Every summer I pack my bags, dig out my sleeping bag, and head to a summer camp down the road from my house. I spend five days in the hot sun wearing a key around my neck while 20-odd little girls cling to me, asking to spray them down one more time with sunscreen. My week is spent singlehandedly attempting to usher my girls from activity to activity while teaching classes, preparing meals and comforting homesickness. When the bus finally pulls up Friday morning, I alternate between sighs of relief and tears.

It may sound like camp can be a hassle, and I’ll be the first to admit that it isn’t always sunshine and daisies, but I love it. I can’t imagine spending my summer anywhere else, and here are a few of the reasons why:

• The freedom. While you’re at camp, there is no pressure to look nice. Your fellow volunteers will more than likely be dressed in Nike shorts, brightly colored tee shirts and Chacos. It’s refreshing to skip the normal beauty routine and just walk out the door, and the bonus is that your hair and skin get a break from the damaging products normally used. You’ll go home with a better tan and a fresh feel that only comes from dressing down.
• The workout. There’s nothing better than a free workout. This past week, I walked 7.9 miles around camp in one day. Between swimming, hiking and taking part in the enormous amount of (usually outdoor) activities offered, you’ll be sure to get a workout that’s actually fun (instead of running on the boring treadmill.)
• The bragging rights. As a college student, there’s nothing I’m looking to do more than build my resume for my future after graduation. Being a camp counselor makes you unique to future employers. It means that you’re flexible, dedicated, able to talk to people, improvise and keep a tight schedule.
• The comedy. There is nothing funnier than watching and listening to children. As a counselor, your campers are going to come to you with the questions they would usually reserve for their parents – which may or may not be a good thing. My personal favorite question a camper has ever asked me is: “Do we dissect frogs because they donate their bodies to science? Or is my science teacher just a murderer?” Instances like these have the potential to become some of your funniest stories to share.
• The magic. Volunteering at camp gives both you and your campers the opportunity to learn new things, from gun safety and CPR to swimming and outdoor cooking. As a future teacher, there is nothing I love more than seeing the look on a child’s face the first time they accomplish something new. That look is what veteran volunteers often call “camp magic.” That moment is something that will stick with your campers for the rest of their lives.
• The opportunity. In addition, volunteering at camp gives you the opportunity to make a difference. The campers will look up to you and idolize your every move. You will be a role model for these children, so this is your time to step up your game and inspire them to do great things. Everything, even the words you say, have the potential to impact a child’s life in a positive way. There is truly nothing quite like having a camper return years later to tell you how you influenced their life.
• The friendships. Camp friendships are the best friendships. The people you meet at a camp – be it fellow adult volunteers, young teens or campers – are often friends for life. They are the people that will come to your graduation and send birthday cards every year, even from two states away. The bond you form over campfires and late night dances is something that cannot be replicated or found anywhere else.

The bottom line is this: If you have an opportunity to work or volunteer at a summer camping facility, do it. The experiences you’ll have during the summer are irreplaceable and worth more than anything money can buy.