, but my own life wouldn't have purpose either.
I use the things I learned at camp daily. Being a counselor was my first real experience of working with children, and it was terrifying. However, I loved it so much that I decided to become a teacher. Before camp I thought I wanted to be a lawyer and eventually get into politics, but the Lord clearly had different plans in mind for me. I would never have learned this, however, if I hadn't gone to camp. So, if you are thinking about working for camp, DO IT. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime experience. Just say yes.
