2006 What are you going to do?

[CAMPFRIEND]

Ok, so what position are you going for in the 2006 summer? I know that some of you had talked about this in other posts but I just wanted to get an idea of what all of us want to do.

I am still going to be a director but I am not sure where.

[code3cadet]

I will be a nanny with a family in CT if they still need me. if not I will try to work at a camp in canada

[audur]

I haven't quite decided yet - I've been a unit counselor for the past two summers, and while I really enjoy it I'm on the older end of UC's and fully qualified for a higher-up job... I'm just not sure I want one of those. Our return applications haven't been sent out yet, so I have a couple more weeks to think about it...

[Dave]

I'm applying for senior counselor, which means I'll be #1 in charge of a bunk. But I think we have to go for an interview before we can become senior counselor. If I don't get the spot I'm going to be a 2nd year junior counselor.

[Skater Bubbles]

Last year I was the Mountain Board Specialist and this year that program is gone so I am going to be the Skate Park Specialist (I think), or just a regular old counsleor.

[Flukie]

It looks like I'll be back as th Program/CIT Manager thi summer (at least that's what I applied for and they have me working on material for... Lol.).

[camper]

hoping to be an asst. grouphead, if not just a counselor w/my same girls as the past 2 years!

[speedx5xracer]

Camp Nah Jee Wah as a lifeguard/canoe instructor

[rockinsmiles]

Goin as a counselor!!! whoooooo!!!!! and if they need me to fill in for a specialist sometime im more than willing.

[ocean]

counselor yea baby

[KiwiCRB]

Ummm our camp did away with the title "counselor" i think... so we have unit staff and program staff. I'm kind of confused about it still but i think i'm going to be unit staff. Basically a cabin counselor... i think....

[who_stole_my_loofa]

as of right now i am a counselor for 11 year old girls. however a lot of the people that have been offered UL for the 2006 season have turned it down so i might still be in the running.. waiting, wondering. fine either way

[CAMPFRIEND]

as of right now i am a counselor for 11 year old girls. however a lot of the people that have been offered UL for the 2006 season have turned it down so i might still be in the running.. waiting, wondering. fine either way

Would you like to be a UL for 2006 or just a counselor?

[CIT386]

I am going to be a caounselor..

[Fleur]

I'm going back as the Art Program Co-ordinator... a combination of leading one of our arts and crafts programs and ordering supplies for everyone.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I'm going back as the Art Program Co-ordinator... a combination of leading one of our arts and crafts programs and ordering supplies for everyone.

Sounds like a lot of work. I am sure that you will do a great job.

[who_stole_my_loofa]

campfriend: I applied to be a UL and did not get it- I would LOVE to be a UL.. but I am happy with anything as long as I'm at camp.

Loofa

[countrygal]

Im gona be going back as counsellor for my 3rd year at the same camp as far as I know.

[Snare]

I'm going to be working as a Junior Counselor at Pali Overnight Adventures. It'll be my first official job, although I've been working with kids all my life.

[CAMPFRIEND]

campfriend: I applied to be a UL and did not get it- I would LOVE to be a UL.. but I am happy with anything as long as I'm at camp.

Loofa

That is a great way to look at things. I don't think it matters what you do at camp just as long as you are there!

[code3cadet]

I'm going to be working as a Junior Counselor at Pali Overnight Adventures. It'll be my first official job, although I've been working with kids all my life.
And you will be the best I know I trained you.

[Fallen]

I am not sure yet. I might do the zoo camp at the zoo that I work at or I may look at camps in AZ to work at. I'm not too sure yet.

[Dave]

A zoo camp sounds interesting.

[code3cadet]

Y that sounds like it will be fun

[EchoLaker]

Accountant / Office Staff and Councelor.

Some of you have already read elsewhere how this strange combination came about - but it worked last summer, I was tired by the end of it, but the rewards were too great not to do it all again.


It's strange as the Admin staff are normally excused from OD ! But given that I'd accepted my part in a group, I had to do OD once a week too !

I also hope to continue from where I left off last season, and run Senior Village canteen once a week - as that's just fun !

[Sally]

I'm moving on from my camp...I haven't made a change since 1994 so this should be interesting!!! :) I'm ideally looking to be a camp director, but I'd also be an assistant director or a head counselor.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Sally- It's fun to try somthing new. Good Luck!

[camper]

ooohhh good luck sally! where are you thinking of going and where were you before?

[Fallen]

A zoo camp sounds interesting.
Zoo camp sounds fun, but I'm not sure if I want to be in Phoenix in the summer.

[Dave]

Zoo camp sounds fun, but I'm not sure if I want to be in Phoenix in the summer.
That's true. I never thought about the location...

[Fallen]

That's true. I never thought about the location...
Yeah 120 degrees with 25 % humidity in a large zoo while open to the public with kids between 5-12 is a little exterme

[CAMPFRIEND]

You have to love the heat in the south..

[Dave]

Well at least there's not too much humidity. That's what kills the summer up here. It may only be 75 degrees but we sweat like there's no tomorrow. :(

[Sally]

Camper...I was at 2 Girl Scout camps for the past 14 years. As for "where am I going," I would love to go to PA (I was offered a couple things there) but the NYS Regents exam schedule takes me and my contract right up to June 23rd (I'm a high school counselor). Earliest I can get to camp is June 24th.

And...I'm not necessarily looking for a GS camp!

It's kind of limiting but I'm not giving up! :)

[Flower]

I'm going to have to take a year or two off from resident camping at least. Depending on how things go with finidng a job, etc. I may see if I can find a day camp job in the area I'm moving into, where ever that may be. This is what happens when you graduate college I guess.

[campCardinal]

Head Cabin Counselor. I'm in charge of my cabin. I was thinking about asking for a higher up job, but I'm not able to work the full summer. Plus, I think it will be a good time for me to just focus on being the best counselor I can be, I think I slacked off a little last summer and I want to do a better job. My superiors told me I did an excellent job, but I think I could do better.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Well at least there's not too much humidity. That's what kills the summer up here. It may only be 75 degrees but we sweat like there's no tomorrow. :(

We have humidity as well.

[melon4382]

I'm taking a new admin. staff position that has jsut been created. I'll be the International Staff Coordinator, which basically means I'll be in charge of taking care of the international staff, making sure they get out of camp occasionally, making sure they get their s.s. cards, etc.... I'm really excited about it :)

[EchoLaker]

I'm taking a new admin. staff position that has jsut been created. I'll be the International Staff Coordinator, which basically means I'll be in charge of taking care of the international staff, making sure they get out of camp occasionally, making sure they get their s.s. cards, etc.... I'm really excited about it :)


Oh the joyful memories. You wait until you end up having one of the SS# forms incomplete because Staff Member X has lost his I-94 from out his passport.

Now we could blame the immigration desk agent at Newark Liberty Airport who didn't staple it in like he's meant to, but regardless we had to have him driven up to Canadian border at Lake Champlain, to have him turned around, pass back into the USA to pay $6 to get a new I-94, and drive back.

That was fun ! (By the way, it was that or have the staff member pay $200+ and even then the process would take some 12 weeks.)

Whatever you do, don't let their I-94, or their DS-2019 go walkabout, it's two of the things the SSA want when they authenticate the stamps on it. (The other is the passport stamp near their J-1 visa).

[Dave]

I'm taking a new admin. staff position that has jsut been created. I'll be the International Staff Coordinator, which basically means I'll be in charge of taking care of the international staff, making sure they get out of camp occasionally, making sure they get their s.s. cards, etc.... I'm really excited about it :)
Congrats on that melon! :D You'll have to tell us how you like it. :)

[Sally]

OMG that sounds like a great position, melon! I'd love to do something like that.

[Skater Bubbles]

I am currently applying to a bunch of camps: River Way Ranch Camp, Canyon Creek Sports Camp, and YMCA Surf Camp.
I really hope I get the job at CCSC!!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Skater - all those camp sound great for you! I hope you get the one you want!

[EchoLaker]

I'm taking a new admin. staff position that has jsut been created. I'll be the International Staff Coordinator, which basically means I'll be in charge of taking care of the international staff, making sure they get out of camp occasionally, making sure they get their s.s. cards, etc.... I'm really excited about it :)

In addition to my previous comment on some of the situations that could occur; I aught to add though my congratulations; you're going to have a big influence on the mood that is set for all these nervous people who, like I was, are going to be shell-shocked at what they are involved in for the summer.

From my experience in working in the office dealing with queries from the other internationals (who obviously expected us to have all the answers!!), try and have Greyhound/Trailways etc schedules available for them to consult; and towards the end of the season maybe the schedules for the major destinations for Amtrak and Greyhound - how to get away from camp to start the travel part of the J-1 summer is a major worry it seems.
I assume your camp will take them to the Greyhound or Amtrak, but obviously where from there, and what time they're going to be sat around is information they are going to need.

If your camp doesn't already do it, try and co-ordinate with your Transportation person to run a trip to your nearest Safeway/Target/Walmart - the new internationals will have looked at your packing list in horror, and although will have tried to include at least one of everything - it may turn out that one of everything isn't enough, and there's inevitably going to be something they forgot or couldn't bring.

Dealing with the SSA isn't a difficult process, but setting up times where the SSA can inspect the documents and talk over any questions with the applicant, without compromising lessons & coverage issues can be tricky - possibly co-ordinate this with your Program office who will know where everyone is supposed to be and what breaks can be arranged. Clearly for this reason, don't have the SSA come in on a half-staff day!


Good luck though, it's an interesting position to have. :D

[Flukie]

Well, I was officially the first staff member hired for Summer 2006 this morning (not counting our director who signed her contract months ago!). I'm recieving a "promotion" in title as well from Program Manager and CIT/Intern Manager to Program Director and CIT/Intern Director. (I think it is a fancy way of saying they like me...) I also was told that now I can be left in charge of camp by myself with the Director and AD off property for 4-5 hours. ::Gulp:: Last year was baby steps - I was good for like, 1-2 hours. Lol. I'm so excited though. It totally was a great way to end my vacation.

[Dave]

Well, I was officially the first staff member hired for Summer 2006 this morning (not counting our director who signed her contract months ago!). I'm recieving a "promotion" in title as well from Program Manager and CIT/Intern Manager to Program Director and CIT/Intern Director. (I think it is a fancy way of saying they like me...) I also was told that now I can be left in charge of camp by myself with the Director and AD off property for 4-5 hours. ::Gulp:: Last year was baby steps - I was good for like, 1-2 hours. Lol. I'm so excited though. It totally was a great way to end my vacation.
Congrats on the promotion Flukie! You'll do a great job. :D

[campCardinal]

How many years do you think is average to be a general counselor before having a higher up position... or what age are unit leaders or group leaders at your camp. I'm planning for 2007 and I'm just curious for some input.

[Fallen]

well it all depends for someone who has worked at camps I'd say a 2-3 years as a general counselor before becoming a unit leader. Then unit leader for about the same before moving up to things like program director. At the Girl Scout camps I've worked for unit leaders have to be at least 21.

[who_stole_my_loofa]

my camp has a lot of levels... but weve had the same program director for like 25 years. so really the highest you can get at my camp is camp leader(we have 6 camps within my camp) so counselors are there for like 2-3 years, unit leaders 2-3 more and then to be a camp leader it has to be at least your 5th summer on staff at our camp or you have to be 25. i guess it depends on the camp but that's pretty much as high at you can get. unless they create a position for you..which has definitely happened before. there are also admin positions between camp leader and the directors- but most of those people have also been with us for 20+ years also. It really depends on where you are but most places 2-3 years of being counselor before a UL.

(i went into too much detail lol)

[audur]

I just got a reply from my camp director, and although it's not official or anything yet (and won't be for monts - the stupid application process takes so long if you're not American) it looks like I'm going to be a Unit Leader this summer!