As summer camp season ends, camp counselors and children reminisce about their memories together.
Camp counselors know that they will miss the children, regardless of the many challenges and rough patches they have faced. Parents will miss sending their children to camp as the back-to-school season begins. And children will never forget the fun moments they’ve had at camp, from field trips to special events.
Camp counselors make a more significant impact than society portrays them to do, so we should thank them for the memories they gave to every parent and child.
These folks work hard before, during, and after camp. Before camp, they try their hardest to plan special events, activities, and games for the children to enjoy. They also spend time and energy setting up the facility with banners, posters, and flyers.
Many of us never realize how much effort it takes to set up a welcoming facility before camp. We often just focus on the results and outcomes.
Not only that, but these counselors work hard during the camp season as well. They work the sign-in and sign-out tables, greeting parents as they drop off their children. From this time on, every counselor knows it’s game time.
They start with a few activities and morning icebreakers. Then, they may take the kids outside to the playground to enjoy the outdoors. During lunch and snack breaks, the counselors supervise the children and ensure they abide by the rules.
While camp counseling may look fun, it’s actually one of the most exhausting jobs.
Throughout summer camp, 40.7% of counselors experience emotional exhaustion. Working on your feet all day and watching the children takes a mental and physical toll on you. More than that, you have to be flexible and adaptable with a diverse group of students, which can be exhausting. And that doesn’t account for the emotional needs of each child that the counselor must attend to.
Most importantly, camp counselors must ensure the safety of children.
When you manage a group of 20-30 children, you’ll struggle with getting all their attention to explain instructions. You’ll also have to watch these children to ensure they play safely.
At the end of the day, camp counselors are responsible for creating a good summer experience for the participants.
Showing enthusiasm and interacting with children while dealing with behavioral struggles for a whole summer is challenging. Doing this requires a great deal of patience, understanding, and empathy.
Instead of picking on our camp counselors and comparing their job to a high school or teenager’s part-time job, we should thank them for the experiences they created for our kids. Without them, we wouldn’t have any fun summer memories for children around the world. And without them, children wouldn’t have any summer stories to share.
As the last day of camp approaches, give every counselor you know a pat on the back and tell them that their work is beyond amazing and life-changing.
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