Being a summer camp counselor is more than just a job, it is a lifestyle. I know this may sound extremely cliché but in this case it is true. When you’re a camp counselor you have the responsibility of at least 25 of someone else’s kids in your hands. Not only must you keep them safe, but you must keep them entertained and excited for eight hours a day, five days a week, for 11 weeks straight. Most say one must be crazy to love a job as stressful as this. However, to me I say one must be crazy to not want a job as wonderful as this.
1. You learn structure
Most people struggle with schedules and structure. However, when it comes to being surrounded by kids, it is very important to have a structured schedule. It is important to have a morning and afternoon snack, with a lunch break in between. Bathroom and water breaks become second nature because nothing is more annoying than stopping an activity so that five campers can go potty and grab a drink. Trust me, after 11 weeks of this kind of schedule, it becomes second nature to make schedules (well bathroom and lunch schedules) in your everyday life.
2. You learn what it means to be flexible
Living in Florida, we know that everyday at about 2 p.m. we will be hit with some kind of rain, whether it is a sun shower or a thunderstorm. We camp counselors must be flexible all day everyday. Not just weather makes us have to be flexible. Being that the recreation center that I work at is an open facility we can never know when we are scheduled for an already reserved room. Working around dance camp, archery camp, open gym and much much much more, we have to be flexible with the schedule and the facility. Thanks to this though I am never shocked when things do not go as planned in real life.
3. You learn patience
Just like being flexible, patience is something every single person in life should learn. Trust me, after one summer you will for sure have more patience than the average joe. With children pulling your hair, begging to play dodge ball, and asking to go to the bathroom every two seconds, you will become patient also. Although the patience starts to run out about a quarter way through summer, it comes in handy when your classmates won’t stop asking you the same questions over and over in class.
4. You learn responsibility
There really is not much more to say than you have 25 of someone else's kids in your hands under your watch! No pressure.
5. You learn how to be a kid-again
Kiddie pool Kickball, bobbing for apples, shaving cream fights, splatter paint, dodge ball, field trips, art projects, food challenges, I could go on for days. Spending 40 hours a week with kids, learning about their culture really teaches you to channel your inner child. I will probably always be a kid, and most of my friends envy my childlike characteristics. So thank you, summer camp.
6. You learn about yourself
Prior to being a camp counselor, I thought I knew myself and everything I wanted to do with my life. However, after just a couple weeks of camp, I learned that I was completely wrong. I have learned that I am way more creative than I thought. My camp kids have challenged my creative ideas more than I knew was possible. I learned that I am actually an athletic person; I have workout Wednesdays to thank for that. I learned that I do have the ability to shout over 150 kids, with practice every Friday at snack time (not really sure how I can use this in the real world, but it is a cool talent). But, most importantly I learned to love kids more than I ever thought I could. I can not even imagine my life without the children who I have met. Thank you summer camp for teaching me more and more about myself every day.
