Staff Tips

[CTarantine]

Hello Everyone,

I leave for camp very soon. I was just wondering if anyone had any last minute tips for me and everyone else that is new to the camp staff experience or old staffers that want more advice.

Thanks.:)

[Possuumm]

=] just remember that if you aren't having fun, neither are they =] so have a fantastic time

[Smudge]

Go planning to have a good time, and you will have a great summer!

Go with an open mind as you will need it.

Be prepared for hard work cos camp is the hardest but the most rewarding work you can do.

Smile - even when you are tired and not well and all you want to do is curl up in a corner somewhere and sleep all day - if you can put a smile on your face then you will feel slightly better.

Take some inspirational quotes with you - they always come in handy.

Be prepared to make a fool of yourself - that way you will be prepared when it happens.

Make the effort to get to know people even if you know some of the staff - make the effort to get to know the people you don't know - you will have a much better summer (I have seen what happens when people just stick with the person they know).

[c3divers]

I would reccommend to keep an open mind. And try everything - even if it looks extremely silly. We are not up there to impress each other but to help enrich the lives of the children.
To the returning staff - welcome and encourage new staff. Don't assume that they don't know anything and be extremely tolerant of their questions even if you have heard them over and over every year.

And the most important advise is to HAVE FUN!!!

[carrottop]

You guys have written some very true stuff and i think it needs posting on the Camp America Forum. I dont want this years new staff to be another bunch of people who didnt expect to have to work hard or know what they were in for....consequently i don't think they enjoyed themselves that much. Who goes to camp without a rain jacket?? A lot of the newbies last year shouldn't have been here. There seem to be lots of people on the Camp American forum worrying about things like hair straighteners....unless in their time off i really wonder when they'll have time for it! I usually end up lacking sleep as it is!! Oh well, i enjoy it. All the new staff i've met over msn messenger this year seem great and i've shared all my pics with them and tried to help them know what to expect. It is hard work but its well worth it :-) Hopefully this years newbies wont be afraid to join in with the madness and help out with the not so interesting stuff too!!

[sarahuk]

I can't wait. I am really looking forward to it! Tips though are greatly appreciated.

[annknee]

Bring an open mind and a sense of humour

Be prepared to learn something new about yourself and others, to compromise, to work harder than you have ever worked before, be more tired then you have ever been before and to do crazier things than ever before and be prepared to have fun.

Dont take any preconceptions of camp (very tough!!).

Mostly; dont be scared of camp. Camp is not scared of you!

[Smudge]

You guys have written some very true stuff and i think it needs posting on the Camp America Forum. I dont want this years new staff to be another bunch of people who didnt expect to have to work hard or know what they were in for....consequently i don't think they enjoyed themselves that much. Who goes to camp without a rain jacket?? A lot of the newbies last year shouldn't have been here. There seem to be lots of people on the Camp American forum worrying about things like hair straighteners....unless in their time off i really wonder when they'll have time for it! I usually end up lacking sleep as it is!! Oh well, i enjoy it. All the new staff i've met over msn messenger this year seem great and i've shared all my pics with them and tried to help them know what to expect. It is hard work but its well worth it :-) Hopefully this years newbies wont be afraid to join in with the madness and help out with the not so interesting stuff too!!

Oh I know what you mean about the CA forum way to many people stress stupid things like finding love, hair striaghteners and all sorts.

By the way I went to camp without a rain coat - but that was cos i accidently left it hanging up cos i left in as stressed rush with my mother harassing me to make sure i had remembered things i actually had like my passport.

I take it last years internationals didn't know what they were infor when they arrived at camp! My first year at camp one of the internationals was expecting camp to be more like a hotel I think that what it was - a GS camp run by a rather poor council (or at least the camp was poor and we never had enough to eat).

To me the fun times make up for the boring and dull times and the hard work.

SOmeone once said find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life - this for me sums up camp!

[Flukie]

If you have been to camp before, do the comparing of camp in your head! It's okay to share past experiences, but be careful not to constantly compare what you know to where you are now. It drives others nuts and sets up the idea that "your camp" was better - even if you don't mean it that way.

Be prepared to be exposed to different people and ways of living. Don't be critical of them - you don't always have to agree, but it is their life. (We've had staff that are very anti-gay before - especially at GS camp, that's NOT something to talk loudly about!)

[Trees]

Keep an open mind about everyone on staff. A lot of people (whether they're really quiet and seem too shy to be a camp counselor, or they're really loud and seem too immature or self-involved to be a camp counselor) have hidden strengths. You may be surprised about who you work really well with.

[Smudge]

It is soooo true what every one says about keeping an open mind, and judge people on how they treat other staff and campers, and the camp facilities rather than on what they are (Gay, muslim, etc).

Don't listen to camp gossip or believe it if you hear any, and if someone tries to gossip with you tell them you are not interested. Gossip can cause alot of tension and hurt on a res camp and it is so easily be avoided.

I have seen how much people can be upset by gossip and reassured by people with an open mind, even if you say something I did while talking to another counsellor about an incident - "while i don't personally believe in that lifestyle choice, i believe that everyone has the right to choose to live their life how they choose and it is not my place to judge" - that they can see that you are on judging them on their life style choices but rather you are basing it how they are as a person (I hope that didn't sound too self-rightreous!)

[happy_camper]

Wow.

Everything you guys have said is what I know but can't put into words.

It's all so true!

Thanks.

[Emz]

Some great points, Thanks

[Strand]

Use Murphy's Law to your advantage.