So I was offered...HELP!!!

[camper]

Ok. here's my situation. some of you know it already, but since there's been a development, i'll tell you again. for the past 2 summers, i've been the counselor for a GREAT group of girls. the first summer they were going into 6th grade and last summer they were going into 7th. the entire age group is AMAZING...there are 32 of them and they're probably the best group in camp. my bunk of 7 of them is really good, i talk to most of them regularly online, i'm going to their bat mitzvahs and birthday parties, etc.

so i knew that there was the possiblity i'd get to move up in camp this summer to be an assistant grouphead, but i hadn't been offered anything yet and i was REALLY hoping that if i did, it would be with that group. i talked to the directors and my mom (the head counselor) about it and really pushed it, telling them that was what i really wanted.

tonight, when my mom was on the phone w/the director, they apparantly discussed how since there are almost 60 girls going into 3rd and 4th grade, our youngest age group, they need a really strong assistant grouphead in that group. especially because there are 20 third graders, the most we ever had. the assistant would be basically a second grouphead to those youngest girls as well as the assistant for the entire group. the director and my mom both agreed that i would be the best person for the job...so as soon as they got off the phone, it was offered to me.

now i really don't know what to do...i have this group of older girls that i LOVE and don't want to leave and i keep replaying in my head what i would have to say to them if i wasn't going to be their counselor, but i also have a great opportunity to move up in camp and i'm honored that they feel like i'm the only person for the job. i'd be moving from the upper camp to the lower camp...from the upper camp to the VERY youngest, which would certainly be a different experience. but i can't treat 7 and 8 year olds like normal people like i can w/my older girls, and i'm nervous i won't have a great bond with them, also that it will be really hard since they need a lot done for them. on the other hand, i know they'd look up to me a lot and i would get to be the person to take care of them and make them love camp in their first summer.

i'm soooo torn. any insight?

[KiwiCRB]

If you are really looking at staying with camp for a long time this might be an amazing chance to create an even stronger bond with this age group as they grow up in your camp. You could get the chance to really help develop their character since that is such an impressionable age. The promotion is also a great thing, would it come up again?

[speedx5xracer]

First of all heres the question you must ask yourself. Is the position worth not having the same campers again. I dont like the idea of sticking with the same campers each year but my best friend has done that. I personaly would take the position since you cant be their councler for ever eventually they will grow up and become staff. Besides its helpful to their development if they have different staff. Dont worry about bonding younger campers bond faster and over the most awkward things you cna think of. I have a camper who is 5 (staff kid) who bonded w. me because I was the one councler his first year to talk to him like an adult, and show him respect. That is key with the younger campers dont baby them treat them with respect and like equals.

[code3cadet]

take the job that your mom gave you. I had a group of kids like yours but the problem was that I feel safe with them. I did not want to leave them because fo this safeness of it. but when i did I got to grow up with the other group and I had more fun. little kids rock

[tajarbud]

This should be a great move for you---Congratulations!! 7 and 8 year olds ARE real people-talk to them the same way that you would talk to the older girls. I get so annoyed (soory, but I do) when people talk differently to younger kids. They know when adults are talking down to them and they really like it when you DO treat them like "real people." When I was a counselor, I really liked working with the older campers. too. Then I was assigned to work with younger campers and I learned alot from that experience. These younger campers could do and wanted to do more---we did. We outposted for three days, cooking all of our meals, sleeping under the stars, etc. That's when I learned that the younger campers are limiyed by the adult expectations. If the adults around them think they cannot do something, guess what? They can't.

If your older campers are at camp, you will still get to see them. I am not familiar with the setup at your camp but there are sure to be times that you will see them, too.
Take the new position--its what you've been hoping for, right? Just do it---you'll be glad you did. :D

[camper]

great insight so far guys!

kiwicrb- this EXACT promotion might not come up again, but any assistant grouphead job most likely would. the other thing i have to think about is the possibility of 1 or 2 of the other counselors my age being promoted if i choose to stay w/my girls. they wouldn't get the job i was offered b/c they wouldn't be a good fit for younger kids, but they might get an assistant grouphead job in another group. i KNOW that i either want to stick w/my girls or do the new job.

speedx5xracer- it's true that they can't be campers forever, but by the time they're counselors i'll most likely be a grouphead. i know though that having other counselors would not be bad for them either, but when they say something like "omg you have to be our counselor again" and "i love you sooo much!" and the leave me notes on my day off, i forget about that and get all upset about how i would tell them i'm not their counselor. that's definitely a good thing what you said about bonding w/the younger kids quicker, adding it to the plus column!

code3cadet- i definitely do feel safe with these girls, but i still do get challenged in certain situations by them.

keep the advice coming!

[who_stole_my_loofa]

weve already talked about this duh.. er or were kind of talking about it right now. but just keep your options open for now. dont stress over it. and make sure the decision you make is made for you and not made for everyone else.

[code3cadet]

I love working with little kids better. when they start geting in to 7th grade they start like boys and that is a whole new mess. Ya there is thing that I do not know but that come with time. and in time you will get to know eveything that you need to know for that time. I will not work with 12-13 years old girls I feel sorry for them but not for me. what tajarbud told you is right the little camper do not like it when you talk to them like kids. they are kids but they are little people and talk to them like that. you mite be supered to what the kids know if you just talk to them.

[camper]

haha you guys are great!! its good to know i can look at the kids as real people lol. and yeah, i know i'll definitely see my kids around...i want to be sure they know that i'll be there for them like i've always been if i end up taking this new job.

[code3cadet]

all you need to do is tell them that then. sit the group down and tell them if they need your help just ask you for it that is what I do.

[Flukie]

I can see what camper means about talking with them though - I work extensively through the school year with 6-9 year olds - and it is so refreshing to be student teaching with 9th graders - more important to me is that I can reason with them much more easily and they can make logical connections that the little ones can't. So you are right, you can still talk to them like real people, but it is on a different level. There are defintely ways you talk to older kids that won't work with younger ones!

camper, you have to do what you want. The best thing I have to offer is that those older girls will still be there at camp - you'll still be able to see them, you'll still be able to talk with them. And since you already have that bond with them, I'm sure it will still exist both in and outside of camp. You have the chance to do something that will be much different (and yet so similar!) to what you are doing now - it is up to you whether you want to take it or not. It's no doubt a tricky choice - but we'll support whatever you decide to do! (And what an honor that their first pick for the job was you!)

[Trees]

Hey Camper, you've said you want to be a camp director (owner?) someday--in which case, I think you should take whatever opportunities for advancement are offered. That's how people get ahead in their careers. As long as you think you'll do a good job, take it.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Ok Camper! I think that you should look at it this way, think about all the great things that you have done for your campers that are older. Think what you can do for this new group of campers. Every year I move what I call my best staff to all of the different age groups. With you experience with camp that is what I am sure that your camp director and you mother are looking to do. I think that you should take the job to help you gain experience with more age groups as well as for the betterment of camp and the new campers. I know that you will miss your old campers, but think about what you can do for the new ones.

GOOD LUCK! I hope this helps..

[audur]

I think you should take the job... tt would def. be good to get experience with younger kids. Not only will it be a new challenge for you, it'll also be good for your resume - if your goal is to direct/own a camp, having extensive experience with all ages is good. It'll also be good for you to have to work extra-hard, since you won't know your new campers before. I can understand wanting to stay with the older campers, but like others have said, it'd probably also be good for them to get a new counselor - it'll mean yet another adult for them they can trust and look up to. And you'll still be around, it's not like you're disappearing from their lifes. If you do take the new job, just make sure you talk to all of them and explain why you're doing this - they have to know it's not because you don't like them, or something like that.

Up until last summer I'd only worked with younger kids - at camp I mostly worked with 5/6-10/11 year olds, and I *really* enjoy it. Little kids are some of the most challenging, honest, funniest and just overall awesome people I know. It's exhausting to work with the youngest campers, but it's SO rewarding. I wasn't really sure I even wanted to work with older kids - but somehow ended up working with the very oldest campers for most of last summer. And I'm so glad I did, because it was an awesome opportunity for me, that I'm glad camp gave to me. I learned so much from having those campers, instead of just "staying safe" with the younger ones. Now my only problem is, I can't choose what age group I'd most like to work with...

[camper]

haha what you guys are all saying is what my mom keeps saying...that if i want her job some day i have to get familiar working w/every age group, she used herself as an example because one time she had to be junior grouphead (the juniors are going into 5th grade). she was like, "do you think i wanted to do that?" but these kids aren't even that old! i'm just nervous i won't be good at it...plus telling my girls and then being without them is the hardest part...i just don't know yet!!! luckily my mom said i didn't have to decide right now...keep the advice coming too, i love hearing it!

[CAMPFRIEND]

You will still get to see them at camp!

[camper]

i know i know...but its not the same as going to activities w/them, playing around w/them, living w/them, being w/them when they're still awake when i come back from nights out, etc.

[CAMPFRIEND]

How long do you plan to stay with your camp? If it's for a long time you need to try new things!

[CAMPFRIEND]

OK Camper. I sent you a PM with what all I think...

[Skater Bubbles]

It seems like you pretty much have all of the advice you need, but I will add just a little more. Your situation has a lot of pros and cons, but I think when it comes down to it, you need to ask yourself which is more important to you, Working again with the exact same group of girls or moving on and getting promoted and trying something new. If you are still torn I might suggest making a pro/con list and seeing which has more pros. Oh and as for working with the younger kids, that is the exact age group I have and I love it! I have never switched age groups because I love this age so much and I get to have tons of different kids this age every summer instead of staying with the same kids. I think it's fun to have new campers and then still see your old campers around camp. This way you know tons of campers instead of just a select few. Anyway, Whichever you do I am sure you will do great at it!

[camper]

thanks everyone! feel free to add anything else, i'll keep you all updated on my decision!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Camper, I know you will do whats right for you..

[Dave]

I think you should go with the new job. I was in a similar situation, but not nearly as drastic. Basically, before last summer I had to decide whether to stay with 6-year-olds, or go to 7-year-olds and try and get my bunk again. I decided to go with 7-year-olds. Well it didn't work out; I didn't get the bunk again. But I became attached to my new bunk just as much. So even though I wasn't with the kids I really wanted to be with, I still had just as good of a time and I loved that bunk as much as the bunk I wanted to get.

So you should go with the new job. After a few days you'll grow attached to the new girls. Plus, as someone else said (I forget who sorry), you'll be able to watch them grow up and help them grow up.

[collissimon]

I agree with Dave, camp is camp no matter what kids you're with. The difference will be is that you will be trying something new and contributing to it in a new and greater way. I think if I didn't take the job, I may be kicking myself throughout the summer, and then I may even (sub-consciously) resent the campers I was working with.

You'll still see them whatever happens.

[Dave]

You'll still see them whatever happens.
That's true. I decided not to move up an age group again for next summer, but I know I'll be seeing both of my previous bunks throughout the summer anyway. Sure I may not be doing activities with them, but I'll see them throughout camp and that's good enough for me.

[camper]

right now i'm at about 70% that i will go ahead w/the promotion. thats cool about you w/your campers dave, but its a little different when you live w/them for 2 summers and know everything about them...what makes them tick, what they like, what they don't like, foods they'll eat, what you have to do to cheer them up...and plus, how they'll react if i tell them i'm not gonna be their counselor b/c every day they say "you have to be our counselor!" we'll see, i have a few more weeks to decide...

[Dave]

right now i'm at about 70% that i will go ahead w/the promotion. thats cool about you w/your campers dave, but its a little different when you live w/them for 2 summers and know everything about them...what makes them tick, what they like, what they don't like, foods they'll eat, what you have to do to cheer them up...and plus, how they'll react if i tell them i'm not gonna be their counselor b/c every day they say "you have to be our counselor!" we'll see, i have a few more weeks to decide...
That's true. I never took that stuff into consideration because I'm only a day camp counselor. :P Well, good luck deciding. :)

[collissimon]

I wouldn't worry about their reaction camper: I think they would probably be really happy for you, just make sure you do what you want to do, not the campers and not us either!! :D

[Dave]

I wouldn't worry about their reaction camper: I think they would probably be really happy for you, just make sure you do what you want to do, not the campers and not us either!! :D
That's very true. Go with what you feel you'd be best at and where you feel you'd have the best time.

[camper]

i know and i am thinking about me...how i'll feel if i know they're upset...maybe i'm being too sensitive to them, and i know they will be happy for me if i do it...but i don't want them to feel like i'm not being their counselor b/c i don't like them enough.

[campCardinal]

Camper,
I have a little bit of insight on working with the littlest kids at camp. I work with the 1st through 4th graders at my camp and LOVE it. I was really nervous when I was told that was my position, because I wasn't sure that I'd be able to relate to them and be there for them. I've found out that it's not as hard as I thought. It takes a lot of work, I won't lie, but the rewards are amazing. For many kids, it is their first year at camp. So, you get to teach them everything that you love about camp. Everything they do they're doing for the first time, so the excitement they have is contagious. They don't know what camp is like though, so it takes some time for them to get used to the way camp is run. You may not have a relationship with these kids like you did the 7th graders, but you can still build an amazing friendship with them. My girls and I have had so much fun together. We do silly things together all the time and we bond in a different way than the older bunks. However, I still have the bond with these girls. When they come back year after year they run to me and hug me. Even though they are young they still are more mature than many people think.

One of the greatest things about working with the youngest kids is that you are one of their first memories of camp. When they remember their first year at camp you will be one of their memories. They will look up to you so much, and they'll want to make you proud. They also say the most special things. They are so innocent and they love to make they grown ups around them happy.

There are hard things too, homesickness is a biggie, and bed wetting and they sometimes don't know right from wrong. But seeing these girls grow up in one summer at camp is amazing. And, seeing them fall in love with the camp you love with be something you will remember forever!

I don't think you should take the job just for these reasons. But, I think it would be a great opportunity to grow as a leader and at camp. It's really hard for me to give my opinion because from what I understand your camp is very different than mine. However, if you're still going to be at camp the girls in your current bunk shouldn't be too upset. You'll still be there for them and you'll also get to be there for other girls.

[camper]

thanks campcardinal, that was really helpful! i'm getting much more confident that i would be able to bond w/the younger girls. i also know that their groupleader is AWESOME (she was mine 3 times and was a counselor in my bunk before that when i was a camper) and my mom has told me she's great to her counselors, and we always got along so i know i would work well w/her. the only thing holding me back now is my girls...i'm also kind of hoping that i'll get offered the same job but w/them. although this new job might give me a chance to shine and be more of a challenge for me...i just am not 100% on it yet! and also seeing my girls this weekend is gonna cause me to regress a little i have a feeling...

[collissimon]

campCardinal: you make me want to be back at camp right now!! That's a really good post.

[Samhain2057]

I would not miss out on a chance to challenge yourself and have fun trying a new postion in a new setting, I say go for it!

[KiwiCRB]

You said they're older right? If you really explain what a great opportunity this is for you they should understand. Even if they don't react well right away i'm sure they'll get over it and have just as much fun during the summer.

[camper]

yeah they're older...i actually think i might go for this...won't tell my campers yet though.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I think that you are doing the right thing Camper!

[camper]

haha i said i THINK i'm gonna go for it. i'll let you know when i definitely decide.

[collissimon]

I think you would be doing the right thing too, if you decide to go for it!

[Skater Bubbles]

-Bump, so what did you decide Camper?

[camper]

haha i still don't know. saw my campers last weekend and i regressed, of course. i still have a couple of weeks.

[CAMPFRIEND]

It's hard when you see your old campers. You will make the right choice!

[camper]

yeah i'm back up on the positive side now. i haven't been on the boards a whole lot b/c i'm not home or at school right now so i haven't had time to come on and update. don't worry i'm still here! haha i'll be back every 5 mins starting like next tuesday, lol.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Camper- So what are you going to do this summer?

[camper]

well here's the thing now. i haven't updated this thread in awhile b/c i'm not exactly sure what the situation is gonna be anymore. a couple of people have called to come back to camp who weren't in camp last summer. they're 2 years older than i am. one of them is an elementary education major. in the past, she hasn't worked w/the younger kids in camp but due to her major my mom thinks she might be able to do the job as well, so i have some competition! on the other hand, i met all of the campers when i toured them last summer and then some of them again at the reunion (the ones who have older sisters/brothers), so i have a leg up also. my mom told me that she'll make a decision within the next couple of months.

the bad news: not sure if i'll be a shoe-in for the new job anymore
the good: my mom also said that if she decided not to put me w/the little ones, i'd probably get the job i originally wanted- asst grouphead w/my own campers!

so either way, it pretty much works out for me...b/c if she decides to put me w/the little ones, i don't really have a choice in the matter, and if she doesn't, i'll probably get what i wanted in the first place. i figured i'd wait until i knew for sure before i brought it up again.

[CAMPFRIEND]

That's cool. I was just checking. We all know you will get what you want!

Good luck!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Any updates camper?

[camper]

nope. my mom still hasn't done my contract b/c she still doesn't know where i'll be this summer! i can't wait to just know already. this weekend is gonna be another tough weekend where i'm not gonna ever want to leave my girls, i'm going to one of their bat mitzvahs!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Have fun! Keep us updated!