Almost everybody I know has some experiences with a summer camp. Whether it be day camp, or sleep away. But not everybody I know has worked at a summer camp, and that's the best type of going to camp that you could ever possibly do. Working at a summer camp, is and forever will be the greatest thing that I have ever done. (Shout out to you, Camp Horizons, you're the real OG). There are countless reasons that you should try it out, here are a few.

MAKING FRIENDS

I have made COUNTLESS friends and connections. I've met people from England to Bolivia, people that I would have never gotten the chance to meet if I stayed in bed all summer. It's truly amazing how on staff intake day you greet each other with awkward "hellos" and "where are you froms", but on the very last day you hug each other with tear filled eyes and "I promise to send you candy that you can't get in your own countrys." Camp has taught me that there's always something that can connect you to a stranger, and once you find that one thing, friendship is effortless.

LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE

On the other hand, I've also learned how to work with people I didn't necessarily get along with. You're not going to be friends with everyone you meet (But at summer camp, those types of people come once in a blue moon), but it's important to put your differences behind you for the sake of the group.

A SENSE OF ADAPTABILITY

I'm proud to say that after camp, I could pretty much work in any situation (Hand me a stethoscope and call me Dr., show me a red button that controls nuclear missiles and call me Ms. President). I've dealt with homesick campers, camper sick parents, and everything in between. Give me a group of six people who are all talking over each other while we're walking half way across camp, and I won't be phased. Not only has camp given me the ability to handle high stress situations without blinking an eye, but camp has taught me how to cope with those situations after they've been resolved. Self care is sooo so so SO important, and without camp, I would be a nervous wreck if somebody looked at me the wrong way.

SOME SELF-CONFIDENCE

With camp, came confidence. You have to be able to talk to parents or providers, and they like talking to people who know what the hell they're doing. If you sound uncertain, you'll have a problem on your hands, and nobody wants that.

A SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIAWESOME TIME

Pizza for dinner at midnight once your group is finally asleep four times a week, endless laughs about anything and everything, and memories that you won't trade in for the worlds weight in gold, that's what comes with summer camp. All wrapped up in a neat, little eight week package. You'll start counting down for the next summer the second those gates close behind you in August. Trust me, I do.