DO NOT… UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES… become a camp counselor (especially at a volunteer based camp) unless you want to
a) Spend a portion of your life with kids who come to love you and look up to you forever
The first session of campers I ever had, are now seniors in high school, all of who are graduating this year. I still have my camp notebook from every year so for their graduation presents I’m writing them all letters that still have some part to do with camp. I have campers that I talk to still on a daily basis, who ask me for advice and help which I gladly share.
b) Build great relationships with campers, co-counselors, staff, and critters on camp grounds. Relationships that stay and people that stay long after the camp session has ended
Like I said before, I have campers that still talk to me on a daily basis, not to mention the dinner dates and coffee shop trips that we often get to take because we are still that close. Counselors I have worked with for years and who I look up to and admire, no matter where we are in life between college, jobs, moving, marriage and kids, we always still make time for each other. Having a strong support system of people who believe the same as you do is so important always, but especially when things go wrong.
c) Bring joy to the face of a camper when they see you get on their level and enjoy something silly that they enjoy ( the one time I had an hour long conversation in the middle of the night with a camper who loved pokemon about pokemon go)
d) See the look on a kids face the first time he/she hears the gospel, and being there to lead them straight to Jesus (having a kid who credits you with bringing them to Jesus is the most amazing feeling)
Midnight cabin talks really make camp a homey place. My mom still writes me letters every day that I am gone to camp and midnight cabin talks seem to be the place where they are shared and loved. Many a conversation about Jesus and the Bible and “how do I get a faith like yours” are brought up during these and I absolutely love that kids are willing and ready to know Jesus. One of my favorite memories from camp involved sitting outside on the porch at 2:30 in the morning talking to a 10 year old who has lived through literal hell and helping her know the Ultimate Healer.