#camp life

tiedyeandcampfires:

Last year I spent my summer covered in bug bites, surviving on minimal sleep per night and sweating out my body weight, I know, so attractive right? Yet I am choosing to put myself through this all again for another summer., but why? 

As the tan has faded the memories haven’t summer camp is about making friends and doing something you have never done before, and above all having an adventure, and there is no better adventure than going across the world to work at summer camp. 

There are so many reasons and I could sit here and bore you with a long list but instead I will give you just five reasons I am returning and why I think you should do summer camp at least one:

1. The Friends: Camp friends are like no others, in a few short weeks you share tears and laughter and truly make life long bonds like no others. Camp fosters unique relationships with people from different walks of life than your own.
   
2. The getting unplugged: These days it is rare that you have someone’s undivided attention as they always have one eye on their phone, checking Facebook or posting their latest meal to instagram, don’t get me wrong I am a sucker for social media too, but there is something liberating about everyone around you putting down the phones and just talking to one another and enjoying the company.
3. The Satisfaction: Camp is difficult sometimes for both staff and campers, sometimes it has been one of those long days when the sun is hot and you are covered in insect bites and you are counting the minuets until lights out, but there is nothing more satisfying than overcoming the difficulties or helping someone else you work with overcome difficulties to achieve their goals or doing something they never thought possible, it makes all the hard work worth it to know you helped someone or achieved something yourelf.
4. The Alternatives: For the 5 years prior to spending my summer at camp I would usually spend my time flipping burgers and serving fries, the job has done many things for me over the years but after 5 years I wanted a change and what better way to shake it up than going to work in a different country and learn a whole different set of skills and have new experiences?
5. The Travelling: Plane tickets to America are expensive and as my parents are not on the rich list, I have always paid my way in the things I have done and going to America is no different, camp is a great experience and a working visa allows you to travel for 30 days after camp, I travelled very cheaply and saw many things I would not have been able to with going to camp.

When you are writing sessions for camp and you have to go against all your natural instincts and spell things wrong, or use different words to make sure it’s it’s right in the USA. Favourite/favorite? Colour/color? Rubbish/trash? 

Haven’t been on tumblr much, final year at university and planning staff training a great resource for staff training and other camp related things is Camp Hacker on podcast and youtube and their website:

http://camphacker.tv/

ihaventshoweredinaweek:

When it is oh so quite 

whatshouldwecallcamplife:

My life

Due to issues at my previous camp I will not be returning. But I am excited that I will be at a new camp this summer as the Special Activities Director

Kananaskis AB, upper/lower lakes