by Rebecca Cowan Johnson, Ph.D., CCD
Let’s look at some of what it takes to survive a hectic, demanding, busy, overwhelming, stressful summer. The following list was developed from the experiences of many camp professionals, including my own experiences as a
camp counselor and director. These 10 guidelines are applicable to both full-time and summer staff. If followed,
they will help you not only endure but also enjoy your summer.
- Make sure you get enough sleep.
Don’t stay up too late night after night because the lack of sleep will catch up with you and you’ll be dragging from lack of energy. Once sleep deprivation sets in, you’ll begin to dread activities and kids you used to enjoy. - Maintain firm and consistent cabin discipline.
If you don’t enforce camp and cabin rules, especially in the beginning, you will forever live to regret it. Kids need to know what they can and can’t do – it makes them feel more secure. Once established, everyone can relax and enjoy themselves because they know what to expect if they do or don’t do something. - Don’t put relationships with fellow staff members before your responsibilities to your job and to your campers.
Your supervisors won’t be pleased and you’ll either begin to feel guilty or you’ll begin to blame others for your imperfections (if you’re human like the rest of us), Your responsibilities to the campers and to your job are your first priority, not your personal social life. - Maintain a good sense of humor.
If you take yourself too seriously you’U miss out on the fun of camp and working with kids. As the saying goes, “A good thing to have up your sleeve is a funny bone …” - Eat as nutritiously as possible.
If you primarily eat junk food or not enough of what’s good for you, you sabotage your own physical and emotional energy. Just like lack of sleep, this begins to effect your morale and effectiveness. - Make time for yourself.
It’s too easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing — to spend all of your days off doing something with other staff members. But it is important, perhaps imperative and essential, that you get in tune with your own needs, concerns, and values. - Find someone with whom you can share.
Everyone needs a confidant with whom they can share their frustrations. Locate a good set of listening ears so that you don’t inappropriately share job-related frustrations with the campers, or take it out on them. When you do need to vent your negative emotions, do so in ways that are productive and not destructive — both to you and those around you. - Don’t try to be too much of a ‘pal’ to the kids.
Campers need positive adult role models more than they need another ‘pal.’ They need adult-like friends more than peer-like friends because they want to learn from you. Counselors that get down on the campers’ level report that they often feel taken advantage of and not taken seriously enough. - Be patient and resolve problems quickly.
Living in close quarters with others while performing seemingly constant and demanding duties can result in a decrease in one’s tolerance level. You must be patient — with fellow staff members, campers, and yourself. If conflicts do arise, seek to resolve them quickly. The last thing you need is relationship problems, which can deplete your enthusiasm (whether with a fellow staff member or a camper). - Have fun!
Working at a summer camp can be one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of your life — especially if you follow these tips.
Rebecca Cowan Johnson, Ph.D., CCD, is guest editor of this issue of Camping Magazine. A psychologist who is licensed in clinical psychology, she has served as camp director for three years at Yosemite Sierra High Adventure Camp and for five years at Camp Deer Run. Johnson is author of For Their Sake, a book on recognizing and responding to child abuse.
Taken from Camping Magazine, July-August 1994, pg. 14-15