Being a Camp Advocate All Year-Round

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Since its currently the summer camp off season, I thought it would be timely to discuss being a camp advocate. The first time I heard the phrase "camp advocate", I was 17 and a counselor in training. We talked about the American Camp Association, and its goal to increase camp attendance. I really latched on to this idea of being a sort of spokesperson for camp as a whole, and always working towards getting more children to camp.

So how can we do this?

Well my first strategy has always been fairly simple. Just talk about camp! If you have a passion, it will show through. I love telling people about how much I love camp. I talk to my friends, random people I meet, I even talked about it when I was going through sorority recruitment two years ago. When you share your passion, you inspire others. Maybe a parent was having doubts about sending their child to camp, and you helped settle their nerves. Maybe you convinced someone to be a counselor for a summer. Or maybe your words will just sit in the back of their mind until one day its time for them to send a child to camp.

Next, always be aware. Once you become a camp counselor, that's what many people will know you as. Be aware of what you do and what you say. Are you on your night off, and wearing a staff shirt? Don't walk through the grocery store spewing curse words. Change before you head out to the bar. Your camp shouldn't be associated with some of your "adult behaviors". If you need to let off some steam, that's great, but don't advertise you're a counselor simultaneously. Another avenue that I see a lot of people crossing this line is social media. If it says anywhere on your page that you worked at a camp, if you have pictures of yourself at camp, if you are friends with campers, the following applies to you.

• Don't complain about your camp
• Don't post statuses/tweets/etc. that are not "camp appropriate"
• Be aware of what pictures you have up
• Use common sense!

I'm going to do a whole post on social media use, but these are some basic guidelines. Remember, you always want to represent camp in a positive light, so take a moment to think before you act!

My final advise on advocating for camp is to get involved! Volunteer, join a club, do something to get out there and keep making the world a better place. Show your community that camp counselors are role models beyond summer!

Keep on advocating!

You are amazing!

Samantha

Being Sick During Camp

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Since it is winter and I've been sick, I thought it would be a good time to talk about being sick at camp. Chances are, if you're working at a camp for roughly 3 months during the summer, at some point, you're going to get sick. It's happened to me multiple times, and it is one of the hardest things to deal with as a counselor. You have to balance caring for yourself, watching after your kids, participating in programming and still seeming like you're having fun, even though you just coughed up a lung. So here  is what I've learned from the times I've been sick at camp.
None of this is meant to be medical advise. Always see a doctor if you're concerned. Better safe then sorry.

Be Honest
How sick are you? Is it a case of the sniffles, and you just need a day to relax and sleep it off? Are you throwing up constantly and can barely stand? The first thing you need to do is evaluate how sick you really are. Sometimes all that you need is a bit of rest. Other times, you need a doctor and a prescription. Don't exaggerate, but also don't underestimate how you're feeling. Trust your gut. Figure this out, then ask your boss for what you need.

Is it the "Camp Flu"?
Camp is tiring, and combine a lack of sleep, constant activity, stress and a sunburn, and you're likely to get the "camp flu". You feel achey, lethargic, and can't seem to rally. Ask for the day to recover. Get some rest, stay inside, drink lots of water. If it persists with the same level of discomfort for several days, I would think about seeing a doctor.

Go to the Nurse
Camp nurses are the best. They are skilled at figuring out what's wrong, telling you what you need, and sometimes even giving you a place to rest. At the very least, they are a source of Advil, ice, or just someone to gripe to for a few minutes.

Sleep When You Can
If you've decided this is something you can fight through, sleep as much as possible. Go to bed when your kids do, nap during rest periods, see if you can get a little free time. Sleep is incredibly restorative and may just do the trick.

Drink a Ton of Water
Dehydration is one of the most common and worst ailments at camp. Combine it with being sick, and you've pretty much guaranteed you'll be out for a while. Keep water by your bed, always carry your bottle, take a sip whenever you pass a drinking fountain or hose. Not only will this keep you hydrated, but water is involved in many systems in our bodies that can help get you feeling better, like regulating body temperature.

Keep the Stress Low
Ask for help. If you have a camper who is a particular handful, a duty that is difficult and getting you worked up, or even just need a break for an hour, ask for help. If you aren't stressed, your body will have a much easier time restoring its health.

Eat Healthy!
This is a preemptive step, as well as a possible solution. Have lots of fruits and veggies, eat good protein sources, and avoid eating a ton of junk food. All the vitamins in healthy food can really get you feeling better.

GET WELL SOON!
You are amazing!
Sam

Winter Camp and Other Non-Summer Camps

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

I just got back from Winter Camp at the camp that I work at. This is a week that we have over New Years, which is run just like summer, but only for one week. It's a very special week, because usually nearly all of the campers are returners who really love camp. The week is smaller, and the counselors are usually long time staff members and people who grew up at camp. It's a lot of fun, but there are definitely some challenges.

To start with, it is FRICKEN COLD. Let me tell you this, you may think its not that cold in Southern California, but in cabins that are about fifty years old and not exactly air-tight, it may as well be the Arctic. My advise? Layer everything. Layer your bed, your clothes, your socks, your hats, EVERYTHING. I had two fitted sheets, one that was fleece, three blankets and two flat sheets. I typically slept with thermals, two pairs of socks, a tank top, a long sleeve t-shirt, a zip up sweatshirt, cover all of that with an awesome zebra print onesie, then put on sweats over the onesie, pull up all of the hoods and put a hat and some gloves on. I was toasty in bed. The only down side? If you have to go pee in the middle of the night, it takes fifteen minutes just to undress.

Another challenge can be an unusual mix of staff. Unlike summer, we don't have two weeks of training to get to know each other and all be brought to the same page. Often times, staff are from previous years, year-round staff or full-time staff. Some know each other, others don't. There may be some very close friend groups and some staff may feel like outsiders, especially if their friend from summer now has their best friend that they've known all their lives. How can you make it better? If you don't know someone, get to know them! Last wintercamp, I was lucky enough to get to know a girl who I hadn't ever met before, she became a member of my group of best friends at camp, and we got really close! I'm so glad that I was able to have an open mind and get to know her.

When it comes to having a majority of returning campers, the select first timers can be uncomfortable and feel very left out. If you have a first timer in your cabin, try to pair them up with someone who's been their for a while. Introduce them, and suggest that the long-timer give the other camper a tour! Play a game like "Never Have I Ever", or "Two Truths and a Lie", where the campers can share things about them that don't relate to camp. This way, they see what they have in common outside of camp, and the gap closes.

So that's my experience. I'm sure you all have lots of other challenges you have faced! Feel free to comment, or shoot me an email at LifeOfACampCounselor@aol.com

You are amazing!
Sam

You Know You're A Camp Counselor When...

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

One of my favorite things about being a camp counselor is you share inside jokes with other counselors, regardless of what camp you worked at. We've all experienced the same or similar situations, and we all relate. I recently stumbled upon a "You Know You're a Camp Counselor When..." thread on the American Camp Association message boards. So I thought I'd compile a list of my own. Some of these come from that thread, others are my own ideas. Enjoy!

You know you're a camp counselor when...

Your friends and family don't expect to see you over summer
Songs come on the radio, and you sing your camp version and get weird looks from your friends
Tan lines are a competition (that I won this year)
You have a set of camp clothes
You refer to your campers as your kids
You save everything campers make for you
You have made friends from all over the world
You would rather sleep then shower
Mail call is the best time of day
You have a "camp wall" in your room
Your friends are tired of hearing stories that begin with "this one time at camp..."
Walkie Talkies are signs of authority
You value your clip board more than your cell phone
Your favorite songs are about moose, hippos or made up words
You've written a class paper/college essay about camp
You can walk through a dark path at night without a flashlight

I'm sure you all have many more, so feel free to comment them or send them to my email, lifeofacampcounselor@aol.com

You are amazing!
Samantha

This Whole Commenting Situation

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

I've been told by a few of my friends who read my blog that they tried to comment but were unable to because they are not signed up with the service. So, if you would like to comment but can't because of that reason, feel free to email me your comment at

LifeofaCampCounselor@aol.com

I'll post comments every so often, so feel free!
Hope to hear from you!

You are amazing!
Samantha

The Second Summer

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

As I have stated many times in this blog, I just finished my second summer as a counselor at the same camp. During my interview, I was told that it would be a challenge. I was warned that it would feel weird. I was promised that I would compare, and it wouldn't seem to match up. But, of course, I did not believe them AT ALL. 'It's not even really my second summer, technically it's my eleventh. And besides, last summer was a huge challenge, this one will be a breeze. They don't really know'. Boy, was I mistaken.

The second summer was a hundred times harder then the first. This was despite the fact that the staff, as a whole, were much more cohesive this year. But for some reason, I couldn't stop comparing. So that's my first bit of advise, try not to compare. Each year is going to be different, so take them each separately. Your new staff family will not be like the previous year. There will be new faces, new personalities, and new drama. Be open to all of it, and don't get hung up on the differences. Also, constantly talking about the past summer with returning staff really feeds this problem. You get sucked into the problems of the past, instead of being a part of the successes of the present.

Once you've stopped comparing, if you're like me, you might still not want to let go of "how things have always been". For example, at the end of campfire, we sing a slow song, and in the past the staff have gone up to the front of the fire. This year, counselors stayed out with their kids. This may not seem like a big deal, in fact, I ended up liking the change. But for the first few weeks, it felt like a disrespect. I had to learn to love new traditions, and be willing to be flexible. Camp is always changing, and it is time to accept that.

I thought camp was going to be a breeze this summer, as a returning counselor. What I didn't realize is that I would have new challenges, involving an older age group to work with, a new teaching position in our program, and the general struggles of eleven weeks at camp. As a second year counselor, try to come in with a positive, wiser attitude.  Expect challenges, and use the skills you learned last year to face them with success, instead of being shocked when they arrived. Otherwise, you're in for a reality check.

In the end, my second summer was even better then my first. I believe a lot of that is attributed to the challenges I met, because I gained so much from overcoming them. I knew what to expect, I was given new responsibilities and I felt more effective with my campers. And in the end, that's what it is all about.

You are amazing!
Samantha

What's In Your Bag of Tricks: Tuck-Ins

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Every counselor has their own style of doing things, especially when it comes to bed time. I personally love tuck-ins. These are quiet activities done right before lights out. They can be interactive, geared towards the age group, or even used to solve a cabin problem. I have collected many over the years, from some of my counselors when I was a camper, fellow staff members and things that I have read. These are some of my favorites.

The Rose
The rose is an interactive tuck-in, in which each camper tells three things. The flower, which is the best part of their day. The thorn, which is a challenge that they experienced. The stem, which is something they are excited for for the next day. This is good for a cabin that is experiencing some homesickness, as it reminds them of what they have to look forward to.

Shout Out To...
This tuck in gives your campers the opportunity to give props to other members of their cabin. They can give a shout out to anyone in the cabin who did something good. Make sure everyone gets at least one shout out! This can be a good bonding opportunity for a cabin, and is also a great way to make sure everyone knows each others names.

Magic Carpet Ride
Take your cabin on a magic carpet ride. Ask them to close their eyes and imagine their carpet, and then take them on an adventure. If you have younger campers, take them to toy stores, let them pick out three things. Take older campers to a field of horses and let them choose their favorite, asking them to think about the horses color, size etc. This tuck-in can really be adapted to any cabin, and I have found that all ages tend to enjoy it.

Compliment Train
I actually got this from cheer camp back in high school. It's a great tuck-in for the last night of camp. Have all your campers make a line, and then one at a time, they will go down the line. The camper standing in the line gives compliments to the one walking down. Emphasize that you are looking for compliments of merit, more then just "you're really nice" or "I like your hair". This can be a great way for them to say goodbye to each other, and feel really loved on the last day.

Know Your Neighbor
While lying in their beds, have your campers each say something they learned about the person to the left/right/above/beneath them. This is good for the middle of the week, as they are getting to know each other, but can also see that they have more to learn.

Tell a Story
And make it funny! I tell the Princess and the Pea, complete with stomping around the cabin and a Justin Bieber reference. And this tuck-in really works with all ages. I've told stories to 8 year olds, 12 year olds, and 15 year olds. Heck, sometimes I tell them to counselors.

I hope you found this helpful or interesting. I love tuck-ins, as they are a great way to hear about your kids days, check in on how they are doing, or just help them get to sleep on a positive note. I'd love to hear from you about tuck-in ideas you have, so comment or message me!

You are amazing!
Samantha

The End of Summer

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Summer of 2012 has officially come to a close for me. It was a wonderful, challenging, life changing experience, as always. I met new friends, developed skills and hopefully made a positive impact of campers.

One of the hardest moments in summer is the end. You have to say goodbye to a group of people you have been living and working with for months, re-adjust to normal life, and actually get dressed. You have to stop saying corny camp sayings, store your camp songs in the back of your mind for a while, and attempt to get rid of tan lines. If you are a life long camper, like myself, you have to go back to pretending you are actually a normal human being.

I will be talking through some of these challenges in this blog, and giving my advise/experiences with them. As always, please feel free to comment and share your personal experience.

Leaving Your Family
Camp staff becomes a family like no other. And suddenly, you are all torn apart, never to be together as a whole again. It doesn't matter if you loved every single member (unlikely) or barely got along with any of them. You will end up missing them. And chances are, you met some best friends in your group, and being away from them will make you feel un-whole. At our goodbye staff party, one of our directors talked about having to leave our new family. They explained that even though every day apart is another day from the last time we were together, it's also one day closer to the next time we will see each other. Having a positive outlook can really take the last day from being sorrowful to joyful, because you know you will see each other again.

Re-adjusting To Real Life
I've been told it is NOT normal to walk around singing hippo songs. It can actually be hard to turn of the counselor part of your brain, and get back into the normal world. Hopefully, however, you learned some things you can carry over into everyday life. While singing camp songs may not be acceptable, having enthusiasm on a day-to-day basis is. If you can convert your camp skills into more practical daily skills, it makes the re-adjusting process a lot easier.

Telling Stories That No One Else Gets
Yeah, okay we get it, you don't think that story was funny. But seriously, if you were there... How many times does that happen after camp ends? It can be so hard, because you truly want to share the experience with your other friends, but the stories end up being "you had to be there" types. Try to keep the stories to a minimum with your non-camp friends. Even if it does mean that you have to tell them to your dog.

Getting Camp Sick
This was a HUGE problem when I was a camper. And while camp is now work as well as fun, I do still miss it immensely when I'm gone. Luckily, the modern world has made it so easy for us to combat this. Skype is my favorite thing in the world, since I have friends all over the world and I can talk to them FOR FREE. Awesome. Also, snail mail is way fun. I love pen pals.

I hope you are all doing well getting back to school/normal jobs/being bored. I for one am now back at school, and keep getting "The Princess Pat" stuck in my head. Oh well, Winter Camp is only a few months away.

You are amazing!
Samantha

My Apologies!

To all of my fellow camp counselors,

I apologize for my absence this summer. Although there are not many of you who read my blog, and the main reader may be my mother, I still feel you deserve an explanation. I had all intentions of posting weekly this summer, but when it came to my few nights off, I generally spent them sleeping and doing laundry.

However, there is good news. I have been journaling all summer, and have many blog posts in the works, ready to be posted as soon as camp ends. Hopefully they will be semi-insightful, as they were written "in the thick" of summer camp.

I hope your summer is going well. If you are working at camp this summer, I hope you are having a great time. I'm almost done for the summer, the camp I work at is about to enter our second to last week. Time flies so fast! Soon, it will all be a memory.

You are amazing!
Samantha

That Camper: The One Who Doesn't Want To Be at Camp

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

This week, I'd like to talk about one of the most dreaded campers of the summer, the one who simply doesn't want to be at camp. Maybe their parents just needed a week off, maybe they are trying to get the child to face a fear, maybe they simply aren't ready; whatever the reason, they do not want to be there.

These campers come from many places. Some are simply not excited to be at camp. They don't want to get involved, they resist making friends and in general they alienate themselves from the program at large. With these campers, I recommend trying to find them a program that they enjoy. Then see how you can get them further involved. Could the staff leader of that area give the camper a job there? Could they be given the opportunity to learn more about that area? Allowing this camper to do something they enjoy will open them up to the rest of the camp experience.

Some campers are afraid of the activities. Maybe they are secretly terrified of the water, and are now at a lake front camp. Maybe horses make them nervous, but were sent to riding camp. It doesn't matter how or why, but now they are terrified and uncomfortable. Sometimes they are embarrassed to speak up, so watch out for campers who seem to always "feel sick" around the same activity time. This is when you have to be flexible as a whole staff. Is there a way to make them for comfortable? Someone to walk next to their horse, or an extra flotation devise in the water? Try to get them to try the activity. However, sometimes this simply will not work. If they outright refuse, focus the camper on another area that they enjoy. So the horses are scary, but they seem to love archery. Get them there as much as possible.

The camper may have had a bad previous camp experience. Encourage this camper to try new, different things, and help them to make friends. Have your entire cabin bond as early as possible to create new friendships. If they have friends having a great time, they may come to realize that camp is awesome after all!

Regardless of what the reason that the camper does not want to be there, as a counselor, your primary role is to make it a positive experience. You have the opportunity to become a hero, and potentially change their life. It's a challenge, but the outcome is the reason we became counselors in the first place; to do good for these kids.
Good luck!

You are amazing!
Samantha