View Full Version : What activity are you a specialist for?
If you're a specialist, what activity are you in charge of?
Indigo
10-21-2005, 09:33 PM
I'm in charge of the Wrangler-In-Training program (I also work as a wrangler on the weekends in the spring and fall, and when they need some extra help during the summer). I love it, it's the best of both counselor and wrangler.
That sounds like a fun job, Indigo. We don't have anything like that at our camp though. :(
speedx5xracer
10-22-2005, 04:22 PM
Im a lifeguard/canoe instructor. As well as a reciprient of the conerstone fellowship program(teaching staff new techniques and how to be better jewish leaders).
The high ropes courses and rock climbing, but I'm still in training.
The high ropes courses and rock climbing, but I'm still in training.
I loved the ropes course at our camp. I only got to do the zip line and lead of faith (where you climb a high tree, you're harnessed in, and then you jump off). But they were still fun!
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I loved the ropes course at our camp. I only got to do the zip line and lead of faith (where you climb a high tree, you're harnessed in, and then you jump off). But they were still fun!
We have two - one of them is called the pamper pole. It's 19m tall and designed to be incredibly wobbly - both the platform you end up on standing on, and the tree itself, to make it more challenging. The other one isn't as high, and it's not in a tree, but the trampeeze you have to jump for is much further apart!
I love doing the high ropes. You come across so many kids who are terrified of heights, but it's so awesome when they push themselves, and end up on absolutely loving it and wanting to go agin.
We have two - one of them is called the pamper pole. It's 19m tall and designed to be incredibly wobbly - both the platform you end up on standing on, and the tree itself, to make it more challenging. The other one isn't as high, and it's not in a tree, but the trampeeze you have to jump for is much further apart!
I love doing the high ropes. You come across so many kids who are terrified of heights, but it's so awesome when they push themselves, and end up on absolutely loving it and wanting to go agin.
I talked one of the kids in my bunk to go on the zip line. He was so scared, so I went on it and showed him that it was fun. He decided to go on and ended up loving it! The next time we went to the ropes course, the first thing he went to was the zip line. It was nice knowing that I helped him overcome that fear.
camper
10-24-2005, 01:48 AM
i'm a general counselor which is great b/c i get to do every activity!!! in 04 i worked at tennis and liked it but i wanted more variety.
martha27
10-24-2005, 02:38 PM
i was a landsports counselor for 4 summers(soccer mainly) and then my last summer i was a group head, in charge of our CIT's(counselors in training
rhiannond87
10-24-2005, 04:00 PM
I'm on the Waterfront, specialising in Sailing!! Spending the summer on a 40ft yacht, sailing Hobies, sunfish and having a jetski as our safety boat! I also was a lifegaurd and assisted with canoeing(but got a bit bored of that!).
Our camp was different in that all general and speciality teach 3 or 4 periods a day (out of 5). So we got a good variet - on a general week i would spend 2 periods teaching sailing, crewing on the yacht for one and then lifegaurding, canoeing etc for the other period, then one off.
i'm a general counselor which is great b/c i get to do every activity!!! in 04 i worked at tennis and liked it but i wanted more variety.
I agree that's one good reason to be a general counselor. You get to have some variety. Well, I guess if you enjoy your activity (if you're a specialist) it wouldn't be bad at all.
mandyloo
10-25-2005, 09:56 PM
Im the first aid specialist? I treat kids during the week that they are there. I'm also the resident Responder instructor. First Aid is DEFINATELY my specialty though :-D
Im the first aid specialist? I treat kids during the week that they are there. I'm also the resident Responder instructor. First Aid is DEFINATELY my specialty though :-D
I'm assuming you actually help kids when they get hurt? Or do you teach first aid?
CAMPFRIEND
11-01-2005, 02:08 PM
I love high adventure. High rope is such a great way to spend your summer!
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I love high adventure. High rope is such a great way to spend your summer!
The guys at our ropes course always look like they're having so much fun. If I were a specialist, I think I'd choose ropes.
CAMPFRIEND
11-02-2005, 11:42 AM
I did get to spent a lot of time on our 3 courses during the summer when I was a counselor. At my knew camp our YMCA runs an alpine tower. It a lot of fun as well..
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Skater Bubbles
11-02-2005, 04:31 PM
Last summer I was in charge of our Mountainboard program!! I loved it, but I must say I wish I also had a little more variety!!
Fallen
11-07-2005, 02:53 AM
Archery specialist. The last two years I only would fill in since the camps had already had an archery specialist. I actually need to look into getting my certification renewed it expires next month
Flower
11-07-2005, 09:25 PM
The last two years I've done a lot of archery. I also do newspaper, arts and crafts, drama, and whatever other odds and ends they stick me on to help out with. And I've spent at least a period a day in the office doing that stuff as well. I love the variety my schedule has always had. All the counselors at my camp teach activities, and most get a good amount of variety to their day though some will end up with horses, swimming, or tennis or such all day.
CAMPFRIEND
11-10-2005, 01:49 PM
Last summer I was in charge of our Mountainboard program!! I loved it, but I must say I wish I also had a little more variety!!
What is Mountainboarding? I am guessing is is like skate boarding but on a mountain.
who_stole_my_loofa
11-11-2005, 04:20 AM
At my camp you can't be a cabin counselor AND a specialist- one or the other. 2nd session though we got short staffed for some reason and one of the tennis instructors was also a cabin counselor and she never had any time with her kids except for after dinner and during evening program and it was like they barely knew it. It was sad. It's just proof that at our camp it doesn't work to do both. So we have cabin counselors who can really get to know their kids and spend lots of time with them and specialists who can really focus on their talent. If I was a specialist though I'd want to do arts and crafts or rock climbing.
Loofa
Kerrbear
11-14-2005, 07:43 PM
In 04 I was music/dance and LOVED it! It was great, I got 10 year old tough guys dancing, that was quite the proud moment. It was awesome doing choreographies with all the kids.
This past summer (05) I was Float though. Who knows that this summer with bring!
Skater Bubbles
11-15-2005, 04:52 PM
What is Mountainboarding? I am guessing is is like skate boarding but on a mountain.
Ya, basically, it's a longer skateboard with knobbly tires and foot straps, plus a hand break. It's pretty much a mixture of snowboarding and skateboarding, it's really cool!! But kinda dangerous!!
CAMPFRIEND
11-16-2005, 12:04 AM
Sounds like fun.. I would like to try it someday.
speedx5xracer
11-16-2005, 01:02 AM
I dont know but is it similar to alpine boarding cause it kinda remindes me of the alpine slide at mountatin creek (action park)
Skater Bubbles
11-17-2005, 06:51 PM
Ya but on the alpine slide, don't you sit down? I will insert a pic of mountainboarding from this summer later today!
campCardinal
11-26-2005, 07:35 PM
Our cabin counselors are trained in most activities at camp. For instance, I'm a cabin counselor for our 6-9 year age group. In addition to this, I'm trained in all the high ropes elements, archery, riflery, canoeing, kyaking, arts and crafts, and nature.
However, I rarely work the water activities because I'm not life gaurd trained. Also, I only lead these activities for my unit.
We do have staff that are only activities counselors, we're mostly there just for back up or if we're short staffed.
code3cadet
12-06-2005, 09:19 PM
I do Secret Agent Camp
CampCraft
02-17-2006, 07:20 PM
Like my username, I'm in charge of the Camp Craft program. Camp Craft isn't arts and crafts, but rather camping and outdoor living crafts like knots, pocket knives and outdoor cooking. I love it because I can work with all different ages of campers and do all sorts of activities, from simple knots and knife safety to advaced outdoor cooking techniques!
KiwiCRB
02-17-2006, 10:43 PM
I haaaate teaching knots... it is probably my least favorite camp activity ever. Outdoor cooking is really fun as long as your fire will light and your campers are listening.
Sparkes
02-17-2006, 11:16 PM
Well, I'm considered an office specialist. It's a non-bunk position, or at least it was until I came to camp. I wanted to live with the kids in addition to being in the office, so we've developed it into a normal specialist position. I spend 5 periods in the office, have one off a day, and evening activity I spend with my age group. All senior camp counselors are specialists, and all lower camp counselors are general counselors.
softballkid019
02-20-2006, 12:06 PM
the past 4 summers my specialty has been the horses. the last two summers i was actually assistant riding director and this last summer riding director. i love the horse program i don't know what i would do without it. this year however i was asked to take over the leadership director position (CIT and WIT's) and i love working with older girls so i hope it works out!
DaveTO
02-20-2006, 08:54 PM
I am the waterski director; This will be my 6th summer teaching waterskiing/wakeboarding. I definately would not want to be any other specialist!
P.S. Tubing is my pet peeve!
Welcome DaveTO! It must be cool to have waterskiing at camp. I wish our camp did that. :P
camper
02-20-2006, 10:49 PM
haha at my camp the waterskiing counselors hate tubing also, daveto. b/c none of the kids ever want to ski! i'm not sure why we have a million different versions of tubing if the waterskiing people hate it so much, but personally i could do either...we also have waverunning which the kids go crazy for.
Ingawanis_Lifegaurd
02-21-2006, 12:47 AM
I work at the water front where I teach kids to cannoe, row, and motar boat, also help at the pool, and OA cermonies.
Miss_Jess
02-28-2006, 05:13 PM
im going to be teaching Dance (mainly hip hop) and Gymnastics at Camp Starlight. :P
runrachrunn
03-01-2006, 12:37 AM
I am the waterski director; This will be my 6th summer teaching waterskiing/wakeboarding. I definately would not want to be any other specialist!
P.S. Tubing is my pet peeve!
LOL Dave. My friends who work on ski always tell me how much fun they have down at the ski docks... I never quite believe them though.
My response to the tubing comment is that I totally agree with you, but in the last two years, my parents finally purchased a boat and with it came a tube. I've skiied before, but my anxiety seemed to get the best of me for two seasons before I finally got up on skis in August.... There's something a little more comforting about knowing that I'm going to be pulled on a giant cushion behind the wake of a boat that is travelling at speeds of upwards of (i dunno...) 30+ km/hr?
runrachrunn
03-01-2006, 12:39 AM
This summer, I'm going tobe on swim staff! It's my first summer on the open water (teaching/guarding) so I'm very excited...
I can't wait to get back to camp too!
CAMPFRIEND
03-01-2006, 10:43 AM
The waterfront is a great place to work for the summer! I miss it a lot.
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