10 Tricks You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Your Food.

Hey! So I just got hired as leadership director at a new camp and I feel super anxious and unqualified for it. I’ve been a uc and a ul but I’m still very nervous to have this new leadership position. Do you have any advice/wisdom/literally anything pls help

Hello anon! Sorry it’s been a bit, I’ve been on a 2200 mile road trip with my best friend. 

First, congratulations! My summer as leadership director was my favorite summer ever and I look back on it fondly. I do remember feeling overwhelmed and underqualified when I started too. I had only ever been a UC at a day camp, so this was a big change. 

I think my biggest piece of advice is to take time and bond with your kids. Learn more about them than their names and where they’re from. And encourage them to bond with each other. Your goal should be to make a community, and you should be part of it. And the friendships they make with each other will last for years. 

One of your jobs is to be a mentor. You’re teaching them things, yes, but they are also learning by your example. They’re going to pick up on the things you do, good and bad. They will know when you are happy, when you are stressed, when you are excited to be somewhere, when you would rather be curled in your sleeping bag instead of chugging coffee in the vain hopes of waking up. So be conscious of that.

CITs are older, so they want to be seen as mature. So being honest with them is really important. Like my year we were all very clear with the CITs that being a counselor, while very rewarding, is stressful. And they learned that first hand, but we didn’t sugar coat it much if at all. When they decided to prank me by making me think one of them cut their hand open (like bad), we had a very frank discussion about why that wasn’t a good choice and what it really feels like when you think one of your campers is seriously injured. When we did night debriefs and they inevitably turned the question back on me, I answered. And when they saw that my eyes were puffy because I had been crying on my break and they asked about it, we talked about that too. Obviously I did not tell them all of the things that happened at camp or were happening with me, but I did try to be as honest as possible with them.

Part of your job that you might not have thought about is that it is now your job to protect your CITs. I love all the counselors at camp and they are absolutely, 110% wonderful. But their priority is their own campers, not necessarily the CITs. So it’s your job to make sure that they don’t get thrown in over their heads because that can happen. We as counselors get thrown into all sorts of situations, but we have admin to help out. That’s your responsibility to your CITs. 

I love the CITs so much and I hope that you will have as great an experience as leadership director as I did. You’re always welcome to message me too. I wish you the best of summers.

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

Small Ways to Make a Camper Feel Important and Loved

Make them a friendship bracelet or put a wrap in their hair!

Plan a small activity based around one of their interests! Maybe a comic drawing contest, have the cabin choreograph and perform a dance routine together, or mini cooking class.

If they have a good idea for a devotional, let them lead it! 

Have them help you set up for a later activity or event if they are uninterested in the current one. 

Let them braid your hair!

Loan out your crazy creek for a few minutes! 

Give them tiny awards or certificates of achievement! Ex: cutest outfit of the day, best swimmer, most hydrated, etc. (Just make sure that each camper in the cabin gets one throughout their stay so they don’t feel left out.)

Write short, personalized notes to each camper in your cabin to take home and read later. Tell them how they inspired you!

Talk to them about any personal things you can relate to them with. Ex: similar interests, where you’re from, what you wanna be when you grow up, etc. 

Sit in the middle of the table at a meal and let a camper sit at the end.

Compliment them on their usage of core values. Ex: “I thought it was really cool and responsible of you when I noticed you picking up trash along the trail earlier without being asked.”

If they give you a drawing or letter or make you a friendship bracelet, attach it to your clipboard or backpack to carry it with you everywhere. 

Things To Do/Not To Do Your Break

All staff are required to have daily breaks, as well as a weekend or days off between sessions in most cases. At my camp (a girl scout camp) we get a two hour break every day, and then Friday nights, Saturday, and Sunday morning off. 

When it comes to being a counselor and working with groups of children all day everyday, you only have so much patience and love and time to give. I like to call this ‘counselor juice’. Its your fuel for the day, and as the day goes on you run lower and lower and until you crash, but hopefully that’s not until bed time. This is why we have breaks during the day, to recharge our battery and fill the tank again. With this in mind, the lists begin! 

Things to doo:

start your laundry, eat foods, take a nap, and hydrate <– all the obvious things. these are important to maintain healthy and happy and to stay clothed throughout the week.

color! coloring can be v relaxing and honestly spending an entire break coloring is so peaceful. coloring books are NOT just for kids! 

leave camp. okay so not everyone can leave, some camps have a no leaving policy if the nearest town is an hour away or something cuz people often come back late and that’s not good. but if you’re allowed to leave camp then go thrifting or get ice cream or rent a movie or something fun! just make sure to scrub the dirt tan off first ;D

watch a movie/binge watch a tv show! i like to download a bunch of movies so i have options and don’t have to worry about having wifi. 

hangout with other staff and complain about your kids. it’s okay to complain about your campers. its okay to  eat your feelings in stickers. these things are okay, just make sure you don’t do it within ear shot of any campers. 

have a mini spa! use a smell good foot scrub, exfoliating face mask, and munch of some cucumbers! it’s important to treat yourself and keep your body healthy. 

practice religion/spirituality. this is v important to some people and just because you’re at camp doesn’t mean you have to neglect your faith. take time to pray and worship whatever it is you believe in. not everybody choose to or have the opportunities to work at a spiritual camp, but they still want to feel connected to their faith. and on the same note, DON’T JUDGE PEOPLE FOR PRAYING OR CHANTING OR WHATEVER THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DONT BE A MEANIE. 

eat ice cream/popsicles/other cold summer foods. it’s too hot to live off corndogs and mac n cheese all summer. cool down your body with something sweet and frozen!

write letters like you promised! write to your mommy and tell her you loves her much and you’re not dead yet. she’ll appreciate it :)

go for a walk or hike. i know you’re walking around all day, leading games and going on hikes with your kids, but going by yourself and taking your time can be really relaxing. you don’t have to lead any songs or count your campers every 5 minutes. you can just enjoy the sounds of nature.

Things NOT to do:

hangout with your campers. i know you love them to pieces and you’re probably actually not all that tired or needing space, but you do. please take your break. 

hangout with someone else’s campers. you love kids! that’s great! so do i! but just because they aren’t your assigned kids that week/session/whatever and you don’t technically have to be in charge, it’s still not a good idea. you’ll end up using all your counselor juice (ability to stay calm and cool and not grouchy, you only have so much for a day) on kids who aren’t even yours and then you’ll have not much left for your kids, who need it all! go take your break away from children

call your significant other. if your boo is not keen on you being away as it is, and you are sort of in a fight, don’t call them on your break! there are a few reasons why: you don’t have that much time and you probs have more to do. fighting is stressful and you don’t wanna come back from your break to be more stressed than when you left! you and your kids don’t deserve that! cell reception at camp suuuuuucks and if you get cut off that can makes matters worse. and lastly, fighting with a time limit is no way to fight. 

eat a massive meal. okay sooo if you struggle to eat on the camp’s schedule and you tend to skip meals maybe you should eat your meals differently, and breaks are a good time for that. however, if you DO eat with everyone else, don’t eat big bowls of soup or a whole sammich during your break! eat all the candy you want and drink all the juice you can get your hands on, but if you eat a lot during your breaks you won’t want anything at the next meal and that’s no bueno, plus stomach aches suck!

start your break early/end your break late. this is sooo uncool of you. it does happen on accident, especially if you decide to nap during your break, BUT THIS IF WHY YOU HAVE A WATCH AND PHONE. SET AN ALARM AND DON’T BE LATE CUZ THERE ARE OTHERS WAITING ON YOU. 

make important phone calls. okay so this might sound silly but here’s why i avoid making important phone calls on my breaks and try to save them for the weekend. with importance can come bad news and if your break is only an hour and you get bad news (your pet died/you didn’t get the job/your bf left you) that is NOT enough time to be upset and grieve and then be okay! you need more time! be kind to yourself and leave the Real World stresses right there in the Real World.

do only your laundry or shower. so you should do things that make you feel good on your breaks. laundry is great and 110% necessary, but if shouldn’t do it everyday break every day. try to do laundry once, maybe twice a week, and spend the rest of the time doing something more fun and relaxing! same for showering. don’t spend you entire break showering. 

spend your entire break swimming/rock wall/achery/etc. i love camp activities as much as the next dude, HOWEVER kids are most likely gonna be doing those activities and like i’ve mentioned before, you don’t wanna spend your breaks with other children! doing this once a week or every once in a while isn’t terrible, especially if your week is ‘lightweight’ and your kids aren’t as aggressive or whiny. if you’re really itching to go swimming see about going when a small group is going or when the CITs are. CITs are like slightly younger cousins who are actually kind of cool to hang with, and so are their counselors! 

do what’s right for your mind and body. if you’re not well, you aren’t able to give your all to your kids and they miss out. 

do you boo, do you.

-Sulcata

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.

What to bring to camp: clothing/ bedding

* Please note: this is based off my own experience at my camp, which is in the midwest so we have pretty hot days, rain, and occasionally some cooler nights. Campers arrive on Sundays and stay until Friday afternoons when they go home, and we sleep in cabins with beds throughout the week. Counselors get Friday nights, all of Saturdays, and a few hours on Sunday mornings off before a new group of campers arrive. Counselors also get a two hour break on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Counselors also have access to free laundry facilities on camp, or if you are local you can go home to do laundry if you want to. You may need to altar this list depending on your camp’s schedule*

** Also note that my camp has rules about how we bring out clothes to camp. Everybody, campers and counselors included has to bring all clothes and bedding in mesh laundry bags so they can be heated to kill any potential bed bugs. After the heating process, counselors are free to keep their belongings in suitcases, or plastic drawers if they choose (I like plastic drawers). They also have rules against open toed shoes, where you can only wear them if you are going to or from the river or pool area, or are at the river or pool area, so that is why I don’t have things like Tevas on the list.**

> 7 t shirts (my camp provides uniform t shirts after staff training, so if yours does and you are local 4 of these can go home after you get your uniform shirts)

> 7 athletic shorts

> 1 pair of cargo/ khaki shorts (my camp requires them for drop off/ pickup days)

> 2 weeks worth of socks

> 2 weeks worth of underwear

> 1 week of sports bras (if applicable)

> 3 pairs of leggings/ jeans

> 2-3 jackets/ hoodies (I include a rain jacket as one of these)

> 2-3 nights worth of sleepwear

> 2-3 swimsuits

> 3-4 towels

> 2 pairs of running shoes

> 1 pair of easy dry water shoes/ flip-flops

(the next part of the list is optional, but I recommend them)

> 1-2 colored shirts for team games (if you have consistent teams and, you already know your team color)

> 1-2 white pieces to tie-die (depending on how often your camp does it, mine is not very often)

> 1 pair of rain boots

> 1 pair of random shoes (i.e. converse, vans, toms, or something of the sort)

> 2-3 shirts for time off (you can use the 3 remaining shirts from the first line of the list, or you can opt for slightly nicer shirts, but nothing fancy)

> 2-3 shorts for time off (again you can use athletic shorts if you want, but I like to have some jean shorts for fun)

> baseball cap(s)

> 2-4 simple dress up items (i.e. cape, flower crown, funny hat, tutu, etc)

(I am also including bedding materials because I feel like this is where they will best fit)

> 1 pillow

> 1 pillow case

> 1 sleeping bag

> 1-2 blankets (or 1 comforter)

> 1 set of sheets (optional but recommended)

Please let me know if you feel I forgot anything that you would consider important

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.

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!

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.

what to do when everything’s a mess

Wash your hair. Don’t worry about all those articles online about the best haircare products of 2019 and whatnot, get in, wash it like you usually do, get out. Leave it to air dry, it’s less work for you.

Brush your teeth. Even if you brushed them this morning and are probably going to brush it tonight, do it anyway. Especially if it’s exam time, all that tea or coffee you’re most likely downing (props to you if you only study with water) probably makes them feel kind of gross.

I know most of these lists tell you to run a bath, but let’s face it, for those of you who even have a bath in the first place, the thought of filling that tub and sitting there in complete silence for a couple hours seems like a trek. And ironically exhausting. So instead, just brush your hair, take a nap (set a nice soothing alarm) and once you’ve gotten out of bed, wash your face or at least splash cold water on your face.

CLEAN clean clean clean CLEAN. Easier said than done, but at least start by clearing one messy component of your area; it could be your floor, your desk or your bed. You don’t need to clean and re-organise your entire room marie condo-style for you to actually have a reason to take the time to clean in the first place. A little goes a long way, and you don’t ALWAYS need to do the hard yards ya know.

I would say read a book, but sometimes your brain is melting or buzzing so it can’t really focus on anything lengthy. So instead, find someone reciting a poem online, and just listen to it. I recommend Jeremy Irons and his voicing of tons of T.S Eliot poetry, or Allen Ginsberg reciting his own poetry (Howl is a classic).

If you’re one of those people who drowns their sorrows by listening to music, don’t listen to music!! Don’t reinforce your pain!! So to that I say, listen to a podcast. If the classic podcast genre of true crime is a little too stressful and you’ve already cried twice today, listen to interviews with actors, screenwriters and directors. It can be really refreshing to listen to people you already enjoy the content of talk about their work. I recommend Awards Chatter and Happy Sad Confused.

Stop staring at screens! Just physically sit outside for a bit, you don’t need to go for a jog or do a general workout, just…sit. People-watch, try and memorise the exact scene in front of you, from the mis-en-scene to all the colours and sounds and the way the sunlight feels on your eyelashes. Write it down if you want to, you could even denote a single notebook to your little outdoor descriptions. Or just write on a napkin. To each their own.

Have you eaten today? And I mean something hearty, something that isn’t primarily made out of air and salt. Something that falls under the umbrella of snack does not count; meal is more like it. If not, eat. Preparing food might feel exhausting, but so’s going a relatively long amount of time without something nutritionally substantial.

If you’re feeling emotionally heavily, get out a notebook or even just a scrap of paper, a pen and cry until your eyes are as blurry as can be. With tears down your cheeks, scribble out how you’re feeling. Don’t bother with how neat or messy it is, whether the sentences even stay on the lines, it’s not about being aesthetic. In fact, it’s about being as messy as possible. Let all of it out, and let is act as a physical manifestation of what’s going on in your head. Don’t fight it or deny it, relieve yourself by both constructing and understanding yourself.