Tag: summer employment

What I Learned From My Campers

When I arrived at America’s Finest Summer Camps as a counselor this past summer, I knew exactly how I wanted every camper to feel. I was on high alert for the shy ones, the scared ones, the nervous ones. I was looking for the nail biters and the ones with the look of “wow this… Read more »

So Now What?

After the initial feelings of elation that come from having completed their first summer at camp, many first year counselors are left wondering what comes next. For some, the choice to return to camp (or not) is an obvious one. For others, there are many factors involved, impending college graduations or internships, the prospect of… Read more »

Be Better

The Sochi Olympics took place last month, and even though the athletes competed on snow and ice, the games were surprisingly reminiscent of summer camp, particularly from a staff perspective. Many athletes were there for the first time. Some, however, were competing in their second, third, or even fifth Olympic games. Each summer at camp,… Read more »

Coming Back Home

The guest blog this week was originally published to the Camp Starlight blog on February 4, 2014, and is a heartfelt examination of the long term impact and benefits of camp, and highlights why so many people return to work at camp year after year and even later in life. As counselors at Starlight we… Read more »

The Hard Part of Working at Camp

A popular question that a lot of prospective summer camp counselors ask recruiters is about the difficult aspects of the job. After hearing about how much fun they will have, about the amount of time they will get to spend outdoors, about all of the friends they will make, and how much money they can… Read more »

5 Tips for First Time Counselors

You’ve accepted the position and completed the paperwork.  It’s official!  You’re about to spend your first summer as a camp counselor.  Naturally, a lot of people experience a few nerves in the days leading up to camp.  After all, even when you’re a grown adult, leaving behind your family and friends to spend the summer… Read more »

Camp through the Eyes of a Program Director

I’m the camp’s Program Director.  I have a very unique job at camp as the person responsible for overseeing the daily scheduling of the camp’s daily activities.  Even though it’s not one of the traditional camp jobs that comes to mind when people imagine working at a summer camp, it’s a crucial one.  I like… Read more »

The Backbone of the Laurel Camps…Our Counselors

The guest blog this week comes from the Laurel camps.  If you’ve ever wondered what fuels a camp, read no further than this article. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner says that being a summer camp counselor was the most valuable job he ever had. What a coincidence! Our counselors may be the most valuable part… Read more »

Finding Your Way Home to Camp

This week’s guest blog comes to us from Camp Starlight Directors David and Allison and speaks to feeling of home and belonging that many campers and staff find at summer camp. The last week of camp seems like it was yesterday.  That feeling of holding on to every moment and hoping that time would just… Read more »

A Former Camper and Counselor on the Value of Summer Camp

In our guest blog this week, former Camp Weequahic camper and counselor Steve S. reflects on how his camp experiences have added value to his life. I have been a part of the Camp Weequahic family for 13 years, as a camper from 1995 until 2002, and as a counselor from 2003 until 2007.  These… Read more »