Advice On How To Be A Better Counselor

Ways to teach a skill

Just as there are many ways to learn, there are many ways to teach. Here are some ways to teach skills at camp:

Say it. Tell the kids what the skill is, describe it.

Show it. Show pictures, diagrams, or other visual aids.

Model it. Do the activity yourself, such as tying a knot.

Learn by doing. Have the kids do the skill, alongside you or after you (or both). This is a great way to engage kids on multiple levels, as you often also need to incorporate some of the earlier techniques (say, show, etc) and this engages multiple learning styles.

Learn through play. An example of this is a simulation game, such as that deer game where you simulate resources (called Deer, Deer, Deer in Ultimate Camp Resource). This can be existing games, or one you made up. Another example is that I made up a simulation of holding hands in different formations to explain how colligative properties work in ice cream in a bag.

Engages the senses. This works well in conjunction with other techniques, but basically bringing in as many of the senses as you can, especially touch/kinestetic.

Since kids learn differently, ideally teach with multiple methods. Teaching is a learned skill that you develop as a camp staff, and everyone does it with their own flair. But these are some suggestions to get you started as you develop your own way of teaching.

I have $24 to last me til Friday, what should I buy with it?

What to pack for camp: backpack/daypack

*These are things that I carry with me everywhere. Some of these things might overlap with stuff from previous posts, but that is because I have two of those items, one for the cabin and one for when I’m not in the cabin

*FYI I use a North Face Recon backpack. It has a nice mesh front pocket and large mesh side pockets.

water bottle

sunscreen

bugspray

after bite

first aid kit

schedule

2 extra pairs of socks

flashlight/ headlamp

lighter

paper for fires

hairties

feminine hygiene products (small opaque bag i.e. pencil case size, with a couple of what you need)

sunglasses

playing cards

pens and pencils

hand sanitizer

travel pack of clorox wipes

cell phone (i keep mine in a life proof case)

scissors

friendship string

duct tape (optional)

face paint for team games (optional)

portable speaker (optional)

small, lightweight towel (optional)

DO NOT keep things like your wallet, or keys in your backpack. they could get lost or stolen. Instead, keep these things tucked away in your cabin. I tend to bury them in my clothing drawers, so nobody can find them.

small things to add to a hand written letter:

a teabag of your favourite tea

heart shaped note with cute drawings

stickers on the outside of the letter, and inside

handmade paper doll

small print or postcard

a sketch or a little painting or a poem

glitter or sequins or pearls or buttons

small candies or bubblegum

cut out magazine pictures or articles

folded paper, like origami

textile like small ribbons or clothing patches

coins or flat things found in a souvenir shop

pressed flower or leaf

What I want to teach my CITs

This is the earliest post in my drafts, started way back in September of 2015, when I first started this blog. And I wanted to share it with you now, with some new additions. 

There are some things I want to teach my leadership girls while they’re at camp.

1. Camp is where girls go to escape the real world. Let them.

2. It’s ok if you are at camp to escape the real world too.

3. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. Just try not to let your girls see.

4. It’s ok to be confused, to need to ask questions. You will learn something everyday, no matter how long you have been at camp. 

5. You will wonder what you are sending your kids home to. Is it the same love and acceptance of camp? Is it ambivalence? Is it something else entirely?

6. You will wonder because children say things. They trust you and so they tell you things. And because you see things, you watch how they act. And you will wonder.

7. You will never forget your campers. I remember campers from when I was a program aid, ten years ago, and I remember the name of every CIT from this summer (2015). 

8. You will want to share life lessons with your campers, things you wish someone would have told you at their age. But then you realize that it’s camp and you can’t tell them. And so you hope they will learn on their own.

9. You will make mistakes, at camp and in life. I’ve made mistakes, I still make them. You just have to learn from them. 

10. You will change while you are at camp. It is our experiences that shape us and camp is an experience with a shape that isn’t found anywhere else in the world.

11. Camp songs will be stuck in your head forever. 

12. You will work with girls from all walks of life, all different experiences. Learn compassion.

13. You are loved and you are valid. Being a teenager is hard. Being a young adult is hard. But you’re not alone in this world. 

14. Camp is an amazing place. Cherish it while you can because one day, not as far in the future as you may think, it won’t be in your life but will instead be a memory.

Logic Games for Camp Counselors

Counselors love to use these logic games as a way to pass time and keep campers engaged and having fun during down time. All of these are mind games in which the rules are ‘hidden’ from the players, that is, until they figure it out! Make sure to instruct them not to yell out the rule once they figure it out (unless the game calls for that), so as not to ruin the game for others. Depending on the game, make sure that you let campers ‘run it,’ state the phrases, try the actions, etc. once they begin to figure it out so they don’t get bored. If no one is figuring it out, try telling a person or two to get the ball rolling. Have fun!!

STICKS

Sitting in a circle on the floor, grab a bunch of sticks or wood chips. Tell campers that you are going to do something with the sticks and they have to guess the number your are thinking of based on your actions. Make a picture with the sticks (a house, a number, a letter, a pile, etc.). The number you are guessing is revealed by how many fingers you are holding out once you complete your stick picture. I like to sit criss crossed apple sauce and then place my hands on my knees. If I hold out two fingers in each hand, the number is 4, or one hand with five fingers and the other with none is five, etc. Have campers guess the numbers and tell them if they are right or not. If you think they have figured it out, let them try being the one with the sticks. 

MAGICAL UMBRELLA

Start by saying the riddle “um. I have a magical umbrella. It’s *insert color or pattern here* and when I spin it around it turns *insert different color or pattern here.* What color does it turn next?” The key is to say ummmmm before saying the riddle (magical UMMbrella) Have campers guess, and tell them if they are right or wrong. Then let them try ‘holding the umbrella.’ Play around with crazy patterns like purple with green dinosaurs on it, orange polka dots, etc. 

GREEN GLASS DOOR

Campers try to guess what can or cannot go through the green glass doors. Say “I can bring puppies through the GGD but not dogs.” The key is that words with double letters can go through (kittens but not cats, apples but not oranges,  boots but not shoes, etc.)

FOUR IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

This game starts with a certain number that eventually breaks down into the number four. The goal is figure out how the numbers are being broken down. “twelve is six, six is three, three is five, five is four.” The next number is the # of letters in the previous number. The word twelve has six letters, six has three letters, three has five letters, five has four letters. Every beginning number eventually breaks down to the number four. 

PICNIC

This is a simple game, but can be difficult to catch onto the rules. Can also be fun to play as a name game as you get to know each other and remember names. Start by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing a *insert object that starts with the same first letter as your name*.” (Emma and eggs, Courtney and cookies, Samantha and sandwiches.) Have campers try this one and tell them whether or not they are able to bring the object the say until they figure it out. 

THE ROSE 

This game can be played many ways with different objects. Say “If I have a rose and I give it to Courtney and she gives it to Samantha and she gives it to Emma, who has the rose?” The person who has the rose is the first person to speak after you finish saying the question. So if you ask the question, and Courtney says “it’s _____,” then you could say “no it’s you Courtney.” This one can be a little slow at first until a few people pick up on it, but then it’s super fun! One of my favorites!

PAY ATTENTION (or LISTEN)

Say “Pay attention. If those (point to them) are shoes, and those are shoes, and those are shoes, are these shoes?” Point to a few pairs of shoes, and then for the last object, you can either point at shoes or anything else. The key is to say the phrase ‘pay attention’ before you speak. If you do, than the answer is yes, if not, the answer is no. So if you finish by pointing at a real pair of shoes, but you don’t say ‘pay attention’, then they are not shoes. But if you point at a tree at the end and say ‘pay attention’, then the tree is shoes. 

GHOST CHAIR

This one is a bit difficult. Set up chairs like musical chairs. Pick a chair to assign as the ghost chair, but don’t tell anyone. Explain that there is a ghost in the room. Have everyone sit in a chair. Mentally note who is sitting in the ghost chair. Have everyone move to a new chair. Ask who the ghost is standing in front of. Let them guess, and tell them if they are correct or not. The ghost is standing in front of whoever was sitting in the ghost chair before you all moved chairs. 

JOHNNY WHOOP 

Hold your hand up. Make a specific pattern of touching your fingertips and sliding your finger along the curve between our forefinger and thumb. When touching the tips of fingers, say “Johnny,” but when sliding along the curve say “Whoop.” When you are done, drop your hands and clasp them together.  Remember the pattern you made, and do it the same way every time. Have campers try to copy you and tell them if they did it right or not. The key is not to correctly replicate your patten but to clasp your hands after finishing it. 

RIGHT PARTY 

Say “I’m throwing a party, but it’s not just any party, it’s the right party at the right place at the right time with the right people and the right snacks and the right clothes.” Then explain what you will be wearing to the party. Have campers try and tell them if they are allowed to wear it to your party or not. The clothes allowed to the party are whatever the person to your right is wearing. 

ONE UP ONE DOWN 

Only one of three phrases can be said. But only one of them is correct at a given time. Both up, one up one down, and both down. It depends on how your arms are positioned when the phrase is being said. So if the person’s arms are both hanging down, the correct phrase is both down, etc. Have campers try and guess which one to say and tell them if they are allowed to say it or not. 

WITCH WRITING 

You have to have at least one friend playing that knows the rule to get the ball rolling. Tell campers a story that explains how you met a witch and learned the secret language.Send the friend out of the room. Decide with the campers which word you are going to write and try to get the friend to guess. Call them back in. Use the secret witch writing to write the word and have the friend guess. She will get it right, keep playing until campers begin to figure it out. It involved random scribbling and pounding your hands against the table/ground. Vowels are represented by the number of pounds. 1 pound=A, 2 pounds=E, 3 pounds=I, 4 pounds=O, 5 pounds=U. Consonants are represented by the first letter of the phrase in-between pounds. The random scribbling is just to confuse people and has no meaning. Example: the word is ‘guide”. Say “Going to start now” Random scribbling with a pencil. Then pound your hands 5 times.  Random scribbling. Pound your hands 3 times. Random scribbling. Then say “Don’t get confused.” Random scribbling. Then pound your hands 2 more times. 

CROSSED/UNCROSSED (or OPEN/CLOSED) 

This game can be played with sticks or pencils (scissors for open/closed). Have everyone sit in a circle. You are going to pass two sticks to the next person either crossed over each other or just parallel to one another. The person receiving them has to say if they are receiving the sticks crossed or uncrossed. The position of the sticks does not matter, only wether the giver is sitting with their legs/ankles/arms (pick one) are crossed or not. This game works better when siting on the ground than at a table. 

MAN IN THE MOON 

Grab a stick and draw a picture in the dirt while saying “This is a man on the moon. He has a face, a mouth, a nose and two eyes.” (Draw those things) Before doing/saying this, do a small action such as touching your ear, flipping your hair, scratching your knee, etc. Have campers try and tell them if their man on the moon is correct. The drawing does not matter, only that they repeat the same small action beforehand. 

PLATES/CUPS Grab a few cups or plates and a small object that fits underneath it. You need a friend who knows the rule to get the game started. Decide on a code word with the same number of letters as the number of cups you have. (if you have four cups, use the word corn, which has four letters) Share this word with everyone, but don’t explain how to use it. Lay the cups out in a horizontal line. Only the friend will understand at first but the plate to the far left (the friend’s point of view) corresponds to the first letter of the code word, so C. The next cup is O. The next is R. The next is N. Again, the campers do not know this. Send the campers and the friend away or have them close their eyes. Put the small object under one of the cups. Call them back. The friend will guess which cup it is under. She will know because the cup it is under corresponds to the first letter of the first thing you say when they come back. So if the first thing you say is “Really think about it, and tell me which cup,” then the object is under the cup that is R, or the third cup. 

PSYCHIATRIST

This game is fun, but once the participant figures out the rule, the game is over because they have to say it out loud. That is…. until someone new wanders up and wants to play and doesn’t know the rule. Pick a participant and send them away. Explain the rule to everyone else. The person is going to come back and ask them questions. The first person to be asked  a question is to answer with the words “i don’t know” no matter what the question is. After that, the next person to be asked a question is to answer with the answer that corresponds to the last question. Call the person back into the group. Explain to them that they are a psychiatrist and this group has a problem and they have to figure out what it is. They are to go up to people and ask them simple or yes or no questions. When they think they know the problem, guess it out loud. Example: Psychiatrist to person A: Is the sky Blue? Person A: I don’t know. (this will confuse the psychiatrist, tell them to move on to next person) Psychiatrist to person B: What color is a cow? Person B: yes. Psychiatrist to person C: What is  my name? Person C: black and white. and so on. 

ROAD TRIP 

This one is difficult and takes a while to figure out. You are going on road trip and going to tell your campers where you went and how long you stayed there and they are to figure out where you are going next. The answer is revealed by the pathway of your trip. Letters are the first letter of where you went. Vowels are how long you stayed. (A-1, E-2, I-3, O-4, U-5) Example: I started in Delaware and stayed for 2 days, then I went to Nebraska, then Vermont where I stayed for 2 weeks, then I went to Rhode Island. Where do I go next? Answer= Denver. 

BLACK MAGIC

One person is sent away. The rest of the group decides on an object among them to be the magic object (a hat, shoe, shirt, backpack, water bottle, etc.) Call the person back. Explain to the person they are to pick an item from a list you give them that is the magic object. They are to figure out that the object is whichever one comes after a black object. The other objects can not be black, because that would disrupt the game. Continue to list off a bunch of items among you, pointing at each, one of them being the object chosen after a different black object. Example: “Is the magical object her shoe, his sunglasses, my foot, his hat (which is black), that water bottle, or the sky?” Answer= the water bottle because it came after the black object.

HOW MANY BEARS?

Make up a story about bears, and finish by asking how many bears there are (have it make sense with the story). The answer is dependent on how many words are used to ask the question. Ex: How many bears are there?-5, What number of bears are there?-6, How many bears?-3, etc. 

THIS CAN HAS FIVE SIDES

This game follows the same rules as the bear game. Grab a can and pass it around, having campers tell each other how many sides it has. The number of sides is dependent on the statement. Example: This can has five sides-5, Two sides-2, I think that this can has 8 sides-8, etc. 

DOES THE BOAT FLOAT? 

This game is similar to the umbrella game. Here’s how it works. Say “Okay,” then grab a stick or use your finger to draw an imaginary boat in the air. Ask “Does this boat float?” Let campers guess yes or no and tell them if they are correct or not. The key is wether or not you say ‘okay’ before you draw the boat. Let them try drawing boats once they think they have figured it out. 

WHOSE TRIANGLE?

This game is almost identical to the boat float game, but draw a triangle between different people as your stand around in a circle. You can also play this game like the rose game, where whoever speaks first is the owner of the triangle. 

FLASHLIGHT DANCE Again, similar to the boat float game. Pick a phrase or acton (saying okay, clearing your throat, flipping the flashlight in the air and catching it, etc.) that must be performed before the dance. Grab a flashlight (this game is obviously for night time) and perform (or don’t) the action and then proceed to do a dance with the flashlight. Ask the campers if your dance was real (performed the action) or made up (did not perform the action). 

Behavior Management Tips

So I know in the past I’ve gotten questions about handling specific situations with campers. And I am happy to answer these. However, here are a few quick tips to help you get started on your own:

Remain calm. You panicking or getting angry helps nothing. Yes, your adrenaline might be pumping and your anxiety is picking up, but you need to try to keep yourself outwardly calm. I know this is easier said than done, but it gets easier with practice. 

Stop any immediately dangerous behavior. If kids are in an unsafe situation, get them out of it. If kids are fighting/bullying, separate them.

Take a minute to think. This is beneficial to you because you get to process what’s going on and think through possible solutions (and continue to calm down), and the kids get a chance to cool off so they’re in a better place to listen/talk. It’s a lot harder to think of a good solution and how to get there with the adrenaline and anxiety of a bad situation.

Don’t yell, be sarcastic, or snap.

Ask open ended questions. If they were doing something dangerous (example: I once had a 7th grader hop over the fence on our deck and stand on the ledge just because), ask them why that might have not been a good idea. If it’s bullying (like one on one), separate the kids out and ask them separately what’s been going on. If it’s bullying as a group, I usually talk to them as a group because I don’t want to hear the same thing from 15 different 6th graders and tell them all the same thing (some kids may ask to talk one on one after this, which is fine if you and another staff member are comfortable with it).

If someone was hurt, emotionally or physically, an apology may be appropriate. Alternatively, for group problems, team building activities such as Fill My Bucket can help.

If you, or another staff member, panicked or yelled or otherwise scared the kids, apologize. Kids are people too. I usually also make it a point to tell them that we are not angry with them and, if it was just a mis-judgement that ended up being something dangerous, that they aren’t in trouble we were just worried.

Check in afterwards. If I have the kids in a group, I usually have them rate one to five how they are feeling with their fingers while everyone closes their eyes and then let anyone who wants to share with the group.

As a note, I don’t actually punish kids. We talk through stuff, they agree not to do it again, and if we need to, we talk to the parents and the usual “punishment” we have is that they go home. Depending on what happens, we may call and inform the parents or send home a note. 

Also there aren’t a lot of valid punishments at camp. Staff will ask me if I’m going to punish the kids for doing something. No, they’re 10, they just wanted to play in the river and didn’t think through why that can be dangerous if there aren’t adults with them. I don’t want them to hate kapers and I’m not going to send them to sit in their tent alone. So I aim for the above.

Maybe this isn’t how their parents do it or how some other camps want to do it, but this is a method that’s worked well for me. Kids are tiny people and they have feelings and need understanding as they learn about the world around them and what is appropriate and what is not. Let camp be a safe place for them to learn that.

New Counselor Packing Tips

Hiring season for summer camp is in full swing, and there are a lot of folks they’ll be counsel just learning they’s be counselors soon! Being a camp counselor is one of the best, most rewarding experiences out there, and that’s super exciting; but it’s hard to know what exactly you should bring and know before diving in. 

Here are some packing tips to get you started.

Clothes

Pack about enough base outfits to last you two-three weeks, depending on how long you’re going to be there. (2-3 months, or a summer season, should only need 2 weeks of base outfits)

Shirts

Bring a few extra

Look for thin material, short sleeve/tank tops over long-sleeves (you can wear a sweater instead of a long-sleeve).

Flannels are never a bad idea!

Pants & Shorts

Whatever you can wear more than once, at least one pair of sturdy jeans.

Look out for big pockets! You can never have too much pocket space.

Undergarments

Bring about a week’s worth of extra underwear and socks

One or two pairs of brand-new, never-worn, super-comfy socks you can bust out near the end of the summer on a particularly exhausting day.

Look for comfortable and sports bras over under-wires and push-ups.

Jackets & Sweaters

Two-three jackets: one for rain, one for warmth, (optional) one for style.

Looks for sweaters you can wear under your jackets for more warmth, and light sweaters good for stuffing in a bag or sleeping in overnight. No more than 4-5 of these.

Pajamas

Two or three comfortable pairs, at least one pair of sweats for sleeping outside

Shoes

Invest in at least one pair of good shoes! You’ll be on your feet a lot.

Chacos, Keens, or Tevas are all good hiking sandals that most camp people swear by. I bought Chacos three years ago, and they’re still in great condition with fantastic fit and support. 

Water-tight shoes are important and will save you from squishy feet if it rains.

Backup sneakers/walking shoes in case your’s get wet.

Flip-flops or shower shoes for showers.

Nice insoles for later in the summer will help you with burnout.

Something you can tie-dye: should be white, simple, and cotton. Polyester and active-wear fabrics won’t hold dye.

A set (or two) of nice/dressy clothes for breaks and staff events.

Swimsuit: modest, and bring one even if you don’t think you’ll use it.

Living Space

Bedding

A sturdy and warm sleeping bag (invest in a good one: my favorite ever is from L.L. Bean and has a flannel lining for maximum comfort).

Comfortable sheets: check with camp on how big the bunks are.

Top sheet can sometimes be sacrificed as a window cover/drapes.

Good pillow

Just bring one, but INVEST

Extra blanket

Something heavy and warm is good, even if it’s hot where you’re going or you run hot. 

Laundry bag (can be used as extra packing space)

Fairy lights, small/portable lamp, and/or multiple night lights

Fairy lights are good for making a space feel more homey, lamps can be taken outside for campouts, and night lights are great for camper cabins and bathrooms. 

Hanging shelves or pop-up bins for storage.

Shower mat (if your cabins have showers- be sure to check).

(Optional) Alarm clock with radio

Books

Something for you to read during breaks/before bed, maybe 1-2 books per month

A book with plenty of short stories to read campers to sleep with

I personally used “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”; just check which stories are camp appropriate before cracking them open.

Air freshener

Extra stuffy for homesick campers

Toiletries:

Small tote & shower caddy- look for fabric and canvas over hard plastic.

Extra toothbrush

Tums/Anti-Diarrheal (camp food is a gamble)

 Bag balm

Tons of extra hair ties

Whatever you use at home (shampoo/conditioner, body wash, wash, etc.)

Towels

One for showering, one for the beach, plus a wash cloth.

If you have glasses, croakies.

Lock box for any valuables you have to bring + personal meds.

Electronics

Extra charger for your phone

Power bank for your phone

Otterbox or Lifeproof phone case

Bluetooth speaker (for breaks, cleanup, and if your camp allows phone music), or radio or CD player with speaker

Headphones + backup headphones

Downloaded music, podcasts, movies, etc. 

Musical instrument if you have them

Something silly! A large flag, costume item, silly hat, etc.

One or two of these is plenty

Backpack & Daily Use

Bring something school backpack-sized, with lots of extra pockets. North Face makes amazing backpacks with hip & chest straps for excellent weight distribution. Also good are fanny packs (trust me), and smaller day packs.

Watch

Look for digital, waterproof watches, with alarms. Bonus if you can light up the face to see it in the dark.

Consider bringing a backup

Clipboard

Either get one that opens & closes (translucent is best), or a plastic sheet/folder to protect papers.

Sunglasses (polarized is good)

Sunscreen (+ backup)

Bug spray

Nalgene, camelback, or other good, high-capacity, sturdy water bottle.

Metal and glass should be avoided. Metal especially gets bent up very quickly.

Travel mug

Duct tape

Start with a big roll, get more later if needed.

Bungee cords (optional)

Pocket knife or multi-tool (check local laws on pocket knives)

Lighter (+ extras)

Flashlights or headlamps: 2-3

Hand sanitizer/baby wipes

Kleenex/napkins

Chapstick galore (bag balm also works for this)

Camera: small, durable, consider disposables.

Depending on climate: fan, minifan, and extra batteries.

Bandanas 

Keeps the sun off you, can be soaked in water & placed on neck to cool down.

Hat (for shade)

Umbrella (for keeping the rain or sun off you & campers)

Writing/drawing supplies

Pens, markers, and sharpies you don’t mind lending out

One or two good mechanical pencils + eraser

Sharpies (lots)

Paper you can give to campers for on-the-spot drawing

Notebook/sketchbook for doodling and taking notes: small and spiral-bound is good.

Envelopes and stamps for sending letters

Tape, scissors, and a glue stick.

Sturdy deck of cards

I like to tape up the edges with duct tape or painter’s tape to prevent wear & tear

Friendship bracelet & lanyard supplies

Hemp, embroidery floss- a big pack off amazon is good- and maybe some plastic beads for decorations

Plastic string for lanyards

If you don’t know how, now’s a good time to teach yourself.

Durable fidget/stim toys

Good for campers with attention, hyperactivity, or sensory regulation

This is my favorite store for these toys!

Tea packets

Caffeinated black tea

Ginger tea for nausea

Hand/toe warmers

First Aid kit:

Aloe vera (for sunburns)

Band-aids (+ extra) (fun designs and characters are the best)

Alcohol swabs, antibiotic ointment

Safety pins, tweezers, and scissors

Gauze (many varieties), Q-tips, and cotton balls

Gloves

Ear plugs

Personal meds (first-aid kit should be locked if you have these)

Incl. ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory pain med.

Emergency supplies:

A bit of rope

Fire starter (in case your lighter(s) go out)

Mirror (for emergency use)

Extra cash + quarters

Compass, whistle, emergency blanket

If you have room: 

Extra pair of socks, underwear, and a very light, thin, small shirt.

Extra Tips

Overpack on:

Thin t-shirts and tank tops

Socks & underwear

Pads & tampons (If you need them)

Good shoes

Bandaids

Sunscreen

Flashlights

Sharpies

Tape (masking tape, duct tape)

Sunglasses

Chargers

Lighters

Pack less:

Non-essential items like hand/toe warmers, stim toys, writing utensils, and paper.

Art supplies, books, recreational activities that take up lots of space/weight

Purses, scarves, and fashion-only items.

Decorative items

IF YOUR CAMP PROVIDES THEM: first-aid and emergency supplies

When packing:

Choose thin, small, lightweight items over bulky and heavy items. 

Thin fabrics for clothes, towels, and bedding

Look for items that do multiple jobs

Roll clothes instead of folding or stuffing.

Waterproof bags & bags that you can compress to remove excess air

Use these for clothes, bedding, towels, and stuffies.

Bags within bags to keep like objects together

Use bags with a purpose at camp (backpacks, hiking packs) for travel & packing.

Pack things inside other things: nalgene bottles can hold writing utensils, shoes can hold rolled-up socks, etc.

Wear your bulkiest items on the trip there & back (boots, thick jeans, long-sleeve shirt, bulky sweaters, bulky/for-warmth jacket).

Minimize the number of things you’re carrying on the trip there.

Good luck, and please add on if you think of anything else!

Camp staff discussion

What strategies do you use to manage your mental health at camp? Reblog with comments/tags or reply to start the discussion.

I like to talk things over with people, have a good cry, take breaks when I need them, and try to relax on days off.

Camp references

I get reference requests fairly frequently, and have made many myself. I can’t imagine a camp not asking for at least one reference, and many ask for multiple. Other jobs also ask for references, as do some volunteer positions, scholarships, and academic programs. I actually filled out several references this week (same person, multiple camps). So I have compiled some suggestions for camp references for those of you who find yourself in need of one:

Who should I ask?

Who you ask depends on what your experience is and what you are applying to. Some suggestions for camp:

Camp staff or volunteers from camps you have worked at, usually a supervisor. Often a supervisor is specifically asked for. Alternatively, if you were a supervisor, you can also ask someone you supervised.

Youth workers you work or volunteer with. Examples of youth work might include leading/working at/volunteering with Boys and Girls Club, scouts, church youth groups, child care, tutoring, or youth instruction.

Outdoor or specialty area people you work or volunteer with (such as a pool manager for a lifeguard).

General job or volunteer managers.

Teachers/professors/organization advisors.

Personal references. These are also called character references. This is just someone who can speak to who you are as a person, not necessarily someone you’ve worked with. This type of reference is often specified. 

Overall, consider whether this person will be able to give you a good reference. Can they give you a positive, honest, relevant, and accurate recommendation? I understand this may be difficult if you are young or have little job experience. Volunteer work also counts, as do extra curricular activities.

How should I ask them?

Please ask someone before you use them as a reference. It’s really weird to randomly get a request for a reference from a camp you’ve never heard of.

Also consider the medium. I would say for a lot of people email is probably the most professional, such as a director who is a full-time staff at your organization. Email is also nice because it allows you to include all of the info suggested below. Now, if you’re a seasonal staff and are asking another seasonal staff (say the ACD or a program director), you may not have their email. The next top options I would suggest are Facebook Messenger and calling/texting. I have also been asked to be a reference for people over Snapchat and Instagram, and I am sure people ask over other social media as well.

It does also highly depend on who you are asking and your relationship to them, as well as how you usually communicate with them. If it’s someone that you don’t work with professionally and only text with or see on Facebook? Yeah, that’s probably better than a random email. I also think that this will be evolving in the coming years and already has been. I do recommend a lasting medium that they can look back on if needed though.

What should I tell them?

The things I recommend including are:

What job/kind of job it is.

What organization it is.

You may also want to include why you want to do this if you are asking someone who isn’t as familiar with your camp work or whatever you are applying for. For example, I had to ask STEM professors for recommendations for my social science grad program, so I needed to have an explanation of why I was changing my path so much. 

If it’s been a while (like a few years) and you haven’t been keeping up with each other, maybe a little blip about what you’ve done in the past while that is relevant. This is also good if you are applying to grad school and need a recommendation from a professor you had a year or two ago.

Is this a reference or a letter of recommendation? A general rule of thumb is that if the camp/job is going to contact the person and has a set of questions, either phone or webform, that’s a reference. A letter of recommendation is an actual, free-form letter, like you use to apply to college. The biggest difference for me is time commitment. The longest reference I’ve done was a 10-ish minute phone call. A good letter of recommendation takes me over an hour.

Bonus: some people will go a bit more in depth and say what qualities they want you to highlight. I find that this is a good choice if your reference is someone who is unfamiliar with what qualities one wants in a camp counselor (or other job), if you have an unusual background, or if the position is looking for a specific skill set that may not be asked about or obviously tied to the position title.

I was asked to be a reference. What do I do?

Make sure that the person you are being a reference for has your correct contact information. For example, almost all camp staff know me as a seasonal staff, but I now prefer to use my work contact information to make it more professional. There is also nothing wrong with using your personal information or university information. Just make sure it is something you will check.

If you don’t think that you can give someone a good reference, you are allowed to say no. It sucks, but it’s better than giving someone a bad reference, either because you don’t think they should be on staff or because you don’t know/remember them well.