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

Lessons I've Learned From Camp

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Why does camp matter? Why does it seem to make such a huge impression on lives? Why do "camp people" think it's so important for kids to go to camp? Well I can't answer for everyone else, but for me, it all starts with the thousands of life lessons I learned at camp.

I've been going to camp for around fifteen years, and each year brings new lessons. Sometimes, I learn the same thing over and over again, and other times, one moment leaves an impression on the rest of my life.

I've split my list of things I've learned at camp into three sections, camper, teen leader, and staff. But the truth is, a lot of it overlaps. Sometimes I need to re-learn a lesson I got when I was 5.

Camper: 

• Being yourself is cool
• Everybody wants and deserves a good friend
• There is nothing wrong with a little bit (or a lot) of dirt
• If you work hard to earn something, it feels a lot better than if it was just handed to you
• It's okay to lose and to fail
• Ask questions
• Keeping food in your duffle really does lead to rats peeing on your clothes
• Trying to look cool doesn't work. Eat your spaghetti with your hands
• The best of friends don't have to talk everyday, they just know they're there
• Don't make judgements based on others opinions, form your own
• You may not be the best at something. It's okay, and it doesn't make you a less valuable person
• Bran will stain white t-shirts, but its worth it to have the bran fight
• At camp, its goodnight, not goodbye

Teen Leadership:

• Being a leader means more than just being in charge
• Everyone likes a good bedtime story
• It's hard to give up being a camper
• Sleep > Shower
• Camp staff have drama. Getting involved is not fun 
• Take pictures
• I do not work great with 7 year olds
• Sometimes, all someone needs is for you to listen
• Don't let the campers know you know how to french braid
• The people you work with can become your best friends
• Ice cream and laughter are universal. Share

Staff:

• Sometimes, campers are very wise
• Take time to get to know every camper that you can
• Cabin/Group secrets and inside jokes are the best (We may or may not have brownies, happy girls are the prettiest, FRED)
• When things don't go as planned, a sense of humor can usually save them
• Romantic relationships that start at camp are unlike any other
• Everyone likes Aaron Carter
• If you get to know them, its hard not to like every one of your campers
• Calling your campers "your kids" will confuse a lot of people
• Sometimes, all a person needs is a hug
• The best way to stay out of the bay on paddle boarding day is to get your campers stoked to push the other counselor in (sorry!)
• Spend enough time with other camp staff outside of camp that you see each other as adults. Have inside jokes
• Mornings are not functional without coffee
• Acrylic paint NEVER comes out of hair
• Homesick is a bad word, don't say it out loud
• Paint your body from head to toe, let the campers make you into a human sundae, roll around in the mud, and wear your duck dynasty pants to high ropes course. 
• Summer goes fast every year

This is just a short list of the thousands of lessons I've learned at camp. I'd love to hear what else you've learned, so shoot me an email or comment and let me know!!

Always bring extra socks,

Samantha

Things My Friends Don't Get

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

Now that summer has come to its inevitable end, we camp counselors have been thrown back into that mysterious place, known as the "real world". A place where singing songs about squirrels is not a normal way to start your day. A place where two different knee high socks, crazy hair, and a thrift shop vest outfit is not greeted with the response "you look awesome"! A place that cares about how you smell.

I have long tried to explain to my friends who are not counselors what the experience is like, sharing stories and even the occasional song, but so much is lost in translation. Why can't you get how funny my kids were, or how ridiculous the other counselor looked as a human sundae? Why don't you want to repeat when I say "this is a repeat song"? Why don't you get it?

I have comprised a list of things my friends don't understand about being a camp counselor. I hope you enjoy, laugh, and most of all, empathize. Lord knows they don't.

1. My job is hard. It is exhausting, challenging, and no two days are the same.

2. When you call me a "glorified babysitter", you set my insides on fire and I have to restrain myself from ripping your eyebrows out.

3. The things my campers say are downright hilarious, and you clearly just didn't get it.

4. No, I can't stop singing those songs. I've been singing them for three months straight, and they don't just get unstuck from my head.

5. It takes me time to adjust to being around adults again, sorry.

6. The other staff I worked with were the most fun, hilarious, exceptional and inspiring people I have ever known. Excuse me if I like to talk about them.

7. We also spent a disgusting amount of time together, so I have a lot of stories to tell.

8. My tan lines are weird, stop pointing it out. It takes dedication to paint stripes on your arms, wear them into the bay, and then realize that you have tiger stripe tan lines.

9. I may have lost some adult like social skills. I will try to learn again quickly.

10. I can cook ANYTHING on a campfire now, so allow me to share with you my skill.

11. If we go to Walmart, prepare for a long trip. I've realized the glory that is, and could spend my whole life there. DON'T RUSH ME.

12. If I'm trying to get a groups attention, I have about 50 ways to do it, and they are all highly effective. Just stand there and be impressed.

13. If I meet a kid, I will immediately turn back into being a counselor. Just watch and learn.

14. Don't compare my camp experience to your babysitting experience. You spent a few hours with a child while they did their homework, I was about 40 children's world this summer. And I had no TV to sit them in front of.

15. Yes, I make up great stories to tell kids. Yes, adults like them too. Yes, I tell them at parties.

16. It was the summer of my life. It was hard, I was tired, and I often smelled weird. But I also made best friends, learned so much, and created memories that will last the rest of my life. I will try to get you to do it next summer, and you really should.

You are amazing,
Samantha

Up-Close and Personal: What a Summer

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

It has been nearly three months since I last wrote. But as I stated last summer, I get so swept up in the summer and camp and never write. Based on my views, I get the feeling that the very few of you who read my blog have a similar scenario, as the views go way down during the summer.

I had the most incredible summer! As I mentioned, I left my home, the camp I had been at for over a decade. I started a new adventure at a day camp, which was really scary and challenging for me. I was nervous, sad and torn at the beginning of the summer. Now, nine weeks of camp later, I couldn't feel more opposite. I found a new home and a new camp family, and learned more than I could have ever imagined.

I wrote a ton in my journal, and look forward to sharing my experience with you over the next few months. But I thought that I would give a very brief summary of my summer at a new camp, and the incredible experience that I had.

The summer started on the first day of training. I was still sad from my weekend at my old camp, and was slightly regretting my choice to lead. When I walked up to camp, the other staff were singing songs and doing "blitz" at the logs, where all of camp would start and end each day. The day of training was different then what I had experienced in the past. We played a lot of games, talked in small camps, and discussed logistics of our days. However, something was different. There was a different atmosphere. It was a lot of fun throughout the day, and I became instantly friends with several staff members.

I got to know the three other senior counselors in the small camp with me. We had the oldest campers, and had a very different program from the rest of camp. Our small camp was composed of four senior counselors, a rock climbing specialist, and a director. Throughout the summer, we became especially close. The number of inside jokes, stories and memories we share are countless, and I haven't ever felt so close to fellow staff members.

Camp days varied, and consisted of anything from rock climbing (on real rocks, not at a gym, which blew my mind), beach days, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking, high ropes courses and a hundred games of mafia. My campers were around 13 years old, and through the summer I had three groups. We bonded over challenge course, took a million pictures at photo scavenger hunts, and had a few water fights. Each group was at camp for three weeks, which gave us a chance to really bond and come together.

One of my favorite memories was from the second session of camp. It was the last day, and we were coming back from the beach. On the route, somehow we got into a competition of who could make the best fart noises. Everyone was laughing and being so silly, and it was truly one of those quintessential camp moments.

It was an amazing summer, full of so many lessons, memories and laughs, and I look forward to sharing pieces of what I learned with you over the coming off-season.

You are amazing!
Samantha

Avoiding Staff Cliques

Hello to all of my fellow camp counselors!

As camps around the country begin their staff training weeks, so many will begin fighting the constant battle of staff cliques.

The word clique is certainly weighted. It brings about memories of high school and the movie Mean Girls. But what is a clique? And is it always a bad thing?

In my mind, cliques are a sort of extreme situation. As people, we tend to form groups with people we relate with and like. But that's not the problem. Camp staffs will always have friend groups within them, and that is not necessarily a problem. It becomes a clique when it becomes exclusive, and the group seems sort of shut off from the rest of the staff.

Cliques may only hang out with each other. They don't make others feel welcome when they're around, and they create an overall negative energy at camp. It can be easy to see a clique from the outside, but when you're in one, its a challenge to realize it. It's even harder to reverse the problem, so its best to be proactive, rather than reactive.

One of the best ways to prevent cliques as a staff member starts in the very beginning. As a staff member, you can combat staff cliques forming by getting to know as many new staff as possible. It's easy to meet a few friends and feel comfortable and content with the first few people you meet and like, but it's important to continue to branch out. Most of my best friends that I have met on staff were not in the first few people I met.

As the summer progresses, all staff find certain groups of friends who they like better than others. In order to keep from becoming a clique, one of my favorite things to do was invite different groups of people home with me for our night off. My very best friend at camp last summer always had the same night off as me, and she always came home with me. However, we would always check the night of schedule, and invite a few other staff members home, especially ones we didn't really know. It's a great way to bond outside of camp, and keep friend groups from becoming exclusive.

Just remember, the more friends you have at camp, the better your summer will be! An exclusive group within the staff just brings everyone down and alienates people. Meet new people, make new friends, and have a great summer!

You are amazing!
Samantha