March 3, 2012
Human Relations Makes the Counselor
Have you seen this aphorism— A Short Course in Human Relations? Its author and origin are unclear, but it’s been around for years, and in various versions. I found one reference to it as a motivational poster spotted in 1987, and now there are even YouTube videos devoted to it.
As you can see, it is eight principles organized as a descending series of “most important words.” Taken together, they are meant to be “wisdom literature,” “rules of thumb” to guide and improve how we relate to other people. There’s certainly a lot to say about each of these principles, but it’s easy so see why the human qualities they represent— humility, honesty, encouragement, openness, respect, gratitude, cooperation, and altruism —are so fundamental to establishing strong, positive human relationships.
To understand how this is relevant to being a camp counselor, we need only to recall the close-knit character of camp, the true community life we share at Rockbrook. As we know, camp is foremost a community of people brimming with enthusiasm and a true sense of belonging shared by everyone. It is quite literally built upon positive “human relations,” daily interactions between people inspired by “central values like kindness, cooperation, compassion, care and generosity.”
Driving this sense of community are the camp staff members, cabin counselors, and directors— the leaders at camp. Beginning with these kinds of admirable character traits, we extend them to others, thereby strengthening the camp community, and ultimately enhancing all the benefits of camp life. The better we are at relating to each other, the better camp is.
So that’s one of the secrets to being a great camp counselor. Be an expert in human relations. Master this short course! Be the kind of person who relates to others in the ways this course advocates, and you’ll be a long way toward becoming an admired leader in any community.
February 29, 2012
The Real Toy Story…
Each year a new toy falls into fashion. In 1952 Mr. Potato never had his head on straight. 1996 brought the Elmo Doll and his very ticklish tummy. Outer space hit Earth with the introduction of Furby in 1998. Barbie is the girl who has done it all since 1959. Koosh balls, Play-doh, Pogs, Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy provide us with hours of entertainment. We love and play with them until their hair turns shabby and they’ve lost their malleability. They take center stage in the imaginary worlds we create for them.
As we gain experience and maturity, toys slowly lose their luster. They’re pushed to the back of shelves and shoved into toy boxes to collect dust and make way for the next big thing that’s out on the market. Red yarn hair, hot pink clay, and a potato with a face don’t quite have the zip they once did in our lives, and so each each year a new toy falls out of fashion.
Summer camp, however, is a trend that never fades. The magic that we experience while in our haven in the woods follows us an entire lifetime. Dust bunnies never gather around our camp memories. Camp never makes way for the next big thing. It is the most precious gift we can give a child.
February 15, 2012
Hello Wake Forest!
This past weekend, Sofie had the immense pleasure of having lunch with two of Rockbrook’s finest counselors. Both young woman attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Maggie, a middler counselor, will complete her Freshman year this May and cannot wait to get back to the heart of a wooded mountain this summer, and Katie, who will graduate in May, will spend her final summer as a linehead at Rockbrook before she begins a career in finance in Washington D.C. this fall. Both counselors took a break from their studies to eat a quick bite and reminisce about camp. What a treat! Their Rockbrook spirits shone bright on the streets of the big city!
The Spirit of Rockbrook is With You Always
February 13, 2012
“Turn around and we’re sisters forever to be…”
Why wait until the summer to see your camp friends? Recently, longtime Rockbrook girls Cooper, Sarah, Grace, Emma, and Ashley reunited at a high school basketball game in Atlanta. Together, their combined years at camp totals to 32 years! That’s a lot of RBC time.
Sarah, Grace, Cooper, Ashley, and Emma get together in Atlanta
Have you had a Rockbrook reunion recently? Seeing camp friends is the best way not only to remember the fun of summers past, but to also get excited for the coming summer. By the way, there are only 110 days left until camp begins! Keep an eye out for the staff profiles that we’ll be adding to the website. It’ll be a great way to see returning counselors and meet the new staff coming on board this summer!
February 8, 2012
Staff Fairs
We are so proud to call Brevard home! Our location in a town full of beautiful places and smiling faces makes everyday a walk in the park. Yesterday we had the honor and pleasure of visiting our local Brevard College for a Staff Recruitment Fair. We visited with some old friends from our outdoor and equestrian programs and even met some new friends who were eager to learn more about all the opportunities we have to offer! Take a look at the staff page of our website and see if we’re coming to a school near you!
Beautiful Places and Smiling Faces!
February 1, 2012
A Rockbrook Weekend!
Frampton and Sofie spent a fun-filled weekend visiting with our beloved Rockbrook staff. On Friday, they met three of our equestrian program’s finest, Kara, Brittany, and Jess, for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. Then, on Saturday, they enjoyed breakfast and a camp tour with one of the newest members of our staff, Keke, and Megan who drove all the way from Southern Wesleyan University for a visit.
We sure are a Grand Old Gang!
Keke and Megan
Equestrian Staff
January 26, 2012
SheHeroes
As an employee of Rockbrook, you are so much more than a cabin counselor. You’re a role model, best friend, leader, silly dancing partner, mentor, tetherball opponent, confidante…and the list goes on. The host of diverse roles you hold at camp is truly amazing, which is why the flexibility of your personhood is so important. Whether its through an invitation from a camper to make a friendship bracelet during Free Swim or a cabin-wide hair braiding session before a square dance, you’ll quickly find that campers, both in your cabin and outside of it, sincerely look up to depend on you.
Could you imagine a more important and fulfilling job? As women ages 18-mid 20s, we’ve all been well-versed on the modern cultural climate, and the harsh and often double standards it imposes on females. Everyday, girls (and boys!) are exposed to and internalize strong messages from a variety of sources that tell them how they ought to act, what they ought to eat, and ultimately, who they ought to be. At camp, girls are removed from their mainstreamed environments, and having no access to the standards and pressures of the outside world, they can really build a new sense of self–a sense of self that emulates their counselors in their cabin, not the celebrities in their magazines. You’re given an incredible gift as a counselor: the ability to set positive new standards for young girls. You’re a hero for young females. Better yet, you’re a SheHero, and you have a huge hand in the shift towards self-love, self-respect, and empowerment within and among young females. So, you go girl!
January 25, 2012
Coming soon to a website near you!
Who’s working this summer? Where do they go to school? Where do the they work during the year? What do they do for fun? Most importantly, what is their favorite Ice Cream flavor?!? Gone are the days when you have to wait until June to find out!
We have some very exciting news! In the coming months, take a look at the staff section of our website. You’ll get a sneak peek at the Rockbrook staff for this summer! Can you imagine your face on this page…
January 18, 2012
You Have Got To Be Kidding!
Our campers are talented! We have pianists, jugglers, gymnasts, singers, and actresses! Girls who can rub their belly and pat their heads, touch their tongue to their nose, and hula hoop! Girls who can whistle, snap, and click their tongue. Girls who make up hand-jives and dance ’til the cows come home!
Today, I feel honored to share one of my talents- when I was fifteen I wrote a few jokes of my own. Here’s a sampling- sure to impress all your friends!
Q: Why is Big Bird big, yellow, and feathery?
A: Because if he was small, yellow, and nuggety he would be a corn on the cob!
Q:What do you call a group a grizzlies cracking up together?
A: A BEARel of laughs!
Q: What do people who love to brag on themselves carry their papers in?
A: A GLOATbook!
Q: What is a UPS worker’s favorite sport?
A: Boxing!
Q: What type of chair goes to wild concerts?
A: A rocking chair!
Q: What vegetable do you eat when you want to be very fast?
A: Hustle sprouts!
Q: What’s a livestock’s favorite math tool?
A: A COWculator!
Q: What type of shoe stops up drains?
A: A clog!
Q: What type of chair is good at yoga?
A: A folding chair!
Q: What soothes a sick stomach and gives you neck support at night?
A: A PILL-ow
Q: What time is it when people are throwing pieces of bread at your head?
A: Time to DUCK!
Q: What is a builder’s favorite kind of paper?
A: Construction paper!
Q: When playing spades with The Donald, why did the dealer lose?
A: He handed Donald Trump!
Q: Why couldn’t the farmer find his way out of the corn field?
A: He was in the middle of a maize!
Q: Which medical professional likes to break things?
A: A DENTist!
Q: What do you call a cow who always takes your stuff?
A: A mooooocher!
Q: What MTV show do bass fishermen watch?
A: The Reel World!
Q: What do you call a wild dog that you can’t find?
A: A WHEREwolf!
Q: How would you describe the views a peppermint gets while looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains?
A: Breath Taking!
Q: How are reciprocals like gymnasts?
A: They flip!
Q: Who is Burt’s Bees wax’s roommate?
A: Ernie’s bees wax!
Q: What sport do people who listen to loud, deep music from their stereo play?
A: BASS Ball!
Q: Which island of the coast of Africa does Dale Ernhart Jr. like?
A: MadaNASCAR!
Q: What happened to the gun at work?
A: He got FIRED!
Q: What happened to the pottery at work?
A: He got fired!
Q: Why was the light bulb cold?
A: He was in the shade!
Q: What part of your body says one thing but does another?
A: A HIP-ocrit!
Q: Why do Grizzlies break their pencils?
A: They BEAR down too heard!
Q: What salad topping do you find at ACE hardware?
A: Wrench Dressing!
Q: What happened when the master detective closed the door behind him?
A: He Sherlocked himself out!
Q: Why was the pig red?
A: He was out all day BACON in the sun!
Q: Which relative chimes at you every hour?
A: A Grandfather Clock!
Q: Why was the painter hot?
A: He put on an extra coat!
Q: What kind of hug straitens your teeth?
A: EmBRACES!
Q: What food preservation container is lost?
A: A TuperWHERE!
Q: What type of pirate testifies in court?
A: An “Aye” “Aye” Witness!
Q: Which two months are dishonest?
A: FIBruary and JuLIE
Q: Which four months are cold?
A: Septmebrrrrrrrr, Octobrrrrrrrr, Novembrrrrrrr, and Decemberrrrrrrrr!
Q: Which coloring utensil makes you tired?
A: A craYAWN!
January 11, 2012
Fairy Godmothers
It happens on a single fallen eyelash… when the clock strikes 11:11…with every dandelion seed whisked off by the wind… on a heads-up penny…. on a shooting star…. after those birthday candles have lost their flame- a wish is made. A secret desire thrown out to the world with no certainty that it will ever be granted.
Every year girls wish for a magical place that they can call home. A place where muffins are served up warm and sweet every morning. A place to wear silly costumes and to belly laugh. A place filled with a lake to swim and rocks to climb. A place to find their best friend.
They wish for a moment when they can just be themselves. A time when all they have to think about is being a girl, playing, and outdoor living. A time when they can start and end their day with a big, bright smile.
Unlike the wishes set to shooting stars or dandelions, these come true every summer at Rockbrook. Counselors become fairy godmothers and say, “your wish is granted.”
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