User:Wreizner

Camp Counselor

Camp is an astonishing place where all children should have to go to. It is a place for kids to play, let loose and be a kid. School is a place for them to learn book smarts and behave appropriately. Camp is where they go to be a little crazy, let their imagination and creativity grow, and learn life lessons that they won’t learn at school. Being a counselor is the most important part of their experience, your job is to push them to do things they might want to do but can’t bring themselves to do. You are not their teacher, you are their counselor and that means that you be fun and crazy with them, but at the same time remain respected. You are their mentor; your job is to set an example for these children. Whether you like it or not, they look up to you more than any other adult they know. Let their parents be the law layers and the disciplinarians, and that allows you to be the fascinating young person that they want to become.

Camp allows for sticky situations to arise: problems with campers alienating other campers, fears, anxieties and many other difficulties that you need to help them through. Along with these problems come life lessons that they will walk away with. Let them lead the way and solely guide them towards the solution. When they know that they did something by themselves they will forever remember that gratifying feeling.

Teach them morals and judgment about friendship, risk taking (relatively speaking), appropriateness, and whatever else that is important to you that you want to impress onto them. Forget about all your discrimination and biases and let them decide for themselves if they would rather play basketball or do ceramics. Allow them to form their own opinions. An inevitable problem thsat comes with a group of 15 excited kids is a lack of listening skills. It may not occur for the first few weeks because the children aren’t comfortable with you or know your limits. When that problem arises, there are many creative ways to go about solving the problem and yelling is not one of them. You need to find a way that will make them understand that their summer will be a lot more fun and smooth if they listen to you.

Along with that, you have to listen to them and hear what they have to say. They may be young, but their minds are filled with the most amazing things and they may be able to teach you a thing or two.

Most of all, have fun and keep the respect of your campers and fellow counselors and you will have the best summer.