Must Have Amazon Items for Summer Camp Counselors

 My camp staff LOVE Amazon and honestly, I can't blame them. You can find just about everything on Amazon and with Prime you get free shipping. If you can't get to the store right away you can have something shipped to you within days. There are a lot of reasons to use Amazon! Here are some of the best finds for camp counselors on Amazon. 

#1: Stickers

Waterbottles stickers are all the rage at camp! You'll be the envy of your co-counselors when you have the perfect reward for campers always handy. You can also use them to decorate clipboards, water bottles, and whatever else your heart desires. They make great pick-me-up gifts to stick in your friend's mailbox too. The best part is that you can get a pack of 300 stickers for cheap on Amazon! 300 stickers is enough to last you the entire summer!! See our staff favorite pick here. 

#2: Motivational Quote Cards

We all need a little motivation from time to time and being a camp counselor is hard work. These little cards are perfect for handing out to co-workers, campers, or even yourself. The colors are super fun, so they also make great decorations. For just $14.99 you get 300 cards, which is plenty for the entire summer!! See my personal favorite here.

#3: Greeting Cards

Chances are you will have a bit of downtime at some point. I personally love to send letters to friends and family members. It's an easy way to make someone's day! You can find blank greeting cards on Amazon for way cheaper than any party store. I love these fun cards because of the bright colors, but there are many options to choose from! The best part is that if you have leftovers they can be saved and used as future thank you cards. They are also quite nice to have on hand if you have a few homesick campers. 

#4: Hair Ties

This one is more for counselors with long hair. Summer will be hot and you're not going to want to have your hair on your face and neck. In addition, you will almost always have a camper who forgets to bring hair ties and wants their hair braided. You can find a set of super colorful hair ties on Amazon for just $10.99!! These also make great gifts for other staff! Here is the staff's favorite pick. 

#5: Waterproof Phone Pouches

If you're a summer camp counselor, it is likely that at some point you will be participating in activities that involve water. Whether it's a kayaking trip, rainy day, or puddle jumping you'll want to make sure that your phone and any other possessions stay dry. This is my favorite pick because it comes as a pack of 6. The pouches are great for other things that you don't want to get wet such as receipts, money, cards, etc. They can also make a nice gift for other counselors. 

Sleepaway Camp Summer Camp Counselor Tips

I've compiled a list of tips for new summer camp counselors. These tips are based on my 8+ years of experience and some are provided by our returning camp staff. The tips are geared towards counselors at a sleepaway camp but can be transferred to a day camp as well. 

Tip #1: Pack Only What You Need

This tip is especially true for staff who are flying into their camp but can be used for local camp staff as well. In my first summer as a counselor I definitely overpacked. I went to camp with the idea that I would basically never go to the store, so I packed enough for the entire summer. Little did I know there would always be rides to Walmart on my time off. I could have saved a lot of space by purchasing things like shampoo, conditioner, food, etc. as needed. 

Pro-tip #1: Talk to your director or other counselors before you get to camp. See if they will share a suggested packing list. If you're flying, it might be helpful to connect to returning staff who will also be flying to camp. Make sure to ask if there will be opportunities to go to the store when you arrive. Purchasing items at the store rather than packing them along can save you a lot of space and time.

Pro-tip #2: Not all camps will allow this, but check to see if you can have items shipped to camp prior to your arrival. If you're purchasing items solely for camp, why not have them shipped directly there? With Amazon Prime, you can ship just about anything for free. 

Tip #2: Bring Extra Food 

Most sleepaway camps include free food when campers are present. Unfortunately, the amount of food is not always excellent for adults, especially when you are burning calories all day. Make sure to ask your director if there are any restrictions on foods for snacks. Some camps are peanut-free. 

Pro-tip #1: Bring snacks that are easy to bring with you on the go and that you can eat quickly. Aside from your time off, there won't be many opportunities for snacking. Granola bars, bananas, fruit snacks, etc. are all great choices.

Pro-tip #2: There is a good chance that at some point at camp you will be living in a semi-outdoor setting such as a cabin or platform tent. To ensure your snacks are free from critters, bring a small plastic tote to store them in. 

Tip #3: Ask About Sleeping Arrangments

Most sleepaway camps run for about 3 months. That is a long time to go without a good night's sleep. Make sure to ask what the sleeping arrangement will look like. Will you have a bed frame? Are there mattresses? What should you bring for bedding? These are all great questions to get answered prior to your arrival. 

Pro-tip #1: Some camps have different sleeping arrangements for when you are not with the campers. Sometimes it is helpful to bring two sets of sheets, sleeping bags, etc. so you don't have to haul everything back and forth. 

Pro-tip #2: Camp mattresses are not always the comfiest.  A cheap memory foam sleeping pad can make all the difference in getting some quality z's. 

Tip #4: Participate in Pre-camp Events

If your camp offers any type of in-person or virtual events prior to camp, try to participate as much as possible. If they don't offer these types of events, introduce yourself and participate in any online groups available. Participating prior to camp will allow you to make some friends before you arrive. Virtual meetings can also be a great opportunity to get all your questions answered. 

Pro-tip #1: If your camp doesn't offer any events prior to camp, talk to your camp director about implementing something via Zoom. It's likely something they never thought about and you can score some bonus points by taking initiative.

Pro-tip #2: Most camps have some sort of spring events. If you're in the area, these are great opportunities to see the camp. If you ask, you'll likely be able to get a tour. 

Tip #5: Take Advantage of Free Recreation

This one is especially true for staff who stay at camp on the weekends. It's likely that your camp has a lot of recreational activities available. Whether it's the lake, pool, or maybe even tennis courts. Ask about what is available to you on your time off. It's one of the perks of the job! 

Pro-tip #1: Become a lifeguard or make friends with one to enjoy weekend pool time. If your camp does allow you to use the pool, it's likely that they will require at least two people and one of them will need to be a certified lifeguard.

Pro-tip #2: Simply enjoy the nature that your camp has to offer. Most camps have hiking trails. Your time off will be your chance to enjoy these without a bunch of children lagging behind you. Just make sure to take a buddy!

Tip #6: Be Friendly

This might seem obvious, but it is super important during the first weeks of camp. You will want to make friends with some of your co-counselors and to do that you might need to step out of your comfort zone. Being friendly even on tiring days will go a long way.

Pro-tip #1: Try to attend any staff outings during the first weeks. Whether it's going to get something to eat or running to Walmart, you're sure to have a bonding experience. 

Pro-tip #2: If you have a car on camp, try to offer rides if possible. This is simply a kind thing to do and a great opportunity to make friends. 

Tip #7: Use Your Time Off

While making friends is important, you also need to make sure that you use your time off wisely. Time off is a precious thing during camp. Sometimes you might only get two hours a day. If you're exhausted, this is a great time to take a nap. It's also your time to take care of your personal hygiene, so don't forget to shower. 

Pro-tip #1: You will likely be sharing your time off with other counselors. They may or may not be quiet during this time. For a peaceful time off, bring a sleeping eye pad and earplugs.

Pro-tip #2: This is also your time to call home to your family. Not all camps have WiFi, so if you love to make video calls and don't have unlimited just keep in mind that your data might not last as long as usual. Alternately, you can use a mobile hotspot for the summer to fulfill your wifi needs. 

Tip #8: Have Coping Mechanisms and Use Them 

It's no joke that working as a camp counselor can be stressful. While it is one of the most rewarding and fun jobs on the planet, it is hard work. There might be times when your patience is tested and you feel like you just can't keep going. Having solid coping mechanisms to cope with your stress is a must. Whether it's deep breathing, doing yoga on your time off, or coloring, you need to have something to fall on. 

Pro-tip #1: If you know that you get stressed out easily, talk with your director before camp begins. If you let them know this, it could end up taking a huge weight off your shoulders in the long run.

Pro-tip #2: If you color, draw, have fidgets, etc. keep supplies handy in your backpack. You never know when you'll need them. 

Tip #9: Ask Questions

Ask all the questions! You will not get in trouble for asking questions. Chances are there are other counselors who have the same questions as you and are just too afraid to ask. It's important during the first weeks to get things clarified and understand your expectations.

Pro-tip #1: If you're not comfortable asking your director, try asking a returning staff member. Chances are they can answer pretty much any questions you have. They probably had the same questions as you during their first summer. 

Pro-tip #2: During staff training, there might not always be a great opportunity to ask the questions you have. Take a notebook and pencil to write down questions and get answers to them later. 

Tip #10: Dress for the Job

In this case, no fancy suits or dresses are needed. You will be outside in the heat and will constantly be moving. Unless your camp has a specific uniform, most counselors wear athletic shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops. This is not the time to pull out your favorite booty shorts or low-cut crop top. Keep in mind that you will be working with children and will be moving around a lot. On a given day you might end up rolling on the grass, doing a cartwheel, finger painting, and jumping in the pool all with your clothes on. Shoes are also important as you will be on your feet a lot. If your camp allows sandals, they need to be supportive and have a back. Even if they are allowed, do not wear flip-flops. You will have regrets.

Pro-tip #1: Ask other counselors or the director if there is a dress code to follow. Some camps have specific requirements, especially for check-in days. 

Pro-tip #2: Depending on where you are working, the weather can be cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon. Make sure to pack a few layers just in case. Zip-up hoodies are a great choice as they can be pulled on and off easily when the weather changes. 

Creating a Virtual Summer Camp Staff Training

A lot of people have had questions about the process of creating a virtual summer camp staff training. This is something that is new to me and I have learned a LOT along the way. I'm hoping that by sharing my process I'll be able to help other people more easily create the pieces of training that they need. Below are some of the major steps that I took when creating a staff trainings

1. Planning in-person training

This step is huge! When I first considered the option of virtual training, I wanted to just dive right in. After a lot of consideration, I realized that to be most effective, I needed to match my virtual training with some of the key components of my in-person training. This meant that I had to first establish our schedule for in-person training. While I was able to pull quite a bit from last year's training, I am also in the process of re-vamping our in-person training, so this step took a considerable amount of time. 

2. Narrowing Down the Topics

This step was difficult, to say the least. I feel that everything we cover in staff training is important. I worked with my Assistant Director to pull the topics that we felt were most important. Some consideration was also given to which topics would transfer well into a virtual setting. There were a few things that are important, but will just need to be addressed at camp. We ended up narrowing it down to the following topics:

• Being a Good Counselor
• Boundaries at Camp
• Homesickness
• Active Listening
• Camp Parents
• Setting Consequences
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• Practice Scenarios

Thankfully we already had lesson plans for each topic with the information that we plan to cover at training. This made the next step a lot easier!! For those who are interested, I am planning to share another blog on creating lessons for in-person training.

3. Creating the Presentations

At first, my plan was to just have conversations surrounding each topic, but thankfully, I realized that would have been a disaster. While there will be lots of conversations had during the training, I decided that I needed some sort of presentation for each topic to keep us on track. I chose to use Google Slides to organize my information as I had a couple of other staff involved in the process and this was the easiest way for us to be able to collaborate. 

While it might not make a huge difference, I like my presentations to look put together. While I have skills in graphic design, I save myself a TON of time by using slide templates. I was even able to find a few super cute camping-themed templates. 

This one is my favorite from Teachers Pay Teachers and the best part is that it is free! I made sure to give credit to the creators of the templates when applicable. 

When it came to the information and presentation of the information, this step involved a lot of adapting. I had several different activities that I wanted to include and I had to get creative to make the activities work virtually. 

As I mentioned in the previous step, I had already created lesson plans for my in-person training. This was also a huge time saver as I was able to copy and paste information directly from the lesson plans. I also incorporated a few short videos that I had already planned to use in my regular training. 

4. Incorporating Opportunities for Participation

Something that was really important to me when creating this training was ensuring that there were plenty of opportunities for participation.  I feel that I accomplished this in several ways:

• Adding discussion questions throughout each training
• Using Padlet to track responses: https://padlet.com/dashboard
• Encouraging staff to use the chat feature in Zoom
• Encouraging staff to un-mute during discussion opportunities 

5. Creating the Schedule

Once I had all of the content created, I needed to create a schedule. The schedule helped me figure out how much time the training would take as well as planning for how much time each particular topic would take. I actually ran through a few topics with my Assistant Director to get an idea of how long they might take. 

We ended up deciding that it would be best to try to knock everything out in one long day rather than breaking up topics into multiple days. We knew that this would likely be easier for scheduling and we felt that staff would get more out of the training when they set aside a day for it versus trying to fit it into their already busy schedules. 

Since we knew the day would be very long, we took breaks into consideration when crafting the schedule. We also gave ourselves a bit more time than what we thought we would actually need. We figured that it would be better to end a bit early than run late. We also figured that the extra time would allow for more questions and longer discussions for some topics. 

Here is the schedule that we created. 

While not everyone is lucky enough to have an Assistant Director to work with this on, I would highly suggest collaborating with someone when creating the schedule. It was super helpful to bounce ideas off of each other and run through a couple of the topics. 

6. Picking the Dates

Honestly, this was the most challenging part of the entire process. My Assistant Director and I presented the training together, so the first thing we did was look at our schedules to find dates that worked for both of us. Many of our staff are still in school, so we knew that the date options would have to be on weekends. 

After we compiled a list of possible dates, I used Google Forms to send out a poll to my staff that would need to attend the training. I had my staff select ALL of the possible dates that would work for them. I did not have them select their preferred date as it would have been nearly impossible to coordinate everyone's schedules. 

Once I received a response from most of the staff (of course, there are always a couple that doesn't respond), I picked a date that worked for everyone according to the poll. Of course, after announcing this date, it suddenly did not work for half of the staff involved. 

At this point, I moved to the next best option, I selected two different date options and sent a sign-up form. Staff could sign-up for one of the dates. This gave them some choice, but it also still worked with my schedule. I decided that it would be best to get everything done in one weekend, so I ended up with two groups. One group went on Saturday and one group went on Sunday. The nice thing about this was that the groups ended up being fairly even. I had one group of three and one group of four. This allowed for some great participation. 

7. Day 1 Training Summary

Overall, day one went really well. It definitely exceeded my expectations. The staff were engaged throughout the training and asked a lot of clarifying questions. 

Here are a few things that I felt went really well:

• Engagement: all of the staff were engaged throughout the presentation
• Group Size: The small group size was perfect. It seemed like all of the staff were comfortable with the small group
• Collaboration: My assistant director and I collaborated well throughout the entire training. It was a nice change of pace to switch on and off
• Ending Discussion: We allowed time in the end for staff to ask questions. The questions did not need to relate to the training. They had a lot of great questions and we were able to discuss their arrival day
• Timing: We were able to get done a little early and still had time for breaks. All staff were on time which was helpful 

Here are a few things that I learned and plan to incorporate into the day 2 training:

• More Examples: The staff did really well with the examples that we had. I think incorporating more examples would be helpful
• Location: My voice tended to echo in the location that I was at. I might try a different location. 
• Longer Introductions: I felt like our introductions were really short. It would be nice to give staff a slightly longer opportunity to share about themselves, especially since we had additional time at the end.

All-in-all, day one was a huge success! It was a lot of fun and I felt like the staff had a lot of good take-aways. 

8. Day 2 Training Summary

Day 2 also went well, however, this group was a bit quieter, so engagement was more difficult. 

Here are a few things that I felt went really well:

• Group Size: The group size was great again. While I originally had planned on one larger group, if I did it again, I would keep the small groups. We had a couple of very quiet staff and I don't think they would have participated at all in a larger group setting. 
• Collaboration: My Assistant Director and I collaborated well again. We changed up some of the presentations to play to our strengths and it worked perfectly. 
• Timing: The timing was good. We did get done a bit earlier than the first group.
• Location: I chose a different location that had better lighting and less of an echo. This helped me to better focus on the staff in the training. 

Here are a few things that I learned and will incorporate into future virtual training:

• Creating alternate ways for participation: I think it would be nice to incorporate a variety of ways to participate such as Kahoots. With my quieter group, it was a bit harder to tell if they were actually comprehending the information. I think a brief Kahoot quiz after each section would have been helpful here
• More Lessons: It was difficult to predict timing. If I had known that we would have extra time, I would have incorporated a few more lessons that I also felt were important

9. Summary 

All in all, I felt that this training went extremely well and is something that I would like to continue in the future. It is not the same as in-person staff training, but it did provide my staff with some of the knowledge that they will need when they get to camp. There will still be some in-person components needed, however, a lot of pressure will be taken off knowing that they got a good chunk of information prior to arriving at camp. 

I will be sending out a survey to the staff involved to get their feedback. I will be interested to find out what they thought about the training. 

Free Virtual Summer Camp Staff Training Slide Decks

 

I know that a lot of people have been able to use the training decks that I created for our virtual staff training. That makes me so happy! For those who are interested, I completed a list of all of the slide decks we will be using as well as a copy of our schedule. 

Please feel free to edit or share these trainings to fit your needs. To edit the trainings, you will need to make a copy of the training and share to your Google Drive. 

All of the topics were carefully selected from topics that we will be covering in our in-person training. 

Example Schedule:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12AYe08bCq8ixSJyjXGx2Th-moXRHuKYW8VLniMzqL0U/edit?usp=sharing

Being a Good Counselor:

 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e6doiL5yD3uwk4-_b0qRHUxJVQ-fkGOj-xxudaDgSYA/edit?usp=sharing

Boundaries at Camp:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eF8lLxibOJ_o1_vxKPeizsoDJMtao5EJ7kh2JwxL4C8/edit?usp=sharing

Homesickness:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16uRUlhA4ZIZEWTvtmboTXJSaCIY4OQVHnJDxVvMqzVU/edit?usp=sharing

Active Listening:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oYKtBD4QxLPHzcwzYdyJSFidJAeekhzYn_Us1Jaq21M/edit?usp=sharing

Camp Parents:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_0iEnGagYAGTF38iJKVAIsZuwBZxhhMkSl1Xu8ApuyM/edit?usp=sharing

Setting Consequences: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qJOs2DuLOLCOXMVK2L9ryB2mxpaiprRlk0OV9nA-lG8/edit?usp=sharing

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qrFpu5BMt1gxoRw8YckwGg-00sfTS0qhmVMS95AmUNk/edit?usp=sharing

Practice Scenarios:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VCtWtVDBbBfmy4HPkELL5RElD1SXehkWYfwdle3X2Jk/edit?usp=sharing

Free Scenario Training for Summer Camp Counselors

Hi there! Just sharing another resource for virtual camp staff training. This slide deck goes over some basic camp scenarios. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes six different scenarios on the following topics:

• Gossip
• Camper Boundaries
• Bullying
• Abuse
• Homesickness

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. The scenarios are based off of real life camper situations, but names and information have been changed. The audio is my own. 

Scenario Training:

 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VCtWtVDBbBfmy4HPkELL5RElD1SXehkWYfwdle3X2Jk/edit?usp=sharing

Free Camp Counselor Training: Setting Consequences

Hi there! Just sharing another resource for virtual camp staff training. This slide deck goes over the basics of setting consequences. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes the following topics:

• What is a Consequence
• Consequences vs. Punishments
• Using Rewards as Consequences
• Collective Consequences
• Implementing Consequences
• Example Scenarios

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association.

Setting Consequences Training:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qJOs2DuLOLCOXMVK2L9ryB2mxpaiprRlk0OV9nA-lG8/edit?usp=sharing

Free Being a Good Counselor Camp Counselor Training

Here is another free resource for training summer camp counselors. This slide deck goes over the basics of being a good counselor. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes the following topics:

• Counselor Expectations
• Positions at Camp
• Analyzing the Daily Schedule
• Importance of the Counselor
• Qualities of a Good Counselor
• The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Game
• Effects a Counselor has on Campers

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. Videos are from The Summer Camp Society. I do own nor did I create any of the videos. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly game is based on a game from Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps by Eric Nicastro, Jessica Furrie, and Rachel Saslove.

Being a Good Counselor Training:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e6doiL5yD3uwk4-_b0qRHUxJVQ-fkGOj-xxudaDgSYA/edit?usp=sharing

Free Boundaries at Camp Training for Summer Camp Counselors

Since a few people were able to use my last virtual training on Homesickness, I decided to share all of my virtual trainings. This training is regarding boundaries at summer camp. The training primarily focuses on boundaries that should occur between counselors and campers. 

Please feel free to make a copy of the training and adjust it to fit the needs of your camp. 

• The training includes the following topics:
• What are professional boundaries
• Why are boundaries important
• Technology and boundaries
• Physical boundaries
• Confidentiality
• Red light, green light, you’re fired scenarios
• Consequences of not respecting boundaries

Everything is based on my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. The "Red Light, Green Light, You're Fired" scenarios are partially from the book Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps by Eric Nicastro, Jessica Furrie, and Rachel Saslove. I did change some of the original scenarios. 

If you're interested in more trainings, make sure to follow my blog. I will be posting more soon. All of these trainings are a part of an 8 hour virtual training session that I am hoping to use with my new staff. 

Boundaries at Camp Training: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eF8lLxibOJ_o1_vxKPeizsoDJMtao5EJ7kh2JwxL4C8/edit?usp=sharing

Free Homesickness Training Deck for Summer Camp Counselors

 I want to take the opportunity to share some of my resources with other camp professionals. This resource is a Google Slide presentation for new counselors or counselors in training to learn about homesickness. The training can be used on its own or in combination with other material.  There are notes to help with delivery of the presentation. 

The training goes over the following topics:

• Definition of Homesickness
• Identifying Common Symptoms
• Identifying Common Triggers
• Preventative Strategies
• Strategies for When Homesickness Occurs
• Dealing With Parents
• Example Scenarios

All material is based on my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. 

Please enjoy! Feel free to make a copy of the slides and change the information to fit with your camp.

If you like the training, make sure to share this blog so that others can use it as well. :)

Homesickness 101: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16uRUlhA4ZIZEWTvtmboTXJSaCIY4OQVHnJDxVvMqzVU/edit?usp=sharing

Five Reasons You Should Become a Camp Counselor

 

I LOVE my job and it all came about because I decided to work as a summer camp counselor during my sophomore year of college rather than continuing to flip burgers at McDonald's. While camp counselors are not always paid the best, there are some serious perks to the job that you can't find anywhere else. If you're on the fence about taking a counselor position, here are five reasons that you should go for it:

1. FUN

The title says it all. Being a camp counselor is one of the most rewarding and fun jobs that you will ever have! From hanging out in the pool on your weekend off to a shaving cream war with your campers, you'll have the opportunity to feel like a kid again. There is a good chance that you will take on a few new hobbies while you're at camp. 

2. Your Resume Will Thank You

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING looks better on a resume for a job than a camp counselor position. Camp counselors develop skills in leadership, time management, empathy, problem-solving, communication, patience, and more! These are all things that potential employers like to see. I credit camp for making my resume competitive and helping me get my first teaching job. I rocked my interview and was able to use a ton of applicable experiences from summer camp. 

3. Friends

If you work at a summer camp, it is likely that you will make at least one good friend by the end of the summer. I was lucky enough to meet two of my best friends at camp. We still stay in touch regularly today. Both of my best friends from camp were in my wedding and I love them to pieces. When you spend an entire summer with someone you learn a lot about each other. Of course, you won't be friends with everyone you meet, but generally, the friends you do meet at camp will be long lasting. 

4. Valuable Skills and Certifications

Working as a camp counselor is a great way to strengthen your leadership skills, but leadership is not the only skill you'll gain. Typically camp counselors get certified in first aid and CPR, archery instructing, and lifeguarding. These are all excellent skills to have if you plan on working with children and can even be put to use for other jobs. 

5. Room and Board

This perk is often overlooked when applying for a camp counselor position, but it is a valuable perk. Most overnight camps provide you with a place to stay during your time off AND cover your food for the camp season. While it might not seem like much, a close to $0 grocery bill each month will add up to big savings down the road. If you're lucky you're camp will even let you use some of the camp amenities on your time off. Imagine having a pool and/or lake to swim in all time! 

If you've already been a camp counselor, what was your favorite part of the job? Tell us in the comments! 

Funny and True Stories of a Summer Camp Director

Working at camp for the last 8 years, I have acquired a lot of great stories. Some stories are from before I was Camp Director and some are more recent. I've chosen my top three stories to share with you. I hope you're able to get a good laugh in today. 

1. The Chicken

This story doesn't exactly have to do with camp, but it happened while I was there, so I felt it was worth sharing.

It was my third summer working at camp and my job was the activity coordinator. This meant that I had to plan and implement all of the activities happening at camp. Naturally, a part of the position was going into town to make supply runs. 

On my way to Walmart (the only store in town that carries what I need), I go past a few rural properties. One of the properties has about twenty chickens that they let roam loose through their yard. Typically the chickens stay relatively close to the yard and rarely jut out into the middle of the road. This day was a different story. As I was passing the house, one of the chickens ran out in the center of the road. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop fast enough and with a large THUD, I hit the chicken straight on. 

I am a sucker for animals and immediately felt terrible. I had just hit someone's pet chicken (probably wasn't actually a pet, but at the moment that is what I thought). So, naturally, I did what any good samaritan would do and I went to the door to let the family know that I hit their chicken. After a few knocks at the door and arousing the dog  (right next to the vicious dog sign), I determined that there was no one home. Instead of simply leaving and moving on in life, I thought it was prudent to write a note. Working at camp, it might seem logical that I would always carry paper on hand. Today, I had no paper in my car. After searching my car for upwards of 5 minutes, I used the only items I had - a used Taco Bell wrapper and a brown Crayola marker. 

As the question swirled through my head of what to leave on the note, I finally settled on a simple message. "I'm sorry I killed your chicken. Call me at xxx-xx-xxx." Why I decided to leave my phone number, I will never know. It wasn't like I was expecting someone to give me a call back about their dead chicken and the note left on a Taco Bell wrapper. 

Of course, I couldn't just leave the poor chicken in the middle of the road. I decided to carefully move the chicken from the road to the steps of the house. Thankfully, I had my first aid kit along (a camp essential) and pulled out a pair of quality latex gloves before touching the body. After the body was properly positioned, I sped off as fast I could to Walmart since I was likely going to be late for the upcoming activity. 

When I arrived back at camp, of course, my co-workers questioned my whereabouts. I was typically a very speedy shopper, so they wanted to know what the hold-up was. I started explaining the story of the chicken I started crying (that was embarrassing). While my eyes filled with tears, my co-workers started laughing hysterically. And that is when I realized that my camp friends would soon be my best friends. 

2. The Tampon

Before this story begins, let me make it clear that I do not recommend any of the actions that take place in the story. Looking back, I made a rather poor decision, but it makes for a funny story now. 

My first summer as a counselor, I had the wonderful opportunity to work in a troop camp setting. Troop camp involves working with girls and their Troop leaders. 

On Tuesday morning, our group of girls and troop leaders was scheduled to go to the lake. The lake is about a ten-minute hike from camp, so the girls and troop leaders were busy getting ready for the short hike. After about 15 minutes, I realized that we were going to be late for our scheduled activity. This wasn't a huge deal, however, I decided that I should check on the troop to make sure that everything was okay. They had been in the bathroom for well over 20 minutes. 

As I approached the door to the bathroom, I heard what sounded like some sort of dying animal. Crazy thoughts raced through my mind. Are they killing a small animal? Is someone hurt? I politely knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it. The bathroom does have stalls, so I wasn't expecting to interrupt anyone's privacy.

When one of the troop leader's opened the door, I saw something that I certainly did not expect. A young girl was laying on the floor bawling her eyes out as a troop leader (pretty sure it wasn't her legal guardian) was trying to insert a tampon up her vagina. At first, I wasn't sure how to respond to the situation. My natural instincts from years of working in customer service prompted me to ask the following, "Is there anything I can do to help?" I wasn't sure what I was expecting for an answer to this question. 

After a brief moment of awkward silence, the troop leader said, "maybe this would work better if you helped her." I explained to the troop leader that we have many girls who choose not to wear tampons while swimming in the lake and that she really would not need a tampon in to go swimming. The troop leader insisted that mom (who was on the phone) at the time would like the girl to have a tampon in for swimming.  Without thinking of the potential consequences, I agreed to help the girl insert her tampon. 

I have had a lot of experience with blood, vomit, other bodily fluids, etc. At 20 years old, this was my first experience helping someone insert a tampon. At first, I wasn't sure what to do. The girl was screaming "please NO, please No" over and over again. I decided that the only way to get the job done was to just do it. I told the girl that the train was coming into the port and shoved the tampon in her vagina. The girl stopped screaming and said, "It's in?" 

Once I confirmed that the tampon was in, the girl gave me a very awkward hug. I wasn't sure what to say, so I simply left the bathroom and told the troop leaders I would meet them by the picnic table in five minutes. Oddly enough, my first-year camp counselor self saw little issue with what I had done and continued the day as normal. 

3. The Squirrels and Racoon

My first summer as a camp director it took me some time to get acquainted to the animal sounds in my rustic cabin. The most alarming sound came from inside the wall of my shower.  It was my second day on the job when I heard what sounded like a human being clawing the walls of my shower at 1:30 am. I jumped up from bed (pepper spray in hand) ready to take down whoever dared to enter my cabin. Heart pounding, I reached for the shower curtain expecting a person to jump out. When I pulled on the curtain, the sound stopped and there was nothing there. Just an empty shower. At this point, I was slightly confused and in a tired trance. I decided to let it go and head back to bed.

Fast forward a week and I heard the sound again. This time, my husband (who previously called me crazy when I told him about the situation) was with me. I made my husband go check it out hoping that he would find something. As soon as my husband entered the bathroom, the sound stopped. Once again, there was just an empty shower. The noise like this went on and off for quite some time. Around midsummer, I started noticing a mysterious brown sludge dripping down from the shower handle. Now I knew it was time to get the property manager involved.

I explained the situation to my property manager (who I am pretty sure also thought I was crazy about hearing the noises) and he said that he would take a look. Upon a close inspection of shower, he found that squirrels had made a nest inside my shower wall. Naturally, I expected that he would remove the squirrels from the wall of my shower. Instead, he sealed the hole where the squirrels got in and left the squirrels inside the wall. Within a week or so, my cabin started to reek of a dead body. Febreeze and I became good friends during that time. 

A  couple of weeks later (near the end of camp), I hear a similar scratching sound in the early morning, however, this time, it sounded like it was coming from the back wall of my cabin outside. My first thought was that it must be a squirrel trying to make its way back into my shower wall. Instead of leaving the creature be, I decided that it was my responsibility to stop the animal from getting back in. With no shoes, my patterned nightgown, and an alarm clock (why I had this, I'm still not sure) in hand, I bolted out of bed and ran to the back of my cabin. When I reached the back of my cabin, I did not find a squirrel. Instead, I found a raccoon.... with five babies. The momma racoon looked ticked, so instead of walking away, I threw my alarm clock at it. This did not end well. 

One hour later I explained to my staff that I was heading out to the local hospital to get a rabies shot. This was my first time ever getting a rabies shot (hopefully my last time) and I was expecting to be similar to getting a vaccine. It was not. A rabies shot involves a catheter-like needle that is half an arms-length long repeatedly being stabbed into your deltoid muscle.  I was also under the impression that this shot would be a one and done, but it turns out that you have to go back for a second round. Needless to say, if I get bit again I will just be taking my chances. 

How to Hire Camp Staff on a Budget

 It is not a secret that businesses have been having trouble finding and retaining employees. This has been an even larger ongoing struggle in the world of summer camp. As camp director's we depend on having the correct number of staff to keep things running smoothly. 

I'm very thankful that I have not had any issues in the last three years with hiring and have spent a total of $0 on advertising. I have always had plenty of staff to choose from during the hiring process. I want to help other camps that are struggling, so here are my best tips. 

1. Revamp your CIT Program

This tip might not help you right at this moment, but it will be a game-changer in the future. I entirely revamped our CIT program to ensure that our CITs take away the skills to become great counselors. Part of this process involves allowing our CITs to come back as junior counselors. Since I work for a Girl Scout camp, junior staff do not count in my ratio. Because of this, we avoided hiring them after their completion of the CIT program. This led to many potential staff moving on from camp and finding an alternative summer job. Instead, we offer paid junior counselor positions. The starting pay is less than a regular counselor, but so are the responsibilities. This has worked out amazing as most of my junior counselors come back as counselors when they are 18. I was also able to use them in other roles such as kitchen and assisting with set-up. This was actually a huge help! 

2. Use Facebook Groups

This is my number one secret to finding and hiring quality staff. Many potential staff are already on Facebook and scroll through their newsfeeds regularly. I've found that posting into applicable Facebook groups is the perfect way to get your job seen by thousands. To accomplish this, I find Facebook groups of local colleges in my state and I ask to join them. With permission from the admin, I advertise my position to interested college students. I also post in other relevant local groups such as job boards, hiking groups, and community event pages. The college parent pages also work great as many parents are encouraging their kids to get jobs! I get at least 2-3 applicants a week with this method. 

3. Evaluate Your Pay Scale

While advertising is effective, it is important to remember that you are not the only camp in your area. Make sure that your wages are competitive with camps nearby. Generally speaking, if you want quality staff, you need to pay them a quality wage. Make sure to mention any additional perks to the pay such as free housing, food, free laundry, use of facilities on weekends, providing certifications, etc. While we know that working at camp is more about the experience than the salary if a potential staff can have a similar experience down the road for $100 more per week they're going to quickly shoot down your offer. 

4. Retention 

This is something that I have worked really hard on over the last three years and it has paid off. It is much easier to hire returning staff than to find all new staff. Going into my first summer, there were no returning staff. I now have a retention rate of 68%, which is awesome! To achieve this percentage, I really had to value each of my staff and provide them with the training and time off that they needed. I had to constantly provide staff with feedback and check in on them regularly. 

5. Use Your Returning Staff

Last year, I started an incentive for returning staff to help me advertise. Chances are that your returning staff have friends or family members who might make a good camp staff. The incentive does not have to be huge. I offered a free camp staff sweatshirt to any staff member who recruited new staff. It is important to include some stipulations such as the new staff member must sign the hiring letter, works a certain number of days, etc. You don't want staff abusing the system. I was able to hire three staff this way last summer and two of them are returning! 

6. Advertise Outside of Your Geographical Area

About 30% of my staff are from out of state. Many of my out-of-state staff are my best staff and return year after year. It really opens up the pool of applicants. You would be surprised how many people are interested in working in a different state over the summer. The key when hiring out-of-state staff is to make sure that they will be excellent additions to your team. The last thing you want is to fire a crazy staff member and have to wait several days before their plane takes off. I don't use international staff as that is an entirely different process and can be rather expensive. 

7. Indeed

I've hired a decent amount of staff using Indeed for free. It does take a bit more time as not all of the applicants are great. I have wasted a fair amount of time waiting for potential candidates for an interview only to be "ghosted." Thankfully, I have found several extremely successful candidates as well. My best advice is to look through the applications carefully and only interview those who seem to fit your criteria and are responsive. 

If you're looking for more suggestions or have even more great ideas, send me a message. I would love to get in touch. 

5 Things I learned During my First Summers as Camp Director

 This upcoming summer will be my third summer as a camp director and 8th summer working at camp! Time sure does fly by fast! When reflecting on my first two summers, I found that I learned a LOT! Here are my top five things that I learned during my first summers as a camp director:

1. Staff will not tell you when there are issues

I went into my first summer with the mindset that if a staff member did not bring an issue to my attention, everything was fine. I quickly found out that this was definitely the wrong approach. As it turns out, many staff members prefer not to tell you they are struggling until the end of camp. While this might seem frustrating (trust me, it was), I realized that the error was mine. I failed to check in with staff when they needed someone to check in with them. Since incorporating weekly check-ins problems are addressed and handled with ease (most of the time). Next summer, I am planning to have 1-on-1 meetings with everyone on my admin team in an effort to close the communication gap. 

2. Job descriptions are important 

This might seem like a "well duh" statement. Unfortunately, I decided to skimp when it came to creating and going over job descriptions. I simply used the job descriptions that were already in place. Big mistake! As it turns out, a lot has changed in the last 15 years. While I presented every staff with a job description, I did not put enough emphasis on actually reading the job descriptions. Another big mistake! I now require all staff to read and sign their updated job description and even created a PowerPoint that pulls certain parts from the description to ensure they understand what they need to do on the job. 

3. Don't skimp on staff training

Staff training is the last place to skimp. My first summer, I went in with a lot of assumptions about what my staff should know. It turns out, most of my assumptions were wrong. I first realized this during the 5th week of summer when over half of the returning staff did not know how to start a campfire or comfort a homesick camper. Let's just say that we had a few rough weeks and sleepless nights. I now do a pre-camp survey of skills so that I can really focus on the needs of my staff during training. I also added a lot of "simple skills" to the training schedule. For the staff that already know what they are doing it is a great opportunity for them to step up into a leadership position. I've also incorporated pre-camp trainings that include job description basics and a day in the life and camp. 

4. Feed your camp staff good food

I will be the first to admit that I am not a great cook. Unfortunately, being a cook sometimes is a part of the job when it comes to being a camp director. My kitchen staff often don't start until our campers come. This means that I am responsible for planning and creating meals during staff training. Let's just say two weeks of wraps and sandwiches gains little appreciation. My plan for next summer is to allow my staff to be more involved in the meal plan process and learn some great crock-pot recipes! I will also be assigning staff the responsibility of cooking meals on set days. When staff are not fed well, it tends to lead to excessive crankiness and a lack of learning. 

5. Hiring.

Let's just say that I have learned a lot about the hiring process. Finding great staff is crucial to a great summer and sometimes it just takes one bad apple to destroy the rest of the team. I'm thankful that I have been able to find plenty of staff each summer and have a good group of returning staff. I'll be posting some hiring tips in my next blog, so be sure to check back soon. 

Essential Items Every Camp Counselor Needs

 I've spent my last 8 summers working at camp. While I'm now a Camp Director, I started out as a counselor. Through my summers spent at camp, I learned what items are helpful and what items are not needed for the camp counselor. My packing list changed from "bringing everything but the kitchen sink," to pack the essentials for a successful summer. If you're thinking of heading off to summer camp this coming summer, consider packing the following essentials. You won't be sorry that you packed these items. 

1. Tie-dye

If you are into trending fashion, the number one fashion at summer camps across the nation is tie-dye! My camp staff LOVE tie-dye, but most of them also have a tight budget. I have spent hours searching the web for the perfect tie-dye options at a great price. If you're looking for the perfectly priced tie-dye in tons of options, check out these tie-dye creations on Amazon:

Tie Dye Tshirts

2. Comfortable Walking Sandals

Some camps have different requirements for footwear. Thankfully, my camp allows counselors to wear sandals as long as they have backs. That being said, there are many sandals with backs that are deemed inappropriate for long hikes through camp. If you can afford it, Keens, Tevas, or Chacos are the popular shoes of choice. Many people choose Keens because they also have close-toed options. If you're like me and don't want to spend the majority of your paycheck on shoes, try these instead: Vivakix Walking Sandals. I am very picky about my sandals and I find these more comfortable than Chacos and they have lasted me two summers! 

3. The Perfect Backpack

A backpack is essential for working at any camp. It will hold everything you need throughout the day and can be used for overnight trips. While I am all about saving money, a backpack is not an item where I am willing to skimp. I have tried a total of seven different kinds of backpacks. My first six backpacks only lasted one summer or less (a broken backpack mid-season is the worst). My current pack has gone through two summers and is still going strong. This Osprey Backpack is by far my favorite. Be careful when picking out colors because not all options have a water bottle holder. For me, a place to stash my water bottle is essential. 

4. Multiple Sturdy Waterbottles

Drinking water is SO important when you are a camp counselor. It can be easy to forget and drinking fountains are not always available. Since you will be working primarily outdoors and around children all day, it's important to get something sturdy that will hold up to the elements. I always like to have a couple on hand just in case. My favorite is the Camelback Chute. I always buy Camelback because of the lifetime guarantee. I've had several water bottles and parts replaced over the years and it has always been super simple. The bottles themselves are incredibly sturdy. I prefer the chute option because the options with mouthpieces tend to be prone to mold. 

5. Personalized Beach and Shower Towels

A towel is essential for any trip, but especially essential if you are a camp counselor. After endless days of lifeguarding at the pool or assisting at the lake, you're going to want more than one towel. After losing my fair share of towels at camp, I advise ordering custom towels with your name or camp name. These Personalized Beach Towels are adorable and affordable! 

6. First Aid Kit

While many camps provide counselors with a first aid kit for campers it is often shared between counselors. It's best to always have basic first aid supplies readily available. You just never know when a camper (or even you) will need a band-aid! I recommend this Basic First Aid Kit. It is the perfect size to clip right on your backpack and has everything you will ever need. 

7. Headlamp or Flashlight

This one might seem silly, but I recommend it for several reasons. While your phone works great in a pinch, the flashlight will quickly drain your battery and not all camps are equipped with outlets in sleeping areas. Additionally, some camps don't even allow cellphones (oh the horror) to be used when campers are present. I recommend this headlamp because it is extremely durable and can be charged during the day so you don't need to worry about changing batteries. As a bonus, it's water-resistant! 

8. Shower Caddy

If you're unsure of your showering situation, it's best to pack a showering caddy. If you have to lug your shower supplies from one building or even room to another you don't want to throw all your wet items in your backpack and risk leaks. I love this shower caddy because it is adorable and versatile, but there are cheaper options out there. 

9. Sleeping Bag

It's important to note that not all camps offer temperature-controlled sleeping environments. While most nights will likely be warm, it's important to be prepared for cool nights. A sleeping bag will keep you warm and toasty and can also provide a bit of extra padding for not so comfy spaces. I prefer a lightweight sleeping bag that is easy to carry on trips if needed. This one is my favorite and is also affordable! 

10. Cards

Many camps don't offer Wifi and it is always a nice gesture to send a card home. There's a good chance you might even end up a little homesick and a quick note to someone you care about can be a quick remedy. As a counselor, I also kept a few cards and envelopes on hand for homesick campers. My favorite it this pack because of the quantity and price. You can also find some cute cards at your local Dollar Tree if you don't wish to buy in bulk. 

What's on your summer camp essentials packing list? Have something to add? Tell us in the comments! 

The Daily Routine of a Camp Director During Summer

If I could earn a dollar for every time I've heard someone say "you're a camp director! That sounds so fun," I could be a rich woman. I've also occasionally come across the person who asks, "What do you do all day?" For those who are wondering, here is a sneak peek into my life as a camp director during peak season. 

5:00 am: Wake-up call

I wake up at 5:00 am each day to ensure that I can get a head start on all of the emails, office tasks, and parent contacts that I won't have time to complete later. As soon as the alarm goes off, my feet hit the floor. Depending on the day, there might be time for a quick shower. If not, I go to my "ready in 5-minutes routine." Before leaving my cabin, I ensure that I have all the essentials for the day (rain jacket, flashlight, bug spray, etc). I then begin my 10-minute walk to the office center. 

Once I arrive in the office, I usually spend the first hour of my day responding to emails. You might be surprised, but as a camp director, I get a LOT of emails from frantic parents. Once emails are responded to, I take a look around the main camp and ensure that everything got cleaned up from the previous activities. Did the trash get taken out? Is the shower house clean? Are there any clogged toilets? By the time I finish with my rounds (assuming I don't get interrupted), I head over to the morning energizer. Sometimes I end up lifeguarding, leading archery, or leading a craft before breakfast even starts. 

During breakfast, I either eat (while secretly monitoring the dining hall) or I have to have a "come to Jesus" with the three staff who just can't seem to function together. Occasionally, I don't make it to breakfast due to extra set-up, presenters, or some sort of random disaster. 

9:00 am: Activities, Emails, Going Crazy

By 9:00 am, most of the campers come down for their morning activities. If we happen to be short on staff, I might end up lifeguarding or leading an activity. Most of the time, I end up in the office responding to more emails and voicemails. This is also my time to contact presenters, field trip leaders, bus drivers, etc. to ensure that they didn't just forget about the activity we had set up five months ago. 

This is also typically the time when shit starts to hit the fan. From overflowing toilets to the naked camper who refuses to leave the shower house stall because they want to go home, there is always something to take up my time. 

12:30 pm: Lunch?

Lunchtime is a wonderful time when you get the chance to eat. Most of my meals are taken on the go so that I can go deal with whatever issues did not get resolved in the morning. Oftentimes, my lunch is spent having yet another "Come to Jesus" with the staff who just can't seem to function. 

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: A Break in the Day

During this time, campers have "me-time." This is a time where they relax, recharge, and most importantly are nowhere near the main camp. Occasionally, this is my time to take a short nap to prepare for the rest of the day, however, usually I get called to the unit to assist with a crying camper, clogged toilet, or occasional wasp sting. This is also the time to get the mail and send out bunk notes which is typically the job of my Assistant Director, but sometimes end up being my job when shit hits the fan. 

3:00 pm: More Activities, Emails, Going Crazy

The afternoon is essentially a repeat of the morning, however, on certain days we have check-outs, which means that I need to be up at the office ready to check out campers going home. 

6:00 pm: Dinner

On most nights, 6:00 pm signals the time to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal. At times, 6:00 pm means doing the laundry that never got finished in the afternoon, restocking first aid kits, putting away supplies, or contacting parents. 

7:00 pm: All Camp Activity

Of course, all-camp activity involves everyone at camp (including the director). From running around playing capture the flag for hours to hiding by the famous camp snake during hide and seek, it is always sure to be a great time. 

9:00 pm: Preparing for Bed?

This is the time when the campers start to head to bed or participate in after-dark activities. This is when I fill in wherever needed. Usually, my night involves a late-night shower house clean or mopping floors. At times, I end up assisting with the "extremely homesick" campers. 

10:00 pm: Bedtime... 

By 10:00 pm, most of the campers are asleep and it feels like the right time to wind down. Then it happens, a walkie call. Typically the nightly walkie call involves the furthest unit and takes a fair amount of time. It might be some things medical (sometimes I am the backup nurse), a homesick camper, or trouble with an animal. Whatever the reason, I will end up making the trek to where I am called before heading off to bed. 

When the day is finally done, I head off to bed and hope that I won't be woken up to the sound of the walkie again. Some nights are better than others. Eventually, I fall asleep to thoughts of what the next day will bring.