An Ode To My Job: How Lucky Am I?

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors and staff!

As we reach the middle of winter and I bury myself in layers, I can't help but think towards the coming summer. Certainly, I miss the warm weather. Undoubtedly, I miss not having to go to class every day. Indisputably, I miss not having to buy my own groceries (thanks mom).

But, there is something I miss more.

My Job. 

I never thought I would be able to say something like that. I miss my job. 

Here's the thing, I never imagined I could love doing something as much as I love my job as an assistant director. I never imagined I could love working somewhere as much as I love working at the camp I'm at. And I never imagined that I would miss it so much.

What's amazing to me is that it isn't just the easy, fun stuff I miss. Sure, dressing up for the Fourth of July is great (it's my favorite day of the summer). Of course, getting to work with some of my best friends makes every day entertaining. Yes, I love being a part of a team that becomes a family.

And those memories are wonderful. They shine bright in my mind, and take me back to warm sunny days filled with camp songs and wood chips. But there's something else I miss. 

I miss the hard stuff. I miss working through the challenges, and the frustration when things aren't going as planned. I miss when my counselors would come to me with a question that I just didn't know how to answer. 

Why? I have no idea. Maybe it's the culture of this amazing camp. Maybe it's because being there has taught me that it's okay not to know the answer. Maybe it's the bonding that happens over working through a problem with someone. Maybe it's because when things are hard, I know I have the opportunity to learn from some people that I regard as the most talented and brilliant childcare professionals out there.

I've had other jobs. I've had jobs that were hard. I've had jobs that were easy. I've had jobs that I loved, hated, and everything in between. I've missed jobs before. But never this entirely. 

And so, this one is dedicated to my camp, the camp that I have grown to love in just two short years. I never thought that a job could mean so much to me, and at such a young age. 

Thank You,

Samantha

Camp Isn't A Major... Or Is It?

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors and staff!

As many of you know, I'm currently in my senior year of college. When I decided that I would strive for a career in camp, I found myself in an interesting position. How do you prepare yourself for a career through higher education, when there is no undergraduate program in it? I will be graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Equine Science and a minor in Business Administration. Not exactly camp, but there could be some parallels. However, I've found several ways to supplement a higher education, and prepare myself for my career. Here are a few of my experiences.

Elective Classes

Every major leaves room for at least a few elective classes. Make these count! A few of the classes that I've taken as electives are;

 Introduction to Psychology

 Adolescent Development

 Abnormal Psychology

Child Exceptionality and Psychopathology

Methods in Coaching

Marketing Technology

 Advertising

 I felt that these were classes that would be applicable to my camp career, and I found all of them to be very fun, engaging classes.

Minor

You should be passionate about your major! You should love it and feel connected to it! And a minor is a great way to supplement your major with more information in another field. Camp is a business, and my business minor has given me a great introduction into business law, marketing, management, accounting and finance. 

Get Out Of The Classroom

Gaining life experience is one of the most valuable parts of college! Are you interested in working in adventure based camps? Get involved in an outdoors club! Want more experience with different age groups? Find jobs babysitting, working in preschools or local after school programs! 

Stay Connected With The ACA

Keep up-to-date with whats going on in the American Camp Association. I'm a huge fan of the message boards, they're a great place to discuss camp with others. Look through their articles, keep up with their blogs, and know whats going on in our awesome industry! Also, there are awesome online lectures and classes available to members, and college students get a free one year membership, so take advantage. And of course, go to Spring Leadership Conference! 

Camp... Masters?!

 I am currently in the process of applying for this awesome program! It's through Touro University, Nevada, and it's actually a masters program in camp. Officially the title is Masters in Camp Administration and Leadership. I will be updating you with my progress through the program, of course, assuming I am accepted (fingers crossed)! 

So maybe you cant major in camp. But you certainly can make college work towards your own camp career. Just get creative! Also, I've linked the American Camp Association and Camp Administration and Leadership Programs at the end of this blog, so check them out! 

Go State! 

Sam

The American Camp Association:

http://www.acacamps.org/

Touro University, Nevada, Masters in Camp Administration and Leadership

http://tun.touro.edu/programs/college-of-health-and-human-services/camp-administration/

Camp Fashion: A Counselors Wardrobe

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

I have been lucky enough to grow up in and be a part of a lot of different groups. I spent my school year as an actress, ice skater and cheerleader all through my childhood. Through those activities, and being an adolescent girl, I gained an appreciation for fashion. Of course the other part of my year was spent at camp, where people pride themselves on not caring what they look like, which is also awesome.

Right now I'm taking a class at my university about human adornment and behavior. It's basically discussing why we wear what we wear, or alter our bodies in any way (hair color, dieting, tanning, etc). It got me thinking a lot about camp. We do have fashion at camp. It's certainly different than I would dress in say, my weekly sorority meeting, but it has it's own trends.

Don't believe me? Are you thinking right now 'the magic of camp is that you can look like and wear whatever you want'? Imagine this scenario for a minute. It's the first day of camp. You're a long-time, teenage camper. This camp is your home. You've (wisely) shown up in old jean shorts, a tie-dyed camp shirt, and ratty tennis shoes. There is a girl in your cabin. She comes in wearing brand new True Religion shorts, a Ralph Lauren polo and boat shoes. Functionally, you are wearing the same things. She's not in a prom dress, or snow boots, and yet, it'd seem so strange to the long time camper.

So, believe me now? The real magic of camp is that she'll probably be your best friend, even though you initially may have judged her on appearances. That's the real special part of camp. And here is a secret a lot of people fail to understand about me; I'm a little bit of that girl. Yes, I wear old shorts and a t-shirt to camp, but I also do my hair and makeup before each day. Do I do them as much as I do before class? Absolutely not. But I always have a little eyeliner and mascara on, my hair is either braided or in a teased high ponytail or a sock bun (my favorite right-now hairstyle).

So back to our topic, what are trends at camp? There are some that seem to cross over all camps, and some that are unique at individual camps. Here are a few of my favorites, and by the way, they all look phenomenal with a sock bun.

Tie-Dye

There is no more universal, long standing camp trend than Tie-Dye.

Old Camp T-Shirts

Because what says "I've been here forever" better than a shirt from 2004?

Homemade Shirts

Puff paint, sharpies, spray paint.

Knee Socks

I like to mix and match, and I probably own 30 pairs. You never know what theme day they can go with

Chacos

I have to put them here, because I know counselors really like them. Real talk though, I have never (and will never) own a pair. 

Norts/Soffees/Athletic Shorts

How many colors do you own?

Toms

This was a huge thing when I was the vaulting lead at my first camp. I wrecked a pair, and they smelled worse than anything I've ever experienced. They were well loved.

Nalgene Water Bottles

Or whatever your brand of choice is (whatever is cheapest at Walmart, I lose water bottles A LOT).

Hats

 Baseball hats say: I like this sports team, I go to this school, or I drive this kind of car.

Straw hats say: I'm trying to avoid sunburning my nose off of my face this summer.

Cowboy hats say: I'm working at a ranch camp

Decorated Clip Boards

I'm a quotes/bedazzling fan, and I've seen a few really cool collages.

Dramatic Animal Shirts

I can't think of how to describe these, but you know what I'm talking about. They have wolves or running horses on a cloudy looking background, and they are FABULOUS.

Multiple Bracelets/Arm Accessories

Wearing so many silly bands, friendship bracelets and watches that your lower arm is six shades lighter than the rest of you.

So those are a few of my favorites. Comment below and tell me what you wear at your camp, or what your personal favorite camp fashion statements are! 

Don't forget your Nalgene! 

Samantha

Summer 2014: The Life of a Camp Assistant Director

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

How I have missed you all! I hope you all had wonderful, adventurous, challenging, successful summers, whether you were a camp counselor, director, or an intern at an accounting firm. I personally had an incredible summer, and I can't wait to share my experience and new lessons with all of you!

So it really happened, I was an assistant director. I'm having a hard time writing this, because it was indescribable. I have never felt so many emotions in one summer. I felt proud, frustrated, energized, exhausted, overwhelmed, confident, and a million other feelings.

I started summer the day after I got home from school. I was the co-on-site director for the after-school program run by the same camp I work at over summer. It's held at a very different kind of school. It's a school that focuses greatly on the emotional safety of its students, calls the teachers by their first names, and gives the children the opportunity to dictate the majority of their curriculum. I wouldn't say I loved the schools philosophy, but I learned more from those students in three weeks than I had in my three summers past. It was intense. (Camping is in tents) There will be several posts in the future that originate from some of the lessons I learned there.

As soon as that ended (overlapping it's end, actually) camp training began. I put on my grey director polo, my name tag, and stood before about 75 staff members, mostly new, scared out of my mind. We ran games, led training sessions, and then it was the moment I was most nervous for.  I met my small camp, at that point 5 (it would become 6 after the first camp session) senior counselors, all but one first timers. As we sat in the shady patch of grass, and I told them all about 7-9 year olds (our age group), I tried to imagine what the coming summer would be. Would they be close? Would they want to work there? Would they want to learn from me? Would I be able to help them?

Well I won't answer all of that right now, because that would give away the next few blogs I have planned. I will tell you this, it was nothing like I had imagined, and everything I could have hoped. Those six senior counselors, the rest of the staff, the other four assistant directors, the directors, the campers, it all added up to the best summer yet.

The summer was a blur, a blur that I can't wait to share with all of you. In the meantime, comment and tell me about how your summer went! I want to hear all about it. Also, best of luck for those of you that are currently in transition to the real world again. I know how hard it is, I'm starting my senior year of college and this world is so much different than my beloved camp world.

Try to adjust well,
Samantha

Remembering What It Feels Like

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors and staff!!

As summer approaches, I've started really thinking about what my role is going to be at camp this year. I have been reading S'More Than Camp, by Scott Arizala, to get me in the right mindset. A lot of what he's been talking about has been "getting down to the campers level", physically, mentally, emotionally, and basically any other way possible. Of course, when I think of this, the first thing that comes to my mind is physically bending down to chat with campers. One of my favorite mental images of this is of one of the counselors I worked with last summer, who was 6'7". He basically had to lay on the ground to get on eye level.

A big part of getting on the level of my campers has always been trying to empathize with them. This is why I've always said I prefer older campers. I can totally understand the challenges that pre-teens and teenagers face. Don't like your body today? I've been there. Have a crush on someone who doesn't reciprocate? Oh, I so get that. Had an argument with your parents? I understand more that I can say.

I like to write in journals, and I love re-reading them. In a lot of ways, it helps me remember what it felt like to be 12, 15, 18, etc. I tend to think of myself as a fairly well-adjusted person, but it's important for me to remember that there were times I thought my problems were going to swallow me alive. It helps me remember that the thing I hated the most was when adults minimized my problems. Some of the phrases I specifically quoted in my journal as being particularly abhorrent are listed as follows:

• "Things seem like a bigger deal than they really are at your age"
• "It'll get better with time"
• "You don't even have real problems yet, just enjoy being young"
• "Ignore it/them/him/her, it'll stop"
• "I've been there/I understand/I know exactly how you feel"

That last one may seem sort of contradictory. Aren't I writing this blog on understanding how they feel? Yes. And part of that is understanding that at times, it feels like you are the only one who has ever felt this way. And it doesn't help to be told that your not, at least it didn't for me. 

So how does empathy actually work? What can you say to show that you care, without assuming or brushing over some very real and powerful emotions? 

The first strategy that has worked for me is simply to listen. Sometimes, they just need to say it and get it off their chest. I'm still like this. I don't always need advice, I sometimes just need to know that someone else knows I'm going through something. 

Acknowledge that this is challenging for them. The first way to do this is to appreciate that it was likely hard for them to share it with you. Thank them for being honest and trusting you. Tell them that this situation sounds hard/challenging/upsetting/whatever they are feeling. 

Don't pretend to know all of the answers. One of my favorite phrases is "I wish I knew the magic words to solve this for you". If it seems like they're looking to you for advice, suggest potential ideas to try, and acknowledge that they may not work, or at least not right away. 

At camp this part can be hard, but try to really give them the time they need to feel like they were listened to and acknowledged. Sometimes this means you really have to make that space for them, but if a camper is coming forward to you with something, it's important you continue to earn their trust by actually hearing them.

When it's done, ask if they feel like your talk helped. They may say no, and that's okay. Sometimes it's not about helping, it's about finally getting the problem out of their head and sharing it. Remind them how much you appreciate their trust, and that you hope they'll keep coming to you if they need to talk again. 

*A note about mandated reporting; if a camper begins to tell you about a situation which you feel will need to be reported, make sure you are not deceiving them. Don't promise to keep anything a secret, and don't ask questions that give them an answer. Let them tell you what they have to say and then follow your camps procedure for reporting. 

Remembering how it felt to be at one age won't give you all the answers. What it will give you is the chance to connect with a camper, and maybe help a difficult situation. 

I'm looking forward to this summer, and I so hope you are too!

Samantha

Summer 2014: A New Journey

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Last week, I got the call. The call I had been anticipating. The call I had been holding my breath for. The call I couldn't wait another minute for.

This summer, I will be an assistant director at the day camp I worked at last summer!!!

I am so excited! I can't express what an absolute honor it is to be given this opportunity. After three summers of being a counselor, I'm transcending the position and moving upward. I feel like my career is really starting. I feel like I'm on the road.

So I have a lot of feelings towards this.

Of course, the most obvious is that I'm incredibly excited. I can't wait to see camp from a new angle, get to try something new, and pass on some of the lessons I received from supervisors. I have had so many camp directors and supervisors, and I can't wait to put the good parts of each together to hopefully be the best I can be.

But I'm also TERRIFIED. What if I'm not good at this? This is supposed to be my career, and if I don't succeed or if I hate it, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME? What if the counselors don't listen to me, because I'm young? I think I know how to have the confidence and authority to show that I know what I'm doing, but what if they just don't buy it?

This is also another turning of the page for me, and with that comes a level of sadness. I love being a counselor, and I will miss the one-on-one contact and connection I make with campers. I'll miss having inside jokes with my kids. I'll miss seeing them succeed everyday in a new way. I can't believe it, but I think it's really time for me to be done as a counselor.

So those are my emotions right now. Kind of a mixed bag of nuts.

Here's to 2014!
Samantha