#camp names

[i-wanna-linger]

all your friends picking their camp names after greek goddesses is all fun and games until you try to read percy jackson fanfic and they’re talking about a goddess but all you can think of is your bestie

[camplikeagirl]

Camp Names:

So you’re spending the Summer at Camp, and your Camp uses “camp names”… Whether you’re a new CIT or a counselor, using a camp name can be hard to adjust to (even if you’ve been waiting for this moment for years)!

You need to learn to respond to a new name, write it on papers, and introduce yourself as such. The secret to (quickly) learning to identify with and respond to a new camp name?

Refer to yourself in the 3rd person!

Yep, it’s weird! And yes, it’s awkward! But it truly works like a charm. Narrate what you’re doing, answer questions in the 3rd person- use your name in 3rd person references liberally and then some.

“Sunshine is feeling great about high ropes!”

“Casper is going to go to clean up in here and then Casper will head to lunch.”

“Snappy is headed to the lodge!”

Help your new coworkers to get comfortable with their names: use their camp names liberally as well! Even if they are a returning staff member, using their name can help them get back into their camp persona (more on this later).

“Rhythm is good! How is Acorn today?”

“Meadow is going to the lake with Sketch, does Atlas want to join?”

“Has Comet seen Ponyo yet?”

This helps everyone to get into the flow of camp, and can speed up the adjustment process- don’t let camp culture shock get the best of you, embrace the weird new culture around you! But of course, speak up when you feel the new (or return!) counselor scaries set in. Whether it’s your first summer or seventh, the start of summer anxiety can get to you- talk to your fellow counselors and admin staff, and know you will do amazing things this Summer!

[camp-counselor-life]

Ok, so I went camping recently with someone from my GS troop, and we worked at the day camp together, and I was calling her by her real name (because I am always in real name mode now), and she was calling me by my camp name.

So about 2 days into the visit, she's like, hey, you know, I still identify as [camp name] so you can still call me that.

[iiiiiiits-m]

Y’all the summer camp I work at gives its counselors “camp names” based off of interests, skills, jokes, stuff like that. Campers call you by your camp name for the funny and don’t find out your real name for the end of the week cause it’s silly and the campers have a bunch of fun trying to guess your real name, and because this is my first year working here I had yet to receive a camp name until….my bestie gave me the camp name Octavius!!!!! I’m super excited for kids to call me Octavius all summer and to be able to explain the NATM lore to them!!!! /srs

[mimikyu-s]

Me when summer camp fics actually use camp names and not real names:

[campstateofmind]

Camp Names

A few of my favorites - help me pick one?

Fae

Indie

Echo

Paddle

Hillsong

Floyd

Timber

Bambi

Crow

Doggle

Twig

Sparky

Stone/Rock

Pebble

Apple

Infinity

Townie

Dirt

Bea

Bae

Charity

Mayfly

Bean

Bell

Token

Toast

Oh

June bug

Feel free to add on or offer your help in choosing one!

[talesofacampcounsellor]

My experience as a trans masc camp counselor

First off let me just say that I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with the team I had this past summer. They always made sure safety was number one for everyone. First off, nobody went into the summer knowing. All through training, I was silent on the matter and never let my discomfort show. It wasn’t until after the first few days of camp that I said anything. The first 2 weeks of camp were rough. I had 2 special needs campers who took up most of my attention and one of my co-counselors was the opposite of helpful. I was so frustrated because I wanted to do right by these kids and show them so much love and happiness and I didn’t feel like I was doing this with the situation I was in. I was already feeling burned out and I was only the 3rd day of camp. It was that first Thursday evening that I decided to ask one of my coordinators if we could talk in their office. I ended up talking to my coordinator Karn. (camp name Ash) He knew I was feeling frustrated with my group and the lack of help from one of my co’s and he wanted to help me the best he could. What he didn’t know was that there were other forces at play trying to make my summer as difficult as possible. The constant miss gendering and being called a “pretty girl” by campers and parents was driving me crazy. Having to wear a feminine swimsuit didn’t help much either. I didn’t intend to tell anybody that I was trans. In my head, I was prepared to keep this secret until my death. Telling just sort of happened. Even after Ash gave me some tips and tricks on how to best handle my current group, he saw that I was still anxious and agitated. Now, Ash and I have known each other for a few years and quite good friends, so he asked me what was wrong. Again, I never intended to tell anybody, it just happened. I made him promise to keep a secret and to make sure not to say anything around my mom. The downside to my job is that my mom works front desk at the YMCA I work at. At this point, Ash looked very concerned. So I told him. I told him I was trans and all the things that were bugging me. His eyes just grew wider and wider the more I told him. I was so scared that I was going to get in trouble for this. But you know what he did, he gave me a hug and started to brainstorm ways to make me feel better at camp, and a few days later when I told my other coordinators Pebbles and Grizz, they all made sure to use my propper pronouns when talking to me. They became my shoulder to lean on when things got too much at home. Even if I couldn’t use the men's changeroom due to my mom being there, they let me wear swim trunks and a shirt during swim time. I still remember Ash’s face when I showed him my new swim trunks. He thought they were the coolest thing ever and was so jealous of them. (they’re blue with octopi on them) They did everything to keep me safe. One night during the 6th week of camp when I told Ash what was going on at home and why I almost ran away the previous winter, he stood up for me. He wanted so bad to get me help but couldn’t because I’m over 18. The next week, because I felt safe and because I had my wonderful coordinators by my side, I made a post on our group page and told the rest of my team. 

“Hello guys, gals, and nonbinary pals; So I’m sitting in my room with the most calming music I have to keep me calm as I write this. And this is a little hard to write because I really like you guys. You’re my friends and I don’t want you guys to think any different of me. You guys may remember back a few weeks ago when I was waaay too enthusiastic about my new pair of swim trunks. Some of you who are extra observant may have noticed that my name on all my social media has changed. (do we even use our real names anymore?!) There is a very good reason for that. You see now’s the hard part. I am transgender. For me, that means that I was born with a female body but an actually a guy. This doesn’t change who I am as a person. It doesn’t change my ability to lead, my ability to love, nor my ability to play amazing games and bring smiles and tell jokes. I wanted to get this off my chest for a while. I hated lying and living as someone I’m not and I couldn’t take it anymore. Now I can understand if some of you are angry and don’t want to talk to me in the morning, All I ask is that you treat me like a person in front of the campers. I can also understand if you guys have questions, and I am happy to answer them. I just want to live as who I am and not a shadow of a person. I still love all of you guys and that won’t change. I couldn’t ask for a better camp family. Have a good night and I’ll see you all bright and early for a brand new day. -Nova

Ps. Grizz don’t forget my meds on the field trip. I like living thank you very much.” 

This was when a lot of things changed. Yes there where people who were not happy, but for the most part my team still loved me. Instantly they started using my proper pronouns. Ash, Grizz, and Pebbles were so proud of me. I also learned that the littlest campers didn’t care that I was trans. To them, I was just Nova, the “way to enthusiastic about bad puns” counselor. 

The take away from this is, it pays to be brave sometimes. Situations will vary and I was lucky to have the people I did on my side. Ash was the very first person I ever told and he is the best coordinator and friend I could ever have. I keep thinking about how much has changed since I first came out and How happy I am that when winter camps roll around that I’ll be treated as a male counselor. Things still aren’t great at home, but with the team I have at camp, I feel like life will get just a little bit better. I’ve even found a way to keep all this goodness with me year round. With my brand new middle name. 

This is Rory Ash signing off.                    

[bonesforhomedecore]

Tales of camp counselor

session 7 Aug 14-18 campers age 6-7

Day #1: camp hasn’t even started yet. parents are still dropping off their kids. I’m sporting a leather jacket for rock and roll week. one of my campers comes up to me and asks me if I could take off my shirt! …he meant my jacket. I hope.

day #3: we are playing a tag game out on our field trip. one of my campers tags one of my little boys in the chest. the camper screams out “DON’T TOUCH MY BOOBIES!” Grizz and I exchange the weirdest look.  

day #4: we are dropping off our bags in the family center so that we can go out into the community for a food drive for the local food bank. one of my campers has a basketball shoved under his shirt. I was asking Ash for my allergy meds when he comes up to both of us and says that he “likes being pregnant!” Ash and I share a look before bursting out laughing. Why do kids do this to us???  

day #5: It is the day of the lip sync battle between counselors. I team up with green team for the day. we are dancing to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars. when the song says “If you’re sexy then flaunt it” I accidentally make eye contact with Grizz. I. Am. Mortified. having a crush on him didn’t help the situation at all.