Emotional Labor And Camp

“Having seen firsthand the way some counselors struggle to connect with their campers — to create money in the bank with them — I have put together the following list of practices that can help you do just that.

Take turns sitting next to different campers at each meal. Change it up so you get to hang out with all of your campers.

Make a point of walking and talking with one, two, or three of your campers together while going from one activity to another. This downtime is often when you hear more from your campers about what is going on among them as a group. It gives you the opportunity to connect with them more like a peer (even though we know you are not their peer). If you tend to walk alone or with other counselors, you are missing an important opportunity to connect with your kids.

Sit with different groups of your campers during rest hour and either talk, play a card game, or engage with them in some other quiet-time activity. Again, especially in the first few days of a new session, this is a terrific chance to connect more informally with your kids. If you tend to sleep during rest hour, once again you are missing a key opportunity to create money in the bank with them.

Make a checklist of things that you know about your campers. For example, do you know the favorite camp activity of each of them? Do you know if they have a pet at home and what their pet’s name is? (Talking about pets, who occupy a special place in many kids’ hearts, is an especially great way to make a more personal connection with most any camper.) Do you know what they are most looking forward to doing while at camp? Did they read an especially terrific book during the school year? What about a movie? A new hobby? A place they went on vacation? All of these are “keys” to connecting with your campers.

After a few days, check your list of “keys” (if you email me, I can send you my version of this handy bunk or cabin group list) to see which kids you seem to know well and which ones you still don’t have much of a connection with. Sometimes, seeing it written out on paper helps to focus where you may need to place more of your attention as a way of getting to know certain campers better.”

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

Thunderbird headcannons

- going out in the rain to jump in the puddles

- some students are afraid of lightning and thunder and their housemates immediately take it upon themselves to keep them company with warm mugs of hot chocolate

- a buddy system when exploring

- “picnics and exploration” thats there motto

- trying new things, roller coasters and different foods but its okay if you dont want to bc adventure is only fun if you’re willing

- talking about trips and showing souvenirs “you had the money to go to italy and you brought back a rock” “it has sentimental value” “are you fucking kidding me right now”

- not all the students have the resources to see the world but the entire house gets together to raise money

- bake sales do not work, and all the older students are tired of hearing the first years suggest it “but this recipe is really” “nope, trust me it will not end well”

- no one talks about what happened at the first fundraising bake sale the thunderbirds ever had

- ever

- summer field trips

- “i did not take four years of spanish just so i can watch you play charades with the entire german population” “i know german” “no you really dont, you just think you do“ 

- “why is it always a European country, i actually want to go somewhere where the people don’t think the only language i speak is chinese” “you do speak chinese” “i speak cantonese and they always assume its mandarin, which is annoying and racist”

- “i’m with her, you know how many times airport security has signaled me out, i was put in holding last time” “ you’re right maybe we can all take a portkey to indonesia or something”

- Polaroids, pictures of everything

- selfies with funny faces, landmarks, animals, food, everything is put into a big scrapbook thats shelved into a bookcase in the common room, every trip has its own scrapbook

- learning beautiful languages so they can better understand the world

- reading books and exploring fictional worlds in the place of real ones

- loving different cultures and wanting to be respectful and kind to all

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

Clothing Packing List 2.0

I’ve done packing lists before (or reblogged them, idk). But here’s some general guidelines:

Basic packing list

6-7 short-sleeved shirts (such as t-shirts)

1-2 long-sleeved shirts, preferably a wicking material, such as polyester

1-2 sweatshirts/fleeces

1-2 pairs of jeans/long pants

1-2 pairs of shorts/capris

1 pair of leggings/sweat pants

6-10 pairs of socks

6-10 pairs of underwear

However many bras you need for 10 days, if you wear those

Raincoat

2 pairs of everyday shoes (hiking boots, tennis shoes) - something with ankle and arch support, not converse/vans

PJs

Specialty items: hot/muggy areas

Wicking material short-sleeved shirts - either substituted or in addition to t-shirts

Extra shorts

Zip-off pants - highly recommend if you’re in an area that cold in the morning and hot during the day such as low elevation mountains

Specialty Items: high elevation/cold areas

Extra long sleeved shirts, such as cuddle duds

A thicker jacket - maybe not a winter coat, but something between that and a sweatshirt

A non-cotton sweater-ish thing, such as a fleece. Fleece retains heat when wet.

Boots, kept in your car.

Wool socks - warm but wicking

Basically, I would suggest that you have enough clothes for 6-10 days, or however long in between your laundry cycles. You may want to pack more if you work a longer duration of time or if you have a living situation with a bit more space. Layers are your best friend because camps are often cold in the morning and at night but hot during the day.

Outdoor Fabrics

Cotton - the general fabric, what most t-shirts are made out of. Pretty versitle, fairly lightweight. Doesn’t retain heat while wet, takes a medium amount of time to dry out. Medium durability but easy to craft/customize.

Nylon/ polyester - a good base layer. Stretchy and thin. Some varieties are warmer than others (think cuddle duds vs Nike). Often found as sportswear. Dries quickly. Wicks moisture (draws it away from the skin). Insulating when used in layers.

Fleece - technically also polyester. Warm and retains heat while wet. Not particularly wind-proof. Excellent for a mid layer in winter or for wearing at night to sleep in. Also great for hiking.

Wool - also warm and wicking. The classic outdoor fabric. Great for socks (10/10 would recommend actual wool socks).

Waterproof stuff - rain gear (pants or coats). Thickness varies, from the super thin to that thick vinyl we all wore to elementary school in the 90s (I also wore this at the day camp, don’t judge).

Basically, t-shirts are fine for your everyday wear but if you’re in funky weather, it might be wise to wearing something different that will keep you more comfortable.

You can get many of these items at thrift stores, don’t feel like you need to go drop $150 at REI for your camp wardrobe. You do you, but you can make your budget work.

Posts about other items and ideas for theme day attire to follow.

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!

Hey y’all!

What are your favorite CIT programs/ideas/memories/whatever!

I have very little experience with the CIT program but I believe I’m supposed to help out with that this summer and as always I like hearing people personal opinions!

~Flame

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.

Can you post a really good packing list? including some fun items or things I would never think of. Thank you so much!! your blog is great and helpful

Thank you anon! I’m glad that you like my blog!

Here’s my packing list/suggestions.

Clothes:

Socks. A lot. Fun socks, if you can.

Old camp t-shirts. I pretty much wear only camp shirts, and you’re guaranteed that they’re camp appropriate.

Shorts and pants, in whatever style floats your boat. I like cargo - cargo shorts, cargo pants. They’re comfy and all the pockets are really useful. I also wear jeans a lot too. Make sure your shorts aren’t too short, especially if your camp has a stricter dress code.

Overalls. Comfy, lots of pockets, and fun.

A swim suit or two (depends on how much swimming there is at your camp).

Swim shirt (everybody)/swim shorts (peeps wearing the one-piece swim suits). This is a matter of personal preference, but I really like having extra covering and it’s less to put sunscreen on. Plus, less of a chance of sunburn. 

Hats. Sun hats, ball caps, beanies, weird hats, etc. 

Bandannas. I have a thing for bandannas, so I bring a bunch, but not everyone does. I use them for headbands, as a hair cover/hat, as a decoration. They’re super useful. 

A couple of sweatshirts/flannels/sweaters.

A long sleeve shirt (or two)

Raincoat! 

A regular coat (unless your regular coat is also a 

Shoes! Hiking boots, sturdy sneakers, flipflops for the shower, whatever sandals/water shoes you can have at waterfront.

PJs/sweatpants. I am forever happy that I brought sweatpants to camp last summer.I also have a rubber duckie onsie. I don’t actually sleep in it, it’s just for dress-up days.

Weird clothes you have laying around - I’ve got a cape, a Harry Potter tie, purple tie-dyed leggings, costume jewelery, extra crazy mismatched socks, and a crazy abstract space dress (it was part of a Luna Lovegood cosplay). 

*these clothes reflect the camp that I work at, which gets really cold. You might need to adjust if you work in somewhere really hot/muggy all the time. Also, we have a fairly conservative dress code. 

Other stuff

A headlamp AND a flashlightI have a lantern that I use in my tent and I really like that too.

Sunscreen, bugspray, chapstick (lots of chapsticks, you will loose them)

Your general toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste/toothbrush, hair brush, sanitary items, etc)

Stationary/notebooks, envelopes, postcards, and stamps

A camera!

Your trusty sleeping bag, a pillow, and perhaps a blanket too

A sturdy backpack

2 towels - one for lake, one for showers

2-3 water bottles. No they don’t need to be name brand Nalgenes, just make sure they’re sturdy and don’t leak. Bonus points if you put stickers on them.

Sunglasses

Laundry bag

Rubbermaid tote (to put all of this in)

Mess kit (if you need one)

Comfort items - I posted about self-soothing a little bit ago. I bring things like tea and a stuffed bunny. I’m bringing a few sensory items to put in a place that all the CITs can get to too.

Lotion. With all the hand washing and sanitizing, your hands will dry out. 

A journal. I write down the funny things and the things that I need to tell someone, but can’t for confidentiality reasons. 

A clipboard. I like the ones that close and open. They’re waterproof and hold a lot of stuff. My phone actually fits into mine along with a ton of paperwork. I also decorate it with camp photos, camper notes, and stickers. 

Sharpies

A multi-tool (think heavy duty Swiss army knife). Ask about your camp’s policy. 

Hairbands - if you have long hair

Kleenex packs to stash in your backpack.

I might come back and edit/add to this later.