I worked as a camp counselor for 5 summers and till this day it is one of my favorite jobs that I have ever had. Of course, every summer taught me new lessons and had me face to face with new challenges. So, to help you out before you jump into your first summer, here is a bit of advice that I wish I knew before starting out.
1. You do not need to have all the answers.
When you work with youth, you encounter a lot of things you never thought you would and you may not know how to handle certain situations or know the exact right thing to say all the time. This is okay! No one is expecting you to have all the answers. You are going to make some mistakes, and you will be able to grow from them.
If a camper has a question that you are not sure of, it is completely fine to say, "I don't know the answer to that, let's find out together." Or, maybe they need to have a serious conversation that you are not ready for just yet. Put the situation on pause by letting them know you want to have this conversation but want to allow a respectful amount of time for it. Then, make a plan for the two of you to sit down and chat during the next down time. This way you have some time to mull over the most appropriate responses, get some advice, and deal with the situation in a way it will be beneficial to the both of you.
Also, don't forget that you have fellow counselors or staff members that you can go to for advice to help you work through various situations. Odds are some of the more experienced staff will have dealt with a similar situation before and can help walk you through it. If it is something no one is sure how to handle, you can bounce ideas off of each other and work it out as a team. You also will probably have your own insight that you can share with your fellow staff members as well.
2. Burnout is REAL.
While you may get a day or two off, depending on your camp, you will most likely be with your campers 24/7. You need to be taking breaks and making sure you rest because this is a job where you are alway on. You are keeping your campers entertained, planning and teaching activities, facilitating and participating in group games, and doing it all with a smile. You are expending a lot of energy. And all the while you have the hot summer sun beating down on you. You need to take care of yourself!
Make sure you are using your breaks appropriately. Use your down time to nap, relax, get a snack, stay hydrated, and connect with friends back home. Make sure you are sleeping enough, wearing sun screen, and keeping yourself healthy. If you are not making sure to take care of yourself it will eventually effect your mood and your physical health. You wont be happy and your campers wont be either.
Think of it this way... "You can't pour from an empty cup." I don't know who originally came up with that saying but they were spot on! In other words, if you are drained, you won’t be any help, or any fun for, your campers or fellow counselors either. You also wont be able to enjoy this job and experience as much as you could when you are at you best.
3. Be careful with sarcasm.
Age, personal experience, and socialization plays a big part when it comes to how people deal out and understand sarcasm.
The the majority of campers won’t understand when you are being sarcastic and they can easily take things the wrong way. They will take what you say to heart because they truly look up to you. Even if you think they understand, or they act like they do, they may not. You don't want to put them down or make them feel ashamed or frustrated. And if they feel this way they may not feel comfortable talking with you about it.
Now, you will have campers who are super sarcastic and love when you are sarcastic with them. However, this doesn’t mean they will be able to identify when you are or are not being sarcastic in every situation and interaction you have with them. Remember, they are kids. They are still learning and developing social skills.
When it comes to sarcasm, make sure you know your audience and you know the appropriate time to use it. Personally I am a super sarcastic person with my friends. But when it is time to interact with my campers, or time to be serious, I tuck sarcasm away and try to only use it with my fellow counselors. Of course, that being said, don't beat yourself up over a slip or two.
4. Your campers know more than you think.
If you only listen to one point in this post, pease let it be this one. No matter what you think your campers know or see….they know WAY more than you give the credit for.
They pick up on everything: tone of voice, body language, subtle facial expressions, and how you interact with others. Then they use what they see to fuel their imagination and they discuss everything with each other.
For example, if you don't get along with another counselor that’s okay it is a part of life, but it is still important to be civil and professional with them. Especially around your campers! Your campers will easily figure out the dynamics between each counselor. Even if nothing really serious is going on between the two of you, they will weave stories, may take sides, or just use that as a talking point for gossip.
This can be frustrating for you, or may not seem like a big deal at all, but this kind of negativity is not why your campers are here. This is not something they should be fixated on or worried about. They are here to enjoy camp, learn new things, and have a good time. Not to be worried or concerned about the dynamics between their counselors. And they will be, because they look up to you and care about you.
So if it does happen shut it down, change the subject, and adjust what you need to. Just know, the campers are always watching...
5. It is just camp.
This is a lesson I have to learn every single year. It is just camp! Things do not have to be perfect, in fact the imperfections make half the fun!
A lot of times you may want things to be out of this world and amazing for your campers. But guess what... they are not going to care if every detail in every game you play is spot on or cinematic. If you are playing a game, and the person who is suppose to be the wicked witch is not in costume, it really doesn't matter that much. All you have to do it say, "that person is the wicked witch" and they are going to use their imagination. Basically what I mean is, just because something is not executed perfectly doesn’t mean it won’t be fun or that it will take away from the magic of camp.
It’s just camp. No one is grading you, and no one is judging you. Just do your best, you do not have to reach for perfection, your camps won’t be expecting it. In fact, they probably already think you are amazing just because you are their camp counselor and have their best interest in mind.
6. Give everyone a chance to shine.
It can be really easy to see potential in one person and do your best to bring out that potential. But while doing so, do not forget about the potential of others, or accidentally push others aside to make way for that one person.
For example, if you are playing a game of basketball, and one camper is an amazing point guard, it does not mean that they should get to be in that position all of the time. Don't forget about those campers on the bench or in other positions who want a turn to try something new. They may not have the voice to speak up for themselves, or may not feel like they are good enough to play point guard. You are the counselor, it some cases it may be up to you to be their voice or give them a chance to speak up.
Camp is a place for everyone to learn, improve on different skills, and figure out what they love. And most importantly... to have fun! Allow for each camper to have a chance to try out each position and see what they enjoy and what they can thrive at. It not only encourages them to learn new skills, but teaches the group how to share, support each other, and learn about team work. It also shows them that they have someone that believes in them, and that someone is you.
It’s not up to you to find the diamond in the ruff and make them shine brighter than the rest. It is up to you to create the space for each one of your campers to get the chance to show how bright they can shine.
7. Camp is for you too.
At my camp, we had this running joke between our camp staff that "camp is for the counselors" because there was so many things we got to do and we were having so much fun as well.
Of course, in reality, I will always be one of the first to say that “camp is for the campers" because at the end of the day they are the reason we are here. As a counselor, you get the chance to create this amazing magical place for your campers. You will help them create memories they will never forget and develop skills they will take with them long after camp ends. Campers will learn so many different tangible and intangible skills and really will have an amazing summer. There is a reason they come back year after year, and you get to be part of that reason.
AND... Camp really is for you, as a staff member, as well.
During your summer you will be able to develop leadership and team work skills. Yes, you will make some mistake, but you will be able to learn from them and build off of them so you do not make them in the future. All of these tangible and intangible skills you pick up, you will be able to add to your resume. And believe me, this is a really positive job to be able to add to a resume.
You will also get to make great memories with your campers and fellow counselors. You will get a chance to do the things that the campers get to do, such as trying the activities they have at camp. Some of these things you may have never tried before such as archery, sailing, horseback riding, and more... Of course, don't take anything away from the campers, but feel free to talk to your manager about jumping into an activity or finding a time to try these things and learn new skills yourself. After all, there is a reason counselors return year after year as well.
Whatever camp you are going to, if its your first or tenth time around, I hope you have an amazing summer and that these small bits of advice helped you get ready for the season!