The Mythology of Summer Camp Counselors
What it does and doesn’t take to be a great camp counselor
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Believe it or not there’s more to being a camp counselor than Teva sandals, granola and pitching a tent. As a camp counselor, you could make it through your entire summer job without encountering any of those three things. Along with those three myths, there are a handful of other myths about camp counselor jobs that have made the rounds that are simply untrue.
Happy summer vacation: While you may work as a camp counselor for the summer, calling it a “vacation” isn’t terribly accurate. As a camp counselor you’ll need to be awake before your campers and stay awake until after they are dreaming sweetly in their beds. Counseling campers means jumping out of bed when there’s a bear in the campground, or consoling a home-sick kid in the middle of the night. It’s a 24/7 kind of job that doesn’t understand the meaning of “summer vacation.”
Alone time: If you’re the kind of person who needs your own space and a private bathroom, you can forget about that at camp. Most counselors sleep in the same areas as their campers for overnight supervision. You’ll have very little private time, including phone and internet. Even if your camp isn’t “outdoor” themed, most camp counselors aren’t able to use cell phones due to rules or just not being able to get service.
It’s all Kumbaya: It’s a travesty. Some campers go their entire lives without hearing a legit rendition of this campfire classic. If you play acoustic guitar, more power to you, but it’s not a necessary skill for camping. Hemp necklaces, shaggy hair and bandanas just aren’t the norm anymore. It’s more important that you’re able to be yourself, that’s what campers will relate to.
Being at one with nature: While there are still many adventure-themed summer camps, there are over 12,000 summer camps in the United States alone catering to a wide variety of interests including music, church, sports and cheerleading. You don’t have to love camping to love camp.
You don’t have to love camping, but you do have to love camp. A great summer camp counselor has a talent and passionate for the mission of the camp they work for. This translates into strong friendships, mentoring and engaged campers. Being a camp counselor is about relating to your campers in a way that improves their abilities and broadens their horizons.