First-Year Camp Staff Survival
25 practical tips for a successful summer
By Dan Shortridge
Being a camp staff member is rewarding, but it’s also tough; there are early mornings, late nights, extreme weather, camper crises, and daily challenges that will test staff members to their limits. From socks to soap, from songs to sleep, here are 25 tips drawn from years of camp staff and youth program experience to keep first-time staffers going strong this summer and beyond.
Photo: © Can Stock Photo / photography33
Gear
If staff members are experienced campers, they will generally know what to bring to work for a few months during the summer. Here are a few comfort items that will help:
1. Invest in some good wool socks; Darn Tough or Smartwool are popular brands. They will keep your feet sweat-free, will dry out quickly if they get soaked in a rainstorm, and will last far beyond the summer.
2. Buy a cheap, durable daypack to haul daily gear. (Those string backpacks won’t last long.) Toss in a first-aid kit, a good notebook, some pens and pencils, a pocketknife, extra water bottles, some plastic gallon zip-up bags, a clipboard, sturdy rubber bands, extra wool socks, a cotton bandana, a rain poncho, some hand sanitizer, the camp songbook, and some personal snacks.
3. If camp staff quarters have electricity, buy a cheap box fan or two for the tent or cabin. A cool night’s sleep is worth it.
4. Pick up an inexpensive packable hammock and some tree straps. It will be great for naptime in the shade on a breezy day.
Conduct
As staff members, remember that no matter what you are doing, you are constantly representing the camp. As role models, you should live up to the camp’s high expectations.
5. Remember core responsibilities; even though it seems like a summer of fun, you have a critical job to do and are there to serve the customers (campers).
6. Campers see everything, and your actions will be remembered and copied. Whether walking to a program area, waiting in the lunch line, or relaxing on an evening off, your behavior and language should always be in line with the camp’s standards.
7. The same goes for time off. Don’t be the staff member who swears up a storm at the beach and is overheard by parents who will be dropping their child off next weekend.
8. Don’t spread rumors or gossip, especially in earshot of campers. Whatever takes place in the staff lounge stays in the staff lounge. Don’t get sucked into staff drama. Keep campers first and foremost in your mind.
Self-Care
Proper self-care is just as important as taking care of campers. If you are tired, sick, or hot, your judgment will not be the best, and your performance will start to slide. Use these tips to stay in top-notch shape:
9. Drink, drink, drink. Always be hydrating. Carry a bottle of water and refill it at every stop, on the hour, or at whatever regular system works.
10. If working in a particularly hot or humid environment, try showering both at night before bed and in the morning. It will make sleeping much more pleasant and wake you up in the morning.
11. Bring extra laundry detergent for when the camp-supplied stuff runs out. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap can do triple duty as body wash, shampoo, and detergent. Rig up a clothesline for the inevitable quarter-shortage day. (You can even hand-wash in a sink, though it’s time-consuming.)
12. If living in a tent, especially of the canvas variety, keep the doors open as much as possible to air it out. This will prevent that musty smell after several weeks of sweat and humidity.
13. Even though you will be getting in plenty of steps just walking around camp, a regular exercise routine will also help to keep physically fit. Wake up a half-hour earlier each day. Going for a jog, doing some pushups, or using a jump rope can increase endurance, build muscle, and help you remain flexible and agile.
Photo: © Can Stock Photo / xilius
Downtime
Veteran camp staff will tell you to treasure your time off! Whether you are off the clock on weeknights, 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday, or the entire weekend, here are some suggestions to use the time well:
14. Catch up on rest, hydrate, and eat nutritious food your body may be craving. Read a book, binge some TV, or take a nap.
15. Spend some time off with other staff members—it’s a great way to bond as a team. Play laser tag, do an escape room, organize an evening of capture the flag, go on a backpacking overnight, or do a quick kayaking trip.
16. If you’re near a city, do something completely non-camp related, like visit a museum, eat a gourmet meal, or go to a concert. Stimulating your brain with new experiences means you will be more relaxed.
Camp Culture
Each camp has its own special culture and traditions. Pay attention to what makes your camp special, and start a few traditions of your own.
17. Learn a special or obscure song, skit, or cheer. Lead coworkers at meals during staff week, and then lead the whole camp in a rousing rendition at the dining hall or at weekly campfires.
18. Spend time with the older and more mature staff members or area directors. Ask questions, listen to their stories, and learn from their experiences.
19. Read up on the history of the camp and look through old photo albums. Gain an appreciation for the lore and heritage that has helped the camp get where it is today, and share that with campers. They’ll be fascinated to learn that the swimming pool used to be located on the site of the crafts lodge, that the first camp director taught social studies to their parents at the local high school, or that the first structure in camp was a “two-holer” outhouse.
Instructors
Program instructors or teachers ideally have a good grounding in the subject he or she will lead. For those who don’t, the offseason is the time to get up to speed by reading online, joining a group, or taking a course. Here are a few other teaching tips that may help:
20. Take a day and develop a draft lesson plan for a few sample subjects. Address what topics the class will cover day by day and how it fits into the overall objective or project. Create a detailed list of equipment. List step-by-step what the instructor will show and what campers will do, and note how to evaluate skills. This will help to ensure all the topics are covered in a fun, efficient way. It will also help if a staffer gets sick and someone else has to substitute for a day.
21. Practice your presentations and skills instructions. Record yourself using video and audio and play it back. Test it on some friends and ask for their feedback.
22. If your camp has unit leaders or parents, suggest a special evening program or siesta program for adults. For example, learn how to plan a backpacking trip, what to look for when buying a bow and arrow, or what advice to give on tying knots properly.
Support Staff
Support-staff members are the invisible backbone of any camp. The teams working on the kitchen crew, maintenance team, dining-hall staff, or serving in the first-aid lodge, trading post, or front office can use the following advice to have a smooth, fun summer.
23. Be extra protective of sleep—especially the kitchen crew. Get used to early mornings. Start training with early rising and early bedtimes during the offseason.
24. Hang out with the program staff members as much as possible. If it’s permitted during downtime, visit their program areas and offer to lend a hand, or participate in woodcarving, archery, or sailing.
25. Read up now on the job basics and advanced advice, and come prepared with some suggestions or ideas. For example, if you’re on the kitchen crew, don’t just be an ordinary dishwasher; come to camp having researched best practices for commercial kitchen sanitation. Don’t just be an average trading post cashier; bring a few retail inventory-management tips to share and implement. Don’t just be a ho-hum dining-hall steward; read slide decks on food service and customer-service delivery.
Excellence doesn’t happen overnight. Success comes from preparation and practice. Keep your first-year staff members always in mind and share these tips and other practical advice specific to the camp to avoid burnout in order to ensure they have a successful summer—and return for many more.
Dan Shortridge worked on summer camp staff in his youth and is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America. He is a writer and public relations professional based in Delaware. Reach him at danshortridge@gmail.com.