Top 5 characteristics of a good camp counselor
The
best summer camp isn’t necessarily a summer camp with the most
facilities or the best equipment. The best summer camp has the best
counselors. Everyone wants to be a good camp counselor, and in order
to do so, you would need to possess characteristics that contribute
positively to the needs of the camping environment and the campers.
Here are the top 5 characteristics of a good camp counselor;
1. Initiative
Taking the initiative of doing something before someone asks you to, is one of the most significant characteristics that a good counselor will need to possess. For example, if you see something on your path that someone could possibly trip on and therefore get injured by, you should take the initiative to remove this object, even if you didn’t trip on it. That’s what initiative is about. This characteristic is always needed at camp.
2. Selflessness
At camp, the campers always come first. What would you do if you’re really tired, and a camper cannot go to bed because they’re feeling homesick? You would need to sacrifice your desire to go to bed early and firstly, ensure that your camper is made comfortable. Tell them jokes or a funny story or two, to get their minds away from what they’re missing at home and rather focus on what’s happening at camp. This is a perfect example of an act of selflessness.
3. Positive Role Modeling
As a camp counselor, it’s important to note that your behavior can be emulated by others, especially by the younger campers. You will need to lead by example. You cannot tell your campers that technology isn’t allowed at camp, and thereafter, get caught using your mobile phone to text when you think everyone is asleep. You will need to practice what you preach in order to be a positive role model to your campers and fellow counselors.
4. Creativity
The extensive use of your imagination in terms of originality plays a big role in being a good camp counselor. In order to be victorious in certain challenges at camp, you will need to be innovative and think outside the box. Boredom is unacceptable at camp, and, if you see a group of kids bored, it’s up to you to quickly come up with an exciting game or activity to keep them entertained. Whether it’s to do with programming activities or setting up camp in general, camp counselors have to be creative in order to thrive in the summer camp environment.
5. Resilience
There will always be difficulties and unpleasant situations that you will experience as a camp counselor. However, it does not matter how difficult or how unpleasant a situation is, rather, how quickly you recover from it. A camp has an ongoing cycle which you, as a camp counselor should respect and not interrupt, no matter the circumstances. In order for camp to run smoothly, you will need to grow a thick skin when it comes to difficult and unpleasant situations. There is no time to dwell on these things. You need to possess the capacity to recover quickly and move on.
A good camp counselor takes initiative, is selfless, a positive role model, creative and resilient. If you have these characteristics, there’s a camp out there that needs someone like you. Get out there and make someone’s summer camp experience unforgettable.
Follow us on our Sugar Bay Pinterest account and stay up-to-date on all our counselor news by checking out our Camp Counselors board.
Here are the top 5 characteristics of a good camp counselor;
1. Initiative
Taking the initiative of doing something before someone asks you to, is one of the most significant characteristics that a good counselor will need to possess. For example, if you see something on your path that someone could possibly trip on and therefore get injured by, you should take the initiative to remove this object, even if you didn’t trip on it. That’s what initiative is about. This characteristic is always needed at camp.
2. Selflessness
At camp, the campers always come first. What would you do if you’re really tired, and a camper cannot go to bed because they’re feeling homesick? You would need to sacrifice your desire to go to bed early and firstly, ensure that your camper is made comfortable. Tell them jokes or a funny story or two, to get their minds away from what they’re missing at home and rather focus on what’s happening at camp. This is a perfect example of an act of selflessness.
3. Positive Role Modeling
As a camp counselor, it’s important to note that your behavior can be emulated by others, especially by the younger campers. You will need to lead by example. You cannot tell your campers that technology isn’t allowed at camp, and thereafter, get caught using your mobile phone to text when you think everyone is asleep. You will need to practice what you preach in order to be a positive role model to your campers and fellow counselors.
4. Creativity
The extensive use of your imagination in terms of originality plays a big role in being a good camp counselor. In order to be victorious in certain challenges at camp, you will need to be innovative and think outside the box. Boredom is unacceptable at camp, and, if you see a group of kids bored, it’s up to you to quickly come up with an exciting game or activity to keep them entertained. Whether it’s to do with programming activities or setting up camp in general, camp counselors have to be creative in order to thrive in the summer camp environment.
5. Resilience
There will always be difficulties and unpleasant situations that you will experience as a camp counselor. However, it does not matter how difficult or how unpleasant a situation is, rather, how quickly you recover from it. A camp has an ongoing cycle which you, as a camp counselor should respect and not interrupt, no matter the circumstances. In order for camp to run smoothly, you will need to grow a thick skin when it comes to difficult and unpleasant situations. There is no time to dwell on these things. You need to possess the capacity to recover quickly and move on.
A good camp counselor takes initiative, is selfless, a positive role model, creative and resilient. If you have these characteristics, there’s a camp out there that needs someone like you. Get out there and make someone’s summer camp experience unforgettable.
Follow us on our Sugar Bay Pinterest account and stay up-to-date on all our counselor news by checking out our Camp Counselors board.
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