View Full Version : Seeing your campers outside of camp
This might apply more to people at day camps, but I'll ask this question for everyone. How many of you see your campers outside of camps. For example if you go out to dinner you'll see a camper and their family at the restaurant, or you'll go to a store and see a camper there. So how often do you see campers outside of camp (not including babysitting and times like that).
I don't think I've ever seen campers outside of camp. But I'm always on the lookout. Whenever I go to a public place I look around for one of those familiar faces. They never turn up though. :( But since I work at a day camp, a lot of the kids live near by so there's a better chance I'll see them. One of these days I will though...
code3cadet
12-08-2005, 09:27 PM
I see camper all the time outside of camp. most of the campers ask me to go over to there home for some I will but other I will not. camper have parties in the park and we camp as staff
speedx5xracer
12-08-2005, 09:44 PM
This is a touchy subject at my camp. I do see some campers during the year since they are from my home town or i run into them. Depending on the relationship between you, the camper and the campers parents my camp has no problem. But if the parents are against you seeing them outside of the camp setting or a director feels its an issue you will be given the choice to keep your job or continue seeing that camper in an outside setting.
Wow that's pretty strict. I can understand the concern, but it's a bit much in my opinion. I mean, sometimes you can't help running into a camper in a public area.
CAMPFRIEND
12-08-2005, 10:16 PM
I see my campers all the time. I work day camp so I live in the same town as all of them. I also do a lot of work with the schools so I see them at school.
Indigo
12-08-2005, 11:10 PM
I'll occasionally see a camper or two outside of camp. My camp doesn't have any specific rules about it, but personally I've found it best to keep the camper-counselor relationship as it is until the camper's on a staff level, even outside of camp.
Fleur
12-08-2005, 11:12 PM
I've only had that happen once. I saw one of the kids from my bus at a restaurant, and he waved to me as he walked by with his family. Right before camp last summer though, another staff from my bus ran into a couple of our kids at the dentist. I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen many more of them around. There are a few families that live only a few blocks away from me.
camper
12-08-2005, 11:30 PM
my camp has no rules about it, and since most of our counselors live in the same towns as the campers they tend to run into them in stores, restaurants, at bar mitzvahs, in the hamptons, etc. i'm in the minority in that i don't live near most of the kids, but when i visit my camp friends we always see at least 1 camper when we do stuff around the town. as for planning it, we do that all the time...i'm seeing my campers at a party next week, then again at the reunion, then again at a bat mitzvah. right after camp was over my cousin invited my camper over so we saw her, and we went out to lunch and met a bunch of other campers. it would be really hard for my camp to make a rule about it b/c of the town thing, and i think it's positive as long as the campers want to see the counselors!
who_stole_my_loofa
12-09-2005, 01:06 AM
I wish I could see my kids out of camp!!! They call and IM and email all the time but it's just not the same! Most of my kids live in Florida and I live in Oklahoma so.. :-(
Loofa
rockinsmiles
12-09-2005, 11:26 AM
I've only ran into one camper outside of camp...and camp was still in session! It was on the weekend (off time) and me and some staff went to another town to eat. We had to wait for a table and we were hanging out in that middle part between the actual restaurant and the outside. Then in walks a girl i had had in my group that past week with her grandparents. the funny thing is my co-counselor had been outside getting something from his car and had saw her and told her that i was inside. he came in right around the same time she did and just had this big doofy smile on his face. it was pretty cool to a camper outside of camp though...and i have zero idea about our policy on seeing campers...i guess we can since it has never been mentioned before!
I've only had that happen once. I saw one of the kids from my bus at a restaurant, and he waved to me as he walked by with his family. Right before camp last summer though, another staff from my bus ran into a couple of our kids at the dentist. I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen many more of them around. There are a few families that live only a few blocks away from me.
I feel the same way. I live only a few blocks from some of the kids on my camp bus, and within at most a half-hour from quite a few campers I know. I've never seen one camper though. :(
I wish I could see my kids out of camp!!! They call and IM and email all the time but it's just not the same! Most of my kids live in Florida and I live in Oklahoma so.. :-(
I don't even get IM's or e-mails from my campers. :( I'm assuming you worked with older campers though. I've worked with seven-year-olds so I guess I shouldn't really expect that kind of stuff from them.
CAMPFRIEND
12-09-2005, 11:54 AM
Dave don't be sad. I am sure that your campers love you. I get e-mail from campers all the time. Sometimes it's a pain. They like to ask questions about next summer. So I hear the same questions all the time. Someday you will get the e-mails, just wait!
It's not that they don't e-mail me because they don't like me, it's just that they don't even know my e-mail address and I doubt they would have one at their ages. I do have their phone numbers though, but it would probably be a bit strange for them if I called. I'm not calling. :P
I just never even thought about asking about e-mail addresses. Do you just give them your e-mail address and they give you theirs? Or do you get a list of e-mail address, like we get a list of phone numbers?
CAMPFRIEND
12-09-2005, 12:19 PM
All of the kids can get my e-amil address off of our website. When I was a counselo with the older campers I would make a list of all of their e-mail addresses and pass it out to the group. I would also put mine on their. I never gave out my phone number or address to any campers. I also had an e-mail address just for camp.
I don't think that I would call any of your campers. That might be strange and I am not sure if a parent would like that.
One more thing. I know a lot of 7 year olds who have their own e-mail address.
code3cadet
12-09-2005, 01:11 PM
I feel the same way. I live only a few blocks from some of the kids on my camp bus, and within at most a half-hour from quite a few campers I know. I've never seen one camper though. :(
I don't even get IM's or e-mails from my campers. :( I'm assuming you worked with older campers though. I've worked with seven-year-olds so I guess I shouldn't really expect that kind of stuff from them.
that is way you need myspace so that all your camper and staff can talk with each other
All of the kids can get my e-amil address off of our website. When I was a counselo with the older campers I would make a list of all of their e-mail addresses and pass it out to the group. I would also put mine on their. I never gave out my phone number or address to any campers. I also had an e-mail address just for camp.
I don't think that I would call any of your campers. That might be strange and I am not sure if a parent would like that.
One more thing. I know a lot of 7 year olds who have their own e-mail address.
But what I don't understand is, when you were a counselor, how could you get their e-mail addresses in the first place? Now that you're a camp director it's easier, but when you were a counselor how did you do it?
CAMPFRIEND
12-09-2005, 02:18 PM
When I was a counselor we put a list togeather for the campers of all the kids and our e-mail address. I think that it's harder to do at day camp. I would just let them ask!
camper
12-09-2005, 02:20 PM
dave, a lot of times at the end of the summer the kids will be like, "here's my email address/screenname!" although most of the time you get it b/c they have yours (counselors who want to can give their email addresses in the final buzzer at the end of camp) or they got it from someone. only give it out if you really want to. and yes, most 7 year olds have email addresses and they all have screennames too.
CAMPFRIEND
12-09-2005, 02:22 PM
I thinkl when I was 7 I don't think that I had e-mail. I am so old.
martha27
12-09-2005, 02:38 PM
whenever i stayed in america for a few weeks after camp, to travel or what not i would see my campers, stay with them from time to time. it's always nice to see them out of the camp environment too :)
code3cadet
12-09-2005, 02:39 PM
Ya all the 7 year old that i know do. they can not tipe that good but they have one :D
I guess I might try next summer. I always thought it would be neat to talk to the campers after camp.
CAMPFRIEND
12-09-2005, 04:59 PM
Good luck to you Dave!
Fallen
12-10-2005, 06:01 PM
I've never run into campers outside of camp. I do give them my e-mail address or home address if they ask me for it, but it seems I get all those silly chain letters from them rather than e-mails about what's going on.
I've never run into campers outside of camp. I do give them my e-mail address or home address if they ask me for it, but it seems I get all those silly chain letters from them rather than e-mails about what's going on.
Do you ever write to them asking them how they're doing?
CAMPFRIEND
12-10-2005, 10:29 PM
This is funny. I went to see a movie today and I saw 5 different campers. I was thinking about this post. It was crazy!
speedx5xracer
12-10-2005, 10:41 PM
This is funny. I went to see a movie today and I saw 5 different campers. I was thinking about this post. It was crazy!
This childrens youth group was on my campus today, It has members from my home town and the other towns in the area. So Im in the dining hall and I have little kids tugging on my shirt (of couse it has a phrase on it that isnt appropiet for kids) i turn my head to see 2 of my old campers and 3 from the sister division to mine.
This is funny. I went to see a movie today and I saw 5 different campers. I was thinking about this post. It was crazy!
I'm glad you thought of us when that happened! :D Maybe one day I can do the same. ;)
collissimon
12-11-2005, 09:26 AM
I don't see my campers due to the small pond separating the two of us! I don't how I would react about seeing them in a different setting. I suppose it would be just nice to see them!
I did get one email from a camper this year, which was nice, but it's usually just 'I can't wait to get to camp', not stuff you want to know like 'how are you getting on at school' etc! We have a roster with all the kids postal addresses in, and all the staff postal addresses and emails on, which makes it a lot easier to contact other staff, and to keep in touch. Last year, the official camp photos were a bit rubbish, so I sent round a decent photo that I had taken, and posted it to the kids in my cabin. I didn't bother this year though, because I don't have the time!
How do people react with their campers from the year before? Is it easier? I have had a couple of kids where it's been pretty cool, as they have come over for a chat a couple of times. It is weird though, because you kinda miss them, and they are no longer 'your' campers...
I don't see my campers due to the small pond separating the two of us! I don't how I would react about seeing them in a different setting. I suppose it would be just nice to see them!
I did get one email from a camper this year, which was nice, but it's usually just 'I can't wait to get to camp', not stuff you want to know like 'how are you getting on at school' etc! We have a roster with all the kids postal addresses in, and all the staff postal addresses and emails on, which makes it a lot easier to contact other staff, and to keep in touch. Last year, the official camp photos were a bit rubbish, so I sent round a decent photo that I had taken, and posted it to the kids in my cabin. I didn't bother this year though, because I don't have the time!
How do people react with their campers from the year before? Is it easier? I have had a couple of kids where it's been pretty cool, as they have come over for a chat a couple of times. It is weird though, because you kinda miss them, and they are no longer 'your' campers...
As I've said before, my bunk from two summers ago would get so excited whenever they saw me last summer. It was awesome how they reacted. I think I've told the story about how, one time while we were at swim, me and some kids (from a bunch of different bunks) were playing run the bases because we didn't go swimming. Well, some of my kids from my old bunk were playing, along with their counselors. One of them had to go to the bathroom. So who did he come up to? Me! Even though his real counselor was standing right there, he came up to me and asked me to take him to the bathroom. I told him his counselor was right there, and he said he knew, he just wanted me to take him.
That was probably one of the best moments of last summer. For him to choose me over his counselor, that must really be saying something.
rockinsmiles
12-11-2005, 04:08 PM
Yeah i love it when campers remember you (in a good way). i had quite a few this year who werent in my cabin but during meals and times when all the groups were together they would come and talk to me. it was so great! im really looking forward to this one camper who will be a CIT this year. i know she will do an awesome job!
collissimon
12-12-2005, 12:52 PM
I like that too Dave, but I'm always really wary about it too, because a couple of my campers have been manipulative little beggars, who will come to you to try and get out of stuff with their new counsellors... it is still cool though :D
CAMPFRIEND
12-12-2005, 01:22 PM
I love to see campers move up in our programs. When Camper-CIT-Counselors. I have some of my older campers who are now Directors. Crazy!
code3cadet
12-12-2005, 03:01 PM
I love to see campers move up in our programs. When Camper-CIT-Counselors. I have some of my older campers who are now Directors. Crazy!
ya I like that to. Snore one of the new member I got to join. I had him as a CIT and I talk him that this site can help him be a better staff member this year. I love this site
I like that too Dave, but I'm always really wary about it too, because a couple of my campers have been manipulative little beggars, who will come to you to try and get out of stuff with their new counsellors... it is still cool though :D
Yeah luckily they didn't make a habit out of asking favors of me.
Well I finally got to talk to some kids from camp! I was at services tonight and one of the girls from my bus was there. There was another kid from camp there, but I didn't even know he went to my camp. Anyway, she knew who I was when she first saw me. Later on we got talking about shows on Nickelodeon (along with some other kids). That was interesting. :P I've learned that the new Rugrats isn't as good as the old Rugrats, there's too much shouting in Jimmy Neutron, and Fairly Odd Parents is just stupid.
Well I'll probably see her more often. That's cool because she's a good kid.
runrachrunn
01-28-2006, 12:11 AM
Well I finally got to talk to some kids from camp! I was at services tonight and one of the girls from my bus was there. There was another kid from camp there, but I didn't even know he went to my camp. Anyway, she knew who I was when she first saw me. Later on we got talking about shows on Nickelodeon (along with some other kids). That was interesting. :P I've learned that the new Rugrats isn't as good as the old Rugrats, there's too much shouting in Jimmy Neutron, and Fairly Odd Parents is just stupid.
Well I'll probably see her more often. That's cool because she's a good kid.
Funny that you mentioned the Nickelodeon conversation. I don't think I watched any kids shows after the age of 8. But once I got back into camping (as a staff), I started making a conscious effort to find out what the kids liked (TV/Movies/music/trends) so that I would actually know what they were talking about when the cabin was sitting around, or while in transit.
Now, sometimes I actually catch myself singing a (::gasp::) Hillary Duff song or watching Spongebob.
KiwiCRB
01-28-2006, 12:26 AM
Hahah, i watch kid shows all the time if there is nothing else on. And if i'm ever home from school sick i watch nick jr. or endless episodes of Makeover/Wedding/Baby story.
Bushbasher
02-01-2006, 07:35 AM
Hey guys...good topic.
Well i live on the other side of the world...so no..i dont run into to them at the mall or anything...BUT...i have been back to camp 3 years running and i stay with some of my campers before or after camp. i get along great with their families and its fun...plus sometimes accomodation can be PRICEY when you are travelling on the AUSSIE dollar! I think its great...the campers LOVE it and their families do too.
collissimon
02-01-2006, 12:31 PM
I haven't stayed with any kids with camp before, but it's supposed to be really cool!
I did however, just walk home from my teaching placement, and see a kid and he shouted 'Mr Collis!!!' and confused his mum completely, which was pretty cool! Made me grin!
Sparkes
02-02-2006, 12:10 AM
Living on an island, in the Atlantic Ocean, in a different country, limits my interaction with my campers a whole lot! But I do talk to some of them on AOL. We give out everyone's email/phone/address at the end of the summer in a directory that goes out to everyone.
My brother is a camper so he has camper friends at the house sometimes also one camper goes to my home chrurch. But I try not to give out my e-mail and sn and stuff just because. I use my Myspace to keep in touch with my campers. It seems to work well.
camplover86
02-02-2006, 12:18 PM
We give our e-mail address to campers if they ask. We don't give out our phone numbers or home address. A couple of my campers have my school address and write to me here.
I have seen a couple campers at the mall, or at the skating rink where i work, when i am at home. At first it was weird. Like the week after camp I was with two camp friends (one was an international who was staying with me before she left) at the mall. We were at the sporting goods store, buying nalgenes and a camper came up and was like "Hi Gumbo!" i was in shock at first but then i got it together and said hey, had a short conversation and left. Its not so weird to see campers now.
collissimon
02-03-2006, 08:24 AM
We have a roster with our emails and postal addresses, and with camper's postal addresses in, which was pretty cool a couple of years ago, when the photographer wasn't the best, so I posted a couple of my reprints off and posted them to the kids.
who_stole_my_loofa
02-13-2006, 03:22 AM
I don't know if I've mentioned this yet but I got invited to a Bat Mitzvah of a camper that wasn't even mine this summer. I would get to see lots and lots of campers there-in their real environment.. I was totally thrilled, unfortunately I cannot go. :-(
camper
02-13-2006, 01:17 PM
ooohhh loofa that sucks. i'm going to a camper's bat mitzvah (whose theme is camp how amazing) in 4 weeks.
That sucks loofa. I don't know any older campers so it would years until the ones I know start having their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
Strange thing happened earlier today. My sister and I pulled away from my house. Down the road a little are three kids walking down the sidewalk. I look as we drive by and one of them looked just like one of the kids who rode my bus. I wasn't sure if it was really him since I didn't get a good look, but from what I saw it looked like him. The strange thing is that there's only one house around here with kids his age, and I can't think of any reason how they'd be friends. Well now this is going to be bugging me because I'll never know if it was really him. It's not that big of a deal, but it will be bugging me.
daisy_0144
02-18-2006, 10:55 PM
Well, maybe you'll see them again and find out--that'd be cool. I don't see campers ever :( since I live 7 hrs. from camp.
Pooka
02-19-2006, 01:08 AM
I live at the wrong end of the county to encounter most of my campers, but I'll occasionally run into them while shopping or something. It's so awkward when I can't remember names!
Since my town is very small, we only have one school-- grades kindergarten-12-- and though I haven't seen them since summer, I know a gang of my campers are in the middle/elementary school. Weird-- I'm starting to think that I hallucinated them or misread their school sweatshirts!
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