Why Every College Student Should Work at a Summer Camp
Let me start by saying: I'm in love with this topic.
This past summer, I traveled to Poland, Maine to work at Tripp Lake Camp. It was hands down the best work experience I have ever had in my entire life (yes entire 22 year-old me). I learned more about myself in those 2 months than all of college combined. I also met some of the most incredible people of my existence there and found such a welcoming community it's hard to give it adequate justice through words.
Ending up working at Tripp Lake Camp was a journey. It's amazing that life took me there, and I'm so thankful. Last winter, I was looking for a change in a summer job. I had worked at Pinetop Country Club for 3 years and was over it. I was also done with collegiate golf so I didn't need to practice 24/7 over the summer (I was free). Therefore, I was looking to work somewhere exciting. I had always wanted to be a camp counselor. Frankly, I had always wanted to be a camper! I mean, have you seen the parent trap? How cool it would be, to be a camper. So I went about googling and found TLC. I wanted to work as a golf counselor because I still loved golf, and that is what I'm good at. TLC was a special kind of camp because all of the counselors are good at a certain activity at camp (and much more!). I browsed their website and decided on applying.
Meanwhile, I was still in Denver and had also applied to AmeriCorps. It's like Peace Corps but it is only for the summer or they have year long programs. It's based solely in the US. I had gotten a phone interview for TLC as well as AmeriCorps. TLC came first, and boy am I glad it did. I had a phone interview with Nancy and at the end of it, I was offered a position to work at TLC all the way in Maine!! I immediately accepted it, and subsequently turned down the position at AmeriCorps. I had never been to Maine and was quickly researching a road trip. If you don't know-I'm notorious for road trips. I have driven across the country multiple times and I have really made it a habit. Hey, I only have 5 states to visit and I've seen the entire US (Alaska, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, and South Dakota).
So let me tell you about TLC. I was absolutely terrified when I dropped my mom off at the Portland airport and drove the hour up to Poland, Maine. I didn't know any of these people and was in a state I had never been in before. I also had never really worked with children before and I was going to be teaching and living with them for the next 2 months (uh oh). But, before I dropped my mom off, I told her that I was going to jump head first into this experience. I was going to put on a brave face, try new things, meet new people and have a great experience. I was able to do that and I was rewarded with great friends and experiences.
I managed 4 girls in my cabin and grew to love and appreciate them even when they annoyed me. I learned how to de-escalate a situation and how to have the girls talk it out respectfully. I learned how to deal with BS and to not let the girls know that I was struggling with it. I think one of the reasons I did so well with my bunk was that it was small, and that I didn't put up with the BS from my girls. Other counselors struggled with that or let the barrage of rude and unnecessary comments weigh them down. It can be taxing, I think I cried twice. Once at the beginning of camp because my bunk was being unruly and not getting to know me, and then the second time after I had a shitty day and found out it had rained in my car. But, as I said before, I learned to love this place, and would honestly call it home. I was challenged here, forced out of my comfort zone, participated in things just so that I could be entertainment for the girls! I was in our staff play (for 2 secs but that's all I wanted!), I dressed up so many times to fit whatever activity we were doing, and I enjoyed every single second of it. I learned that it was important to make someone smile because you never knew what they were going through, I learned how to provide comfort through words to the girls that were missing their parents (many many hours later), and that everyone needs someone to tell them that it's going to be okay (doesn't matter how old you are). I learned so much and I could honestly go on and on but I'll stop it here.
I highly recommend that every college student work at a summer camp (highly recommend TLC though!). Once you get through those two months, you will literally feel invincible. You will find a community, you will get to help these amazing girls grow into women, and you will come out of your shell no doubt. You will for sure try things that you have never done before and you'll always reminisce about camp memories while you were in the "bubble". There's literally so much I could say about TLC, it deserves so many posts. I'll probably revisit it, but for now the take away is that everyone should at some point work at a summer camp. It will change your life.
I'm literally on the verge of crying because I know that I will not be returning to TLC next summer. I will miss the staff and the girls, and just being in Maine. I'm sad that so many of us are going down different paths but I'm so excited for everyone. I wish that I could return to TLC, but life has other plans for me! I will cherish my experience for the rest of my life. I have never cried harder than I did the last day of camp. I'm so glad that these people and TLC were put into my life.
**There are too many amazing pictures from this summer...... here are just a few!
Ending up working at Tripp Lake Camp was a journey. It's amazing that life took me there, and I'm so thankful. Last winter, I was looking for a change in a summer job. I had worked at Pinetop Country Club for 3 years and was over it. I was also done with collegiate golf so I didn't need to practice 24/7 over the summer (I was free). Therefore, I was looking to work somewhere exciting. I had always wanted to be a camp counselor. Frankly, I had always wanted to be a camper! I mean, have you seen the parent trap? How cool it would be, to be a camper. So I went about googling and found TLC. I wanted to work as a golf counselor because I still loved golf, and that is what I'm good at. TLC was a special kind of camp because all of the counselors are good at a certain activity at camp (and much more!). I browsed their website and decided on applying.
Meanwhile, I was still in Denver and had also applied to AmeriCorps. It's like Peace Corps but it is only for the summer or they have year long programs. It's based solely in the US. I had gotten a phone interview for TLC as well as AmeriCorps. TLC came first, and boy am I glad it did. I had a phone interview with Nancy and at the end of it, I was offered a position to work at TLC all the way in Maine!! I immediately accepted it, and subsequently turned down the position at AmeriCorps. I had never been to Maine and was quickly researching a road trip. If you don't know-I'm notorious for road trips. I have driven across the country multiple times and I have really made it a habit. Hey, I only have 5 states to visit and I've seen the entire US (Alaska, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, and South Dakota).
So let me tell you about TLC. I was absolutely terrified when I dropped my mom off at the Portland airport and drove the hour up to Poland, Maine. I didn't know any of these people and was in a state I had never been in before. I also had never really worked with children before and I was going to be teaching and living with them for the next 2 months (uh oh). But, before I dropped my mom off, I told her that I was going to jump head first into this experience. I was going to put on a brave face, try new things, meet new people and have a great experience. I was able to do that and I was rewarded with great friends and experiences.
I managed 4 girls in my cabin and grew to love and appreciate them even when they annoyed me. I learned how to de-escalate a situation and how to have the girls talk it out respectfully. I learned how to deal with BS and to not let the girls know that I was struggling with it. I think one of the reasons I did so well with my bunk was that it was small, and that I didn't put up with the BS from my girls. Other counselors struggled with that or let the barrage of rude and unnecessary comments weigh them down. It can be taxing, I think I cried twice. Once at the beginning of camp because my bunk was being unruly and not getting to know me, and then the second time after I had a shitty day and found out it had rained in my car. But, as I said before, I learned to love this place, and would honestly call it home. I was challenged here, forced out of my comfort zone, participated in things just so that I could be entertainment for the girls! I was in our staff play (for 2 secs but that's all I wanted!), I dressed up so many times to fit whatever activity we were doing, and I enjoyed every single second of it. I learned that it was important to make someone smile because you never knew what they were going through, I learned how to provide comfort through words to the girls that were missing their parents (many many hours later), and that everyone needs someone to tell them that it's going to be okay (doesn't matter how old you are). I learned so much and I could honestly go on and on but I'll stop it here.
I highly recommend that every college student work at a summer camp (highly recommend TLC though!). Once you get through those two months, you will literally feel invincible. You will find a community, you will get to help these amazing girls grow into women, and you will come out of your shell no doubt. You will for sure try things that you have never done before and you'll always reminisce about camp memories while you were in the "bubble". There's literally so much I could say about TLC, it deserves so many posts. I'll probably revisit it, but for now the take away is that everyone should at some point work at a summer camp. It will change your life.
I'm literally on the verge of crying because I know that I will not be returning to TLC next summer. I will miss the staff and the girls, and just being in Maine. I'm sad that so many of us are going down different paths but I'm so excited for everyone. I wish that I could return to TLC, but life has other plans for me! I will cherish my experience for the rest of my life. I have never cried harder than I did the last day of camp. I'm so glad that these people and TLC were put into my life.
**There are too many amazing pictures from this summer...... here are just a few!
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