Moving from Counselling to Specialism

[collissimon]

Hey,

Do people move from being a specialist to counselling, or vice versa? What's different about the two jobs? Did they make the transition OK?

[prettysocks]

It's quite common at my camp for staff to be counselors one year, and program staff the next year. At my camp, though, being a program staff is kind of a mix between running programs al day, and being a counselor, since they do both. But you seem to be a very flexible guy, I think you'd do great.

Or come to my camp. *nod*

[ArtisticEric]

At my camp they are one an the same .

[camper]

at my camp the only difference is that specialists are at their activities all day and general counselors travel w/their group of campers. both live in the bunks, usually one of each in each bunk. it's really easy if you wanted to switch into being the other type of counselor.

[runrachrunn]

Simon,

I was actualy going to bring up the very same issue. As a specialist, I got a chance to work with a lot of different staff (the staff that i lived with in the cabin, and the other specialists on swim). The good side about that is that you learn a LOT about working with people, and if you don't like some of your co-staff, you can find others to work with. The downside is that i didn't feel like i connected to my kids, since I wasn't with them all day.

I'm seriously thinking of applying to be unit head if I decide to go back to the same camp... But that's another post all together.

[CAMPFRIEND]

MY staff are with their campers all day. I try to train them in everything!

[shermanator]

I have been both and different times and both at the same time. I went from being a counsellor to a specialist and that was an easy transition. I found that being a specialist i got to know more kids than just my cabin but wasn't able to be really close to them. As a counsellor i got to be really close with my cabin kids but not as close with the rest of the staff or kids. This summer i got to be a counsellor and a specialist and it was extemely difficult. It was also very rewarding. I found i had gotten more attached to my kids this summer than any other in the past i also met alot of really cool kids and counsellors.

[collissimon]

That's interesting.. the usual move at my camp is from specialist to counselling: I will be one of two or three in the last five years to have moved the other way... but I'm thinking of doing something called 'Discovery', which is like Education, but it's supposed to be fun and dynamic, and as I want to teach, it would be really challenging to teach everyone from 9-19!!

Which did you prefer?

[rockinsmiles]

I've always been a counselor but there are plenty of staff at my camp that have gone from counselor to specialist and vise versa. I know some go from counselor to specialist because they like the kids, but they don't like having one group to be responsible for, or all the questions...just different stuff.
Then there are specialist who go to counselors because doing the same activity gets jaded for them, or they want a deeper "connection" with the campers. I've always wanted to try out the specialist position...just not for the whole summer!!!

[Melk]

I went from being a counsleor to being the waterfront director and it was one of the hardest things I have done. I'v spent so many years being in a cabin and all of a sudden I was sleeping in a room by my self. I did spend some time just chilling with some random cabins that had girls from past summers in them. It was fun to hang out with them but I sill missed having a cabin to call my own.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I have not been in a cabin for a long time. I did get the chance to go back to my old camp a few years back and be a counselor for a 1 week session. It was crazy not having to run camp and I love my cabin. I think I drove the director nuts that week! I do get to spend a lot of time in cabins at night now helping with our youngest camper 5&6. Lots of homesickness, reading letters and helping with showers!

I have to say I enjoy going home at night!

[Melk]

I have not been in a cabin for a long time. I did get the chance to go back to my old camp a few years back and be a counselor for a 1 week session. It was crazy not having to run camp and I love my cabin. I think I drove the director nuts that week! I do get to spend a lot of time in cabins at night now helping with our youngest camper 5&6. Lots of homesickness, reading letters and helping with showers!

I have to say I enjoy going home at night!

But when you came back it was different... we also had the future program director at camp that session too.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I still had a great week. It's fun to see people that you watched grow up now be directors.. The joys of camp!

[ArtisticEric]

Thats neat CampFriend, I think my mom has allready decide I'm a couselor for life because since they decided to move she told that there wasn't a need for me to have room since I'll never be there, she did promise some studio space though:)