Camp Counselor Skills

Work, play, grow...

So you just were offered a job as a cabin counselor and a climbing instructor. You think to yourself, “This should be really cool – I get to be outside, hang out with kids, make a little money and meet new people – hey, it’ll be way better than working in a restaurant all summer!” All of these things will hopefully be true about your summer experience – but wait – there’s more! Camp naturally fosters opportunities to grow in leadership, communication, problem-solving and in learning new ways to cope with challenges. All of these are areas that future employers value, too! Here’s an article from the ACA about how to talk about the skills you learned at camp to future employers.

Counselor Tip #1: Laugh!

Sometimes laughter is the best medicine! Camp offers you plenty of opportunities to have fun, and at the same time it can be one of the most exhausting and challenging jobs you’ll ever have (except, perhaps, being a mom…). Counselors who can relax and not take themselves to seriously not only survive at camp, but thrive.

camp fun

Counselor Survival Tips

Counselor Posse

If you were at Orientation this past year, you probably remember when “Santa” gave out the water bottles and socks filled with the following items that hopefully helped you through a sticky situation or two later on in the summer. Of course, these tidbits are good year-round!

Toothpick – Pick out the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.

Rubberband – Be flexible! Things might not always go as you want, but they will work out.

Bandaid – Work towards healing hurt feelings.

Pencil – List your blessing everyday.

Eraser – Everyone makes mistakes and it’s OK!

Gum – Stick with it – you can accomplish more than you think!

Cotton Ball – Share only kind words and feelings

Lifesaver – It’s OK to ask for help!

Penny – You are valuable and special

Tea Bag – Take a break daily, relax and go over your list of blessings.

Mentorship

Climbing Looking Glass Rock

Think about the folks who made a strong impact on your life – maybe they took you camping, came to see you in a play, taught you a new skill or simply listened to you talk about how your day went. When you agree to be a counselor, you are agreeing to be someone that younger girls can depend on and look up to- sometimes at crazy hours of the night! It’s a job that requires constant attention to the well-being of your campers – and helping them reach their goals while at camp.

Flex it!

Gillian and Christine

Last minute schedule changes, trips out of camp, fairy parties, wet beds, and jungle breakfasts all require counselors to constantly practice being flexible! The most successful counselors are ones who know how to live in the moment and “roll with the punches.”

A Word from a Counselor-in-Training

Savannah (the fish-face in the top left) and her cabin

CIT’s are a vibrant and important part of the Rockbrook Camp community. They work with the counselors to help campers have a great summer and they also get to know “Hobart,” our dishwasher machine, quite well because they are responsible for washing dishes! Here’s what Savannah Tally said about making the transition from camper to counselor this year at Spirit Fire:

Eight years ago, I found myself as a new camper at Rockbrook who was completely overwhelmed with the excitement of experiencing new things and making new friends. My first cabin ever was Junior 4 side A. The year was 2001 and I don’t think I would have guessed that this new summer camp would become a staple in my life; a safe-haven where I would come to reconnect with friends and make memories that would last a lifetime. This was my first year as a counselor, well Counselor-In-Training to be exact, and although I knew Rockbrook and its ways inside and out, I was horrified to come. I mean, of course I was pumped and ready to lead a cabin of my own, but I had no idea how camp would receive me in my new role and more importantly how I would receive it. I won’t lie in saying that it was a difficult transition from camper to counselor but once I got the hang of it, it became like clockwork. Each day is a new day and sometimes I still find it hard to accept the fact that I will never again be a camper at Rockbrook. It does get easier as each day passes along though and now instead of being excited about making a cool bracelet in curosty or climbing the alpine tower, I’m excited to hear what my girls did that day. I love to see all you campers making similar memories to those I have and I’m so glad to make memories with y’all. So even though I’m on the opposite side of the spectrum, Rockbrook is still the same ol’ Rockbrook. I am now back in Junior 4 side A and I can say that no matter where we come from, what we like/dislike, or even how many years we’ve been here, we can all find common ground and love in the heart of the wooded mountain. Of course it didn’t take me eight years to figure that one out.

Waterskiing and Pontoon Boats Galore

Hally, Allison, Casey and Sarah

Staff orientation isn’t just about going over rules and regulations, it’s also about having FUN! Here’s a picture Hally Joseph sent me from this summer’s trip the Lake Jocassee. Thanks Hally!

Camp Friendships

The most common thing that counselors say on their final evaluation is that they never expected to get so close to the other counselors. Camp offers a rather rare opportunity these days in that you actually get to live, work and play with the same people! It’s kind of like being in a tribe.

Here’s some of my favorite friendship quotes and pictures from this summer:

“A friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart.” – Kathleen Grove

Friendship Bracelets, Oh my!

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and STILL likes you.” – unknown

“A friend hears the song of my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.”

- Pioneer Girls’ Handbook