Is being a Camp Counselor Worth it
For the past four summers, I have rolled around in mud, dressed up in trash bags, sung at the top of my lungs, spent nights underneath the stars, invented games, had my name chanted by hundreds. And I've been paid for all of it.
Yes, I am a camp counselor, through and through.
I'll start by saying that, as I'm sure you've heard, it is the best possible job to have. I would recommend it in a heartbeat; but with fair warning that I wish someone had given me a few years ago: it can also be the hardest, most frustrating, uncomfortable job you'll ever have.
Understand that you are being handed the most precious thing in the world: a child. Not even your own; a perfect stranger is entrusting you to be able to meet each and every one of that child's needs. This may include (but is certainly not limited to) knowing that child's eating habits, his/her favorite activities, who his/her friends are, who s/he can't stand and shouldn't be allowed near, what motivates him/her to get out of their bed morning, being able to pick up those discreet, subtle signals that indicates s/he is headed for a total meltdown (this is an IMPORTANT one).
Now, multiply that by about 10. Welcome to your group of children you are responsible for!
Unlike almost any other job out there, as a counselor, you are always on duty. You day ends only once every child is tucked in and asleep-and then your nights begin. (Night problems have ranged, for me, anything from a bout of homesickness, to bed wetting, to an emergency trip to the hospital.) When the next day rolls around, it does not matter if you had all of the above happen while the rest of recharged, or if a coworker has taken the last cup of coffee (my personal biggest downfall), you are expected to smile, to bounce back, to be ready for whatever is going to be thrown your way (and trust me, ANYTHING can be). You set the tone for these children and their day ahead.
There will be days when you think you won't want to go on for the rest of the summer. Every summer, even after knowing the ropes, I go through it. You'll be sunburned. You'll have blisters. You'll be going on too little sleep and a too empty stomach. You'll question how hard you're working and how little you're earning. And you'll be completely right-when you look at it that way, it's NOT worth it.
But something will happen. Maybe it will be in the form of a friendship bracelet, a camper's achievement, a toothy grin and a "thank you". Something will happen and remind you why you decided to become a camp counselor in the first place.
Last week I actually got an e-mail from the mother two of my campers last summer, twin six year olds. The girls had just wanted to send an update my way, telling me about their new hermit crabs, their Halloween costumes, how school was going. The message ended with the mom telling me the girls were crying as they talked about me, asking when they could see me again.
So trust me: those blisters, that sunburn, those long nights sitting up with a crying child? It is definitely worth it.
