Over this past summer, I've had the unforgettable opportunity to have an internship at the Arkansas 4-H Center. Grant it, I was a little out-of-place because everyone was a hard-core 4-H'er, and then you had me, someone who lived by the blue and gold of FFA. Needless to say, I was picked on quite a bit by my fellow interns and especially my boss! Whether you are an intern, or a counselor, you've probably had your fair share of experiences while working or volunteering and there are those things that no one else will seem to understand.
Tan lines are the new fashion statement
Being outside for hours on end, in the blistering heat, which easily exceeded over 100°, you can guarantee that we were being baked by the sun. It did not matter if it was a shorts tan, a converse tan, or most importantly a Chaco tan line. When you work for a summer camp, by the end of it all, you will be on the road to looking Brazilian!
Being able to eat in the cafeteria was a blessing
Not sure if all summer camps do this, but, at the 4-H Center, we had to fend for ourselves when it came to meals. But those days, those glorious and wonderful days, where we got to eat in the cafeteria, was like a gift from the heavens! Every time we got to eat in the cafeteria, us interns cheered! Those were the good days!
No matter how cruddy you feel, you had to act like you were having the time of your life
No matter how tired, sore, or flat-out frustrated we were, if you have ever worked at a summer camp, you know that there were days where you didn't want to move. Yet, you did. You got up and put on a happy and excited face just for the kids. Everything you did at camp was for the kids.
The songs you used to hate now became songs you sang in your free time
Some of us interns/counselors came into the summer camp not knowing all those camp songs. At first, we were annoyed learning those songs, but, by the end of the summer, we were jumping up and joining in on those silly songs. I, for one, know that when the llama song or "Have You Ever Seen A Penguin Wearing Green?" song was coming into play, we were all jumping at the chance to get in on the action!
You really figured out your priorities
If you are a camp counselor, or an intern, you are probably a fairly young high school or college-aged, and at this age we think we are invincible! We can stay up all night and function perfectly the next day. Well, you might think that, until you've worked with a summer camp. A lot of physical, mental, and emotional energy is needed to just function throughout the day and if you ain't sleeping, you're gonna be miserable for the rest of the day. So, the question comes down to if you want to stay up and go to the bonfire or play mission impossible oooorrrrr you can go take a shower and go to bed at a decent hour. Priorities y'all! Haha!
Your fellow interns/counselors were in shock when they saw you in human clothes
At the 4-H center, we typically didn't have camps on the weekend, so most of the time we went home. When we returned for work in more than just our usual long shorts and t-shirt uniform, it would take everyone by surprise, especially when we were in dresses for special occasions.
There was that one group of kids that drove you nuts
Doesn't matter if it's daycare, or summer camp, the picture above basically tells it how it is! Each new group/camp of kids came with a new experience and a new lesson to learn. Some kids, you will always remember no matter what, if they were well behaved, or a challenge, there are kids you will remember. You loved those camps that had well-behaved kids that were interactive and willing to do anything, but, then there were those camps that made you want to pull your hair out. You still loved them in their own special way but, you just couldn't wait for them to leave.
This lovely disaster was water polo...taught by Emory and myself! Haha!
At the end of a camp you felt victorious, but, it was short-lived cause that meant clean up
Tonight we are victorious! Water pouring over us! By the time a camp was over, exhaustion was kicking in, but, as the kids left, talking about how much fun they had, you know you did a good job! With all the planning, prep work, and set up that went into each camp, it was like a weight was lifted off your shoulders knowing the students enjoyed your activity. By the time it was all over, some of us cringed when our activity was mentioned but, as long as the kids liked it, that was all that mattered. Though our small victory was short-lived because we had to immediately start cleaning up and getting ready for the next round of kids.
The "B" word had a whole new meaning
Now, grant it, when you are working with children, you can't curse at all. That's kind of a no-brainer but, this "B" word basically became the new name of Voldemort, "he who shall not be named," among the interns. This word itself isn't bad at all, in fact the children loved it, we, the adults, absolutely hated it. In case you are on the edge of your seat in suspense as to what this word is I'll tell you *takes in deep breath and prays for forgiveness* ...Bung-a-low. For those of you that don't know this is an interactive fun dance that groups of people do together and this is how it goes..
Person 1: Hey _______! (someones name or for us they said "Hey interns!")
Person 2: Hey What?
P1: Show us how you Bung-a-low?
P2: Show you how we/I Bung-a-low?
P1: Yea!
P2: With my/our hands up high and my/our feet down low this is how I/we Bung-a-low! *Insert random dance move* Bung-a-low Bung-Bung-a-low. (You get the picture, lol)
The strangers you lived with over the summer became your best friends in the matter of weeks
Working at a camp, you meet a lot of new people. To be playful, when I meet my roommates, when Emory walked in, I hollered "INTRUDER" at her! To this day, she still tells that story and jokes about it. You can say it was a great first impression! Being an intern or a counselor (especially an intern) you basically breathed each other's air for the whole summer! Personal space was non-existent! Usually, that would annoy the living crap out of people and at times we did get annoyed with each other, but, by the time three weeks were up with our little over two month experience we had all became best friends!
If you have the chance to work at a summer camp be sure to tell them thank you for allowing you to have the experience of an absolute life-time!
Thanks for reading my third article! If you liked it or know others that would enjoy this please share and leave a comment in the box below! Thanks again!
