If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to spot us. Something like that leaves it’s mark, the ghost of a part of our lives when we knew that what we were doing mattered. The confidence of a soul that has been a pillar for someone, the strong one, the one that was there for them, cared for them, helped and guided them, and sadly, sometimes had to save them. I was a camp counselor for troubled kids.

It was the summers during my university degree that were filled with camp chants and group games. The 7 of us were the tightest set of co-workers I had ever been a part of (or have been since) and we were all in it because we wanted to be there. It had little to do with the paycheck; if it had we would all have been working somewhere else as almost every job at the time paid better than what we got. It wasn’t a summer job, it was who we were. We lived together, drank together, and dedicated every spare minute to making that camp spectacular for those kids because for many, we were the only ones who cared.

We all realized that a counselor has a unique role in a child’s life, and therefore a unique resposibility. We were not parents, not teachers. We were someone they have fun with and so more likely to be someone they would confess feelings, fears and issues to. We were also more than a peer, an adult who had the power to help them with these fears and issues. Because of this counselors are often the first one a child will finally tell when they need help or are in trouble and can’t go to anyone at home. It is rewarding, but sometimes it is horrifying. The first time I ever had to call child services I cried all night. My co-counselors cried with me.

With summer around the corner I have been thinking about camp a lot. I am happy as a Chemist, but I do miss the fun, the outdoors, the giant rubber water-balloon sligshot and, of course, the kids. Here is a little list for all of you counselors who do it because you care and you know that it is so much more important than “just a job.”

How To Tell If You Are a True Camp Counselor:

1. You would never, ever pack peanut butter in a bag lunch
2. You know how to stab an epi-pen
3. You know 7 different versions of the rules for Flags and which versions should be used when.
4. You have a bathing suit tan or a flip-flop tan in December
5. You unconsciously count the people you are with every 5 minutes as if you were making sure you had all of your campers. Your friends have stopped asking why you do this.
6. If you were a water instructor, it really bugs you to see people switching sides when they paddle a canoe
7. You can make up a game in under 1 minute using a bobby pin, three used coffee cups and a pen.
8. You have come home with paint in your ear at least once.
9. You have proudly worn a plastic lacing bracelet (or gimp, for the old schoolers) made by a camper out on a fancy dinner because you couldn’t untie it, but wouldn’t think of cutting it off.
10. You have played at least one camp game in a bar with friends.

There are oh, so many more. Feel free to add yours in the comments. And long live camp.