How did you pick your camp?

[CAMPFRIEND]

I know that a lot of us were campers at the first camp that we worked at. But how did you pick your camp? Was it the director, programs, a friend type of camp? What made you want to work their?

[ocean]

Well the camp I work at is the camp that I was a camper at so yea but even if I wasnt a camper there I would have still chose to work at my camp because of the excellent repatation it has.

[speedx5xracer]

I was a camper at my camp for 6 years before becoming staff. I probably would have taken a job there any way because of the reputation and it is affiliated with the JCC i used to life guard at.

[camper]

i was a camper for 10 summers, i always knew i'd work there, which i know is not what you wanted to hear lol.

[Fleur]

The first camp I worked at, I had heard about from a friend. I went there as a camper, loved it, and couldn't wait to become a counsellor.

For my current camp, I read about it in my high school's summer job postings. I checked out their website, was impressed, and then booked an interview. I had applied to a couple of similar camps at the same time, but my current camp was the first one to interview me and they hired me on the spot. I ended up cancelling my other interviews, and took the job.

[collissimon]

I had an interview with BUNAC (My visa's sponsor), and they sent me an information pack for my camp, I quite liked the look of it, as it was a bit different from what I had done before, so I signed the contract and sent it back!

[rockinsmiles]

Another camper gone staff person! And im proud of it!!! I cant really say where i would have ended up in the camp world if i hadnt been a camper. but i dont care cuz i absolutely love mi camp!!!

[Flukie]

My first camp was one I grew up.

The next camp I worked at, I chose because it was in my new Girl Scout Council, but actually closer to my house then my home camp and the commute was really easy. I had wanted to try day camp and it was the closest of the four to me.

Favorite - I ended up there because I had worked a Me and My Pal weekend for the Council. The director is also the Site Manager. She was watching me chop up wax, and I said how I wanted to go back to camp. She suggested I think about working for her - it made perfect sense to me! So I sent in the app and she hired me. She's fantastic and I love working with her. (Though I find it funny when they ask how many more summers until I'm 25... Still the same as the last time they asked!)

[Indigo]

I was a camper at my camp for years, and I always loved it!

[Flower]

The camp I've worked at the last three years I found on the internet. I'd worked at other camps before but I wanted to try something different. I'd decided on some basic things I wanted to find, all girls, longer sessions, not too big. Then I put my info on campstaff.com and went searching through the ACA database. I found my current camp through that database searching. I applied a couple of others as well. I liked this camp because it fit all the criteria I had, it was in a brand new area of the country to experiance, and when I talked to the director it sounded really great as well as he seeming like someone I would really like to work for.

[Dave]

I chose the camp I work at now because they provide free transportation and food.

By the way, this thread would be more appropriate in the Counselor Talk forum.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Sorry Dave. I will make sure I post there next time!

[code3cadet]

The camp picked me. They looked me out to work at the camp. before I worked at the camp I was a bounty hunter/ security Oficer. Now I am all most a nanny

[CAMPFRIEND]

The camp picked me. They looked me out to work at the camp. before I worked at the camp I was a bounty hunter/ security Oficer. Now I am all most a nanny

That is a big change in jobs. As long as you are happy!

[audur]

I went through Camp America, so my camp found me, I didn't find them... I was up for anything, and even though at first I thought I'd never fit in at a Girl Scout camp - I didn't even really know what Girl Scouts were, I decided to go for it, anyway. At first I was a little freaked out about the whole outdoorsy thing, but I changed my mind pretty quickly, and now I can't imagine working for any other type of camp - and it turns out Girl Scouts were perfect for me!

[code3cadet]

That is a big change in jobs. As long as you are happy!

Ya I have more fun now.

[daisy_0144]

I was a volunteer counselor since seventh grade, a CIT for two years, and the following summer when I was going to be a paid counselor, the camp had finished its lease and the council was bankrupt; ergo, no camp. So I looked on the internet for neighboring girl scout councils. I was hired at two camps, turned one of them down because they kept talking about all the wonderful incentives {like air conditioning--airconditioning corrupts;) }, but could care less about what experience and skills I had. Made me wonder about the quality of the camp. Last summer (my first year at the new council), and it TOTALY rocked my sox!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Ya I have more fun now.

I am sure that you are more happy now..Working with kids and families is the best!

[code3cadet]

I am sure that you are more happy now..Working with kids and families is the best!
Ya it is I will never go back to that. but I mite go back to police work some day

[Skater Bubbles]

I applied to several different camps and was offered several jobs but what made me choose the camp that I work at now was my camp director. When he interviewed me on the phone he just made the camp sound so good and he answered all of my questions perfectly and it just felt right. And now I love my camp and I volunteer there whenever I can and am going to work there again this summer. I am also now really good friends with my director!!

[CAMPFRIEND]

I applied to several different camps and was offered several jobs but what made me choose the camp that I work at now was my camp director. When he interviewed me on the phone he just made the camp sound so good and he answered all of my questions perfectly and it just felt right. And now I love my camp and I volunteer there whenever I can and am going to work there again this summer. I am also now really good friends with my director!!

That is what I try to do. I have staff just like you who will do anything for camp!

[code3cadet]

ya my camp made the camp sound good. i had over 110 camps that called me e-mail, or mail me things this last year to give me a camp job. but I love the people that work at Pali so I pick that job. I love camp it is the best time of my life.

[who_stole_my_loofa]

i was a camper- i always knew id go back

[martha27]

my camp picked meeeee
i thank my lucky stars regularly!!
went through bunac

[EchoLaker]

my camp picked meeeee
i thank my lucky stars regularly!!
went through bunac


For us internationals that tends to be the way of it.

Also went through BUNAC, and within a week of my references being confirmed as recieved I'd got an email through from the Director of the camp wanting to arrange a phone call to check over a few things.

I hadn't applied to BUNAC specificially for Accounting, more general admin and office work, but the accounting is a half part of my degree course so at the time I was thinking of the relevent experience this would give me.

Checked out their website in the meantime whilest waiting for the phone call day, and snooped around so I had some idea of what the place was like - and it didn't take us long to talk things through and thankfully I talked my way into being a part of a fantastic place that I just wouldn't trade.

[collissimon]

Is it the norm for Internationals to get a phone call from the Director? I had no contact with mine before I arrived, except I did email him a couple of worry-laden, stupid questions!

The website was an excellent source of info for me too

[CAMPFRIEND]

I call all of my internationals before camp. I spend some time with them to help them know what to expect when they get to camp. I also tell them what I expect before the come into camp so we are on the same page.

[collissimon]

That's a really good idea. I suppose it depends how many Internationals you have though, my camp has about 6 US Staff, and the rest are from all over, so it would take a long time and cost a packet! I put a lot of effort into my first application to BUNAC though, included some photos of the school I was working at the time, so I suppose I may have been a lower priority to phone.

[camper]

my mom meets all of ours at the camp directors fair in london, which is where she hires them. it's awesome that she goes and gets to meet them there, b/c she gets to hire them instead of campamerica just placing them. that way she gets to pick the ones that would be a good fit for our camp. then after that they all get a letter w/her email address and the email addresses of several returning counselors, some international and some american, so they can email us and get a few points of view on one question. it helps them get really familiar w/camp before they get there.

[collissimon]

That's really cool camper!

When we sign up to return, we get the option of whether we want our email address to be available for newbies, and I always tick Yes, but never get a reply... Maybe I'll suggest they strengthen that side of things.

[CAMPFRIEND]

It's worth the money with call. You get to know the person so much better and they get to know you as well. It makes for a much happier camp life for both!

[EchoLaker]

I have to agree with this, from a staff point of view I felt so much more comfortable turning up to this new and scary place knowing that at least one person had spoken to me before, and answered some of the questions that I had at the time.

And although the size of the camp, and the task ahead can never totally accurately be described over the phone (I was in awe at the sheer size of the place) it wasn't so much of a shock to the system when I got to my office and found that I would be my own manager in terms of the accounting on site.

Good communication with new staff, particularly with internationals who have already invested large sums of money, does alot of ease any nerves.

[collissimon]

I agree that it is important, but it did mean I went to the camp with no pre-conceptions, and could make my own decision.

I did meet someone before my second year, and was really enthusiastic etc. showing them pictures, but I think that just made them more scared! Perhaps if I had known exactly what I was up against, I would have been more nervous.