living for the summer @oldcampblog-blog - Tumblr Blog

When you have to act really excited for a boring activity

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hello!

I started this blog 4 years ago for a school project, and haven’t updated it since. But every once in a while someone will follow it, and I’ll get a reminder of how much I miss camp! So starting today, this blog will move to campcounselorlife.tumblr.com to get a new start :)

#OP talks #summer camp

camper issues: picky eaters

in a high activity setting like camp making sure campers are eating well is completely necessary. but you can run into issues with having campers eat right.

food allergies

kids often are allergic to nuts, gluten, strawberries, and many other things. most likely you will know beforehand what their allergies are, and older kids understand what they can and can't eat. as the counselor, you can help kids understand which foods they're not allergic to.

doesn't want to try new foods

try introducing a hesitant eater to small pieces or portions of food at a time. also, make sure you're willing to eat foods with them, and are encouraging your whole cabin to eat foods they're unfamiliar with.

heard bad things about the food

maybe they had a friend or sibling who told them horror stories of camp food, or they simply think it looks bad. like other hesitant eaters, the best thing you can do is have them eat small portions. you can help too by not showing any negative biases towards food and helping others to do the same.

doesn't understand how to eat well

some kids haven't had adequate nutrition education at home or at school, and might not know that eating well helps them to stay healthy and energetic. you can use mealtimes as an opportunity to help model and teach eating balanced meals and getting enough of each food group.

#campers #food

camper issues: friendships and cliques

cabin dynamics can sometimes make or break a child's experience at camp. while most kids will get along fine and work well, it can be expected that there will be disagreements and hurt feelings. these are some situations that can potentially hurt the morale of a cabin and make camp less fun for some campers:

kids in the cabin are friends outside of camp

when kids come to camp with their best friends, it's easy for them to ignore others when they're together. they might share a bunk, sit by each other at every meal, do all the same activities, and not go to any effort to meet new friends. the downside to this is that the cabin doesn't feel cohesive, and other campers might feel left out because they don't have a good friend. this is especially a problem if your cabin group has multiple friend pairs, or a large group of friends. as a counselor, you can create situations where campers are forced to get to know others. maybe encourage them to sit in different places at each meal, or assign secret buddies where campers have to do nice things for others in their cabin that they might not know. you also can pull kids aside and one on one have conversations about how their friendship might be leaving others out, and help them realize that they can make new friends while still having fun with their old ones.

one camper gets left out of friendships

there are a few reasons a camper might feel left out in their cabin. they might be shy, they might not mesh well with their cabinmates at first, or maybe the others just connect with each other faster and don't really try to befriend that last person. feeling left out can be really damaging to a camper and will put a damper on their camp fun. you can try and encourage others in the cabin to make sure they're including a left out camper, like having them invite that camper when they're going somewhere during free time. you also could make sure to mix up the seating arrangements and pairs of people during cabin activities. if every camper in your cabin is really resistant to becoming friends with another, even after having one-on-one conversations with them, make sure you yourself are giving the left out camper the attention they need. also, you can try seeing if your camper would connect with kids in a different cabin better, and introduce them during group activities.

#campers #friendship

games: relay races

relays are fun games to play when you have enough campers to make even teams to compete against each other.

back-to-back race with an even number of people, split off into pairs and have each team stand back to back and link elbows (it's best to create teams with fairly evenly-matched heights). without ever unlinking their arms, teams need to run from the starting area to a marked finish line. they can do this running sideways, forwards, backwards, or any way they find fastest as long as they stay together!

leapfrog relay divide players into at least two teams, and have them line up at the starting line. when the race starts, the first player will crouch down and the next in line will leapfrog over them and do the same. players will continue to leapfrog over each other until they cross the finish line.

obstacle course relay set up two identical obstacle courses with things like hula hoops to jump through, balance beams, and different things to do and have each person on the teams go through.

clothing relay set up two suitcases full of matching clothing items that are large enough for campers to put on over their current clothes. the first person on each team will run over to the suitcase and put on every item of clothing. they then run back to their team, and give all the clothes to the next person in line. after the 2nd person puts it on, they run back to the suitcase and put the clothes back, and the race continues in the same cycle until all the players have gone. the first team to have all their players put the clothes on and get them back in the suitcase wins!

#games #outdoors

games: tag variations

aside from the typical game of tag, where one person is "it" and tries to tag other people so they have to be "it", there are a myriad of variations of the game you can play. you can also ask any of your campers if they have a favorite tag game to play if you're looking for new ideas!

chain tag/link tag/blog tag when "it" tags another person, they both link arms or hold hands and both chase people together without letting go. as more people are tagged, the chain/blog grows, and only those on the end can tag others. if your group is big enough, you can start the game with multiple people being it to have a few chains/blobs running around in the game.

freeze tag as "it" tags someone, they become frozen and must stay in one place until another player tags them to unfreeze them. "it" wins when every person is frozen. different versions of this game change the method that players unfreeze each other, such as tunnel tag where a player must crawl between the legs of a frozen player to unfreeze them.

carry tag have an object, like a shoe or a ball, for players to carry. "it" can only tag the player who is holding the object, but if anyone drops it they automatically become "it".

flashlight tag this game is best played in the dark when it is hard for players to tag each other, but in an area with distinct boundaries so campers can't get lost. "it" has a flashlight, and tags others by shining the light on them. once a players is tagged, they are out. tagged players can join "it", or stay frozen on the ground. the last person left standing wins!

shadow tag "it" tags others in shadow tag by stepping on their shadows. because of this, shadow tag needs to be played in the mid to late afternoon on a sunny day. it's best to play this game with an older group who will play fairly and accept being "it" when their shadow is tagged, as it can be a subject of debate for younger kids.

#games #outdoors

cabin time: outdoor games/activities

if your free time with your cabin happens to be in the middle of the day, or some other time where the weather is great and your campers just aren't going to sit still for a craft or game time, going outside might be your best bet.

hiking whether your camp has some easy trails near your cabin or just a lot of outdoor space to wander in, a hike can be a fun way to get outside. hiking can just be simply walking along and enjoying nature, or it can turn into a game. things like a scavenger hunt can teach plant identification, and can make a hike more fun for campers who might get bored with it. other ideas might be going on a "sound walk" and listening for animals and other noises, or a "sketching walk" where you stop and take time to draw things that you find.

field games there are hundreds of outdoor games you can play, all with varying levels of setup time and difficulty. tag, capture the flag, soccer, flag football, frisbee, or kickball are just some examples of games you can play with lots of space outside.

outdoor crafts many crafts you can do inside can easily be brought outdoors if you just want to spend some time in the sun. make friendship bracelets outside, or maybe find flowers to press or leaves to decorate a craft with.

picnic grab some blankets and maybe some snacks and find a great picnic spot! have your campers bring a notebook to journal in, a book to read, or some paper to draw on if you want to spend some quiet time together. a picnic can also just be a good time to hang out and talk, sing, or maybe play some games like duck-duck-goose if you don't want to get too rowdy.

#cabin time #games #activities #outdoors

cabin time: indoor games/activities

so you're just hanging out in your cabin with your lovely group of campers, and they're starting to look a little bit bored. what better way to cure boredom than with a game! indoor games are a good choice for when the weather is less than stellar, or you just have a little bit of downtime and don't want to go on an adventure far away.

board games these games do require a little of planning, as you need to have the games/materials with you before hand. check with your camp to see if they have a stash of games sitting around that you can use before you go out and buy some though! possible games:

Balderdash

Pictionary

Taboo

Guesstures

Catchphrase

Twister

Apples-to-Apples

Cranium

card games there are dozens of games you can play with just a deck of cards! odds are your campers all have favorite card games to play and are willing to teach the group if you're looking for ideas. possible games:

go fish

spoons/extreme spoons

cheat/liar/BS

crazy eights

golf

along with games that can be played with a standard deck of cards, there are many card games that each have their own deck that you can play. some of these games include:

uno

monopoly deal

pinochole

phase 10

skip-bo

pit

decorating if you've got a bunch of campers excited about putting up streamers and posters, decorating is a good option of cabin bonding time. bring out markers, streamers, stickers, paper, and anything else you can think of and decorate! maybe agree on a cabin theme, like tropical island or flower garden, and let each camper decorate their bunk.

crafts indoor time inside is a great time to bring out some craft supplies and either plan out a craft, or let your campers go crazy with the glitter.

un-birthday party assuming that it isn't actually somebody's birthday, you can throw everyone in your cabin an un-birthday party! decorate hats together, decorate like it's a birthday, have everyone make cards for each other, sing "happy un-birthday" to the group, dance, have fun with noisemakers, and maybe get some little snacks to have as you celebrate.

#activities #cabin time #games #indoors

cabin time: icebreakers

that first day you meet your campers can be one of the most nerve-wracking and potentially awkward. it's up to you to learn names, and facilitate the beginnings of friendship for the campers, and what better way to do that than with fun icebreaker games! here is a mix of both calm and active icebreakers to play to help everyone get to know each other.

dice roll pass around a die (bonus fun points if you can find a giant foam one!) and assign each number 1-6 with a question. have each camper take a few turns rolling the die and giving an answer for the number they roll. some question suggestions:

what is ... something you're looking forward to at camp?

one of your favorite movies/foods/books/games/TV shoes?

a fun fact about you/where you're from/your family?

2 truths and a lie have everyone think of 3 facts about themselves - but make sure one of them isn't true! take turns going around the circle telling the group the 3 facts, and letting them guess which one isn't true.

cabin line up ask your cabin to line up in order of height, from shortest to tallest. then make it fun by having them line up by shoe size, number of siblings, alphabetically by name, birthday, number of pets, age, or anything else you think might be fun. for an added challenge, try and get them to line up without talking!

would you rather ... have some silly would you rather questions thought up for the kids as they arrive. these can be as silly or as serious as you want, depending on what kind of activity you're transitioning into next. some question suggestions:

would you rather ... have pancakes or waffles?

be three feet tall or 7 feet tall?

be an astronaut or a deep-sea diver?

go without TV or junk food for a year?

eat a stick of butter or a jar of mayonnaise?

only be able to whisper or only able to shout?

lose a hand or lose a foot?

name alliterations sit in a circle, and have each person say their name and a word starting with the same letter to go with it. depending on the age of the campers, you can try and have a theme, such as a word that describes them, a color, an animal, or something you'd bring on a picnic. to challenge older campers, have each person repeat the name and word of everyone who goes before them

#cabin time #icebreakers #indoors

camper characteristics: high school

physical characteristics: There is a wide range of physical characteristics, as some kids are just ending puberty while others are beginning. Most campers though are nearing the height that they will be for the rest of their life, and start developing muscles rather than just growing taller. Some may even be very near to the adult stage of their physical development. Many kids at this age will be preoccupied with their physical appearance, and will spend a good deal of time trying to look a certain way.

emotional characteristics: As with physical development, many high schoolers are at a point where there emotional development is similar to that of an adult. They are able to take on more responsibilities, such as being a part of a counselor in training program, and have the ability to think critically and make good decisions. At this age there can often be signs of some feelings like depression or anxiety. Some kids, especially those towards the end of high school, might feel a lot of pressure to succeed and do well, which has potential to be harmful.

social characteristics: A personal identity is being sought out and formed at this stage. Peer pressure is still an issue, and most teens are influenced by their friends even if they are able to make their own decisions and be independent. Most tend to feel very responsible, and enjoy acting like adults. This can mean dating relationships, drinking, and also feeling mature enough to handle most social situations. The relationship these campers have with counselors can be a very close one, as they easily see counselors and staff as mentors to look up to who can help them through hard situations, and in many ways be a friend

#campers

camper characteristics: 7th/8th grade

physical characteristics: Kids at this age are going through puberty, which means a lot of physical changes that leaves them feeling awkward, tired, shy, and unsure of themselves. Girls often develop first, so many boys may still be shorter and smaller than their female peers. Campers this age are more likely to enjoy sitting around and just hanging out rather than needing to play high energy games constantly.

emotional characteristics: At this age, many campers can get moody about things. Middle school/junior high kids can sometimes be tough to deal with as they are more likely to talk back or act cold. Giving them love and approval though will help ease that, and build their confidence. On any given day even the kids with a good amount of self-esteem might feel worthless and unsure of themselves, so making sure their emotional needs are taken care of is a must to keep a happy and emotionally healthy cabin.

social characteristics: Because they often feel self-conscious and might struggle with their image, kids these age are at a really high risk to giving into peer pressure on many subjects. Even if it's just going with the crowd to the lake at free-time instead of the cabin, these campers might give up their own ideas to conform with others. They can be very critical of themselves, and of others, which can be hard on their self-esteem and relationships. Friendships though tend to be very solid and based on loyalty and trust. An interest in the opposite gender often starts at this age, and campers may develop crushes on other campers and staff members.

#campers

camper characteristics: 5th/6th grade

physical characteristics: The physical development of kids this age can vary depending on the child. While many are still very active, others may feel sluggish. Some are beginning puberty, and having to deal with changing bodies and hormones. All at this age do pretty well with physical and fine motor skills. They also are very capable of maintaining hygiene and health with minimal reminders.

emotional characteristics: Kids are able to be independent of others, and relish this fact. Much of their self-worth and self-esteem are wrapped up in having friendships and "belonging" to a group. They are more stable emotionally than younger groups, and are developing critical and abstract thinking skills.

social characteristics: Very set on needing things to be fair in social situations, as well as the rest of their life. They thrive on feeling like they belong with their peers and are included by them. Peer-pressure does begin at this age, and the need to be part of the cliques and friendship groups that form around them can overpower what they feel is the right thing to do. At this age, campers start to see counselors as more of a mentor or grown-up friend rather than only in a hero-worship way. Some campers at this age, particularly girls, often develop an infatuation with the opposite gender, which many times means having a crush on one of the counselors or staff members.

#campers

camper characteristics: 3rd/4th grade

physical characteristics: Campers this age tend to be high energy, and need a good bedtime and periods of rest throughout the day, even if they say they don't. Without enough sleep they can get grumpy and have trouble enjoying camp. Kids this age love playing active games, and are growing in athletic ability. They are able to take care of themselves and their physical needs, though they may need reminders about things like taking a shower after they get really dirty.

emotional characteristics: These kids are starting to like trying new things, and enjoy new experiences. They are sensitive to criticism, and benefit emotionally from being recognized for doing good things. Criticism can come from adults by accident, but it also can come from their peers. It is important for them to understand that their words and actions can create negative feelings for others, and they have the emotional maturity to start seeing things for another person's point of view, and also to understand cause and effect.

social characteristics: At this age, campers are quite influenced by what their peers are thinking and doing. They will start to develop hobbies and find different things they enjoy, but also will go do things simply because their friends want to. Friendships are fairly stable, though arguments can arise and create tensions between even best friends for short amounts of time. Kids begin to appreciate team sports and competition, but can have a hard time dealing with losing.

#campers

camper characteristics: 1st/2nd grade

Typically kids in 1st and 2nd grade are either day campers, or are only spending a night or two at camp without mom and dad.

physical characteristics: Campers this young benefit greatly from having an early bedtime, and the opportunity to rest or take a nap during the day. The rest of the time though they tend to be full of energy! They are able to play games and do crafts, though development of both fine and gross motor control varies by child. This age group needs the highest counselor to camper ratio, especially during activities where they may be difficult or potentially dangerous for them. They also may need help with little things such as brushing their hair.

emotional characteristics: Kids this age understand rules, consequences, and know right from wrong. They may occasionally need reminders about following the rules, and also benefit from understanding the reasons behind the rules that are placed upon them. Campers' emotions can sometimes be expressed in an extreme form, whether it be happiness or anger or affection or jealousy. These kids are the first to get a little squirmy during long periods of time where they have to sit and listen, but they will be engaged if allowed to participate in what is going on.

social characteristics: Similarly to sometimes showing extreme emotions, friendships with these campers can often take huge swings in a short period of time. Kids this age have started to have best friends, but these relationships can quickly turn sour during arguments. Just as quickly though, things can be forgiven and they will once again be best friends. Kids this age are also beginning to feel the effects of criticism from peers over things such as looking, talking, thinking, or acting differently.

#campers

helpful skills for the camp counselor

skills: guitar Everyone loves it when the counselors can play the guitar at campfire singalongs!

singing If you're comfortable singing in front of groups, it's a great skill to have in leading campers in songs.

crafts A great skill to have is being able to quickly grab some materials and think up a fun craft with them. This can be anything like friendship bracelets, modge podge, pressed leaves, or crocheting.

hiking/nature Knowing the local plant life can be a fun way to teach campers a little about their surroundings.

archery Needing skills like this depends on the camp, but knowing the basics of things like archery or shooting BB guns means you can assist or even teach campers in these areas.

swimming/canoeing/kayaking/sailing Even if you don't know any waterfront activities well enough to teach them, feeling comfortable around the waterfront and knowing how to be safe around water is an invaluable skill to have.

drama Many camps incorporate skits into their activities, sometimes having cabins compete with each other. Knowing a few good skits and being able to do a little improv will help you to have fun when doing drama is required.

building a campfire You're the coolest person ever when you can take a few logs, some newspaper, a match, and create some flames to roast marshmallows on!

being silly! Above all, camp counselors shouldn't take themselves too seriously all the time. Having the ability to laugh, dress up in silly clothes, and maybe make a joke or two at your own expense will help you connect with campers and just have a fun summer or year.

certifications: CPR/first aid Having a current certification in CPR/first aid is often a requirement for every camp employee.

Water Safety Instructor or lifeguarding Neither of these certifications are mandatory, but you are more hireable if you can work as a lifeguard or teach swim lessons.

food handlers permit You will need one of these if you want to work in a camp kitchen or handle food.

boating license If your camp has motor boats, it might be helpful to be able to drive them!

#camp counselor life

types of camps

Aside from camps differing in length of stay for campers, day camp vs. overnight, 3 days vs 4 weeks, camps also have different specialties and focuses. Looking at these different types can help you figure out what kind of camp would be best for you to work at.

"typical" summer camp These camps often have a wide range of activities, and don't require any special interest and skill from both campers and counselors.

religious camps Often camps with a religious focus have activities that are similar to many other camps, but campers will spend time studying religious texts. Workers at these camps are often encouraged or required to subscribe to a faith similar to the mission of the camp.

sports camps Camps with a sports focus can range from being a single sport, such as soccer or horseback riding, to simply being a very active place where campers participate in a range of athletic activities.

music camps At music camp, campers usually posses musical talent prior to camp. These camps can be specific to type of instrument, or involve a whole range of instruments, including voice. To work here counselors and coaches need to have skill in at least one instrument, depending on the requirements or the camp.

girl scout/boy scout camps Clubs such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Campfire clubs often have summer camps for their club members. Check with the local chapters of these clubs to find out more information on working there!

#camp jobs #types of camps

types of camp jobs

The quintessential camp job is, of course, the camp counselor. But there are many other ways you can spend a summer, or year, at camp doing things other than being a counselor. Every camp is unique in what types of jobs they offer depending often on the size of the camp and range of programs, but this list covers some of the more common non-counselor jobs:

cook Everyone at camp needs to eat! Cook positions require a food handlers permit, and in the hiring process often look for experience working with food and cooking.

lifeguard Most camps have some kind of water, whether that is a lake, river, or swimming pool, and they need people to watch that water when it's full of campers. To be a lifeguard you will need some kind of certification, the common one being Red Cross lifeguard training. This certification requires being a strong swimmer and taking a class to become certified in water rescue, first aid, and CPR.

administrative worker This can be different depending on the camp, but doing administrative work can range from working in the camp office answering phones and dealing with mail and paperwork to working in the camp store selling candy and popsicles to campers when they have free time.

first aid/nurse Working as a camp nurse requires nursing certifications, so this is a good option for someone who has experience and school work related to nursing.

specialty areas Some camps hire people to work in specific camp areas. This would mean being a wrangler and working with horses, teaching swim lessons, canoeing, sailing, or other waterfront activities, helping with crafts, working with a ropes course, or doing outdoor adventure things like hiking or mountain biking.

#camp jobs

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