Archive for February, 2015

Being a Camp Counselor at Camp Starlight

Monday, February 23rd, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-02-22 at 6.37.07 PMEveryone has that one teacher, babysitter, neighbor, family friend or other adult influence that has made a lasting impression on their lives; a person they credit with shaping and molding the person they’ve become. When you become a camp counselor, you become this and so much more to hundreds of children every year. A camp counselor does so much in the life of a child, but not many people realize how working on staff at Camp Starlight changes and shapes the camp counselors as well.

Camp counselors become experts at time management. They learn how long it takes to get from one place to another, how long clean up, set up and break down takes, and how to effectively manage their time so activities run smoothly camp-wide. They learn the importance of appreciating the time and schedules of others, and campers pick up on this valuable social skill.

Camp counselors become expert communicators. They have no choice but to constantly strive to be good listeners, as kids will remember people who they feel truly listen and hear them, and those who write them off. Counselors learn to speak confidently, while always keeping in mind the effects their words can have on those around them. They learn how to express their concerns and articulate their opinions and expectations without hurting the feelings of others. The ability to successfully communicate with individuals and large groups is a vital and life changing skill that comes naturally from being a counselor.

Screen Shot 2015-02-22 at 6.40.32 PMProblem solving, conflict management and the ability to maintain a positive attitude in even the most stressful circumstances are all things counselors learn while spending their summers at Camp Starlight. All of these skills are exactly what employers are looking for in the people they hire, and a summer (or two!) as a counselor really sets you up to be the “dream employee” so many jobs are looking for.

Being a camp counselor changes who you are, in a good way of course. Watching hundreds of campers learn more about themselves, create lasting memories and try new and exciting things because they knew YOU believed in them will change your life. You will experience a sense of purpose as you build relationships with campers that you can’t get anywhere else. Being a camp counselor makes you a better friend, family member, student, employee and most importantly, it makes you a better YOU.

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Gymnastics at Camp

Monday, February 16th, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-02-10 at 4.23.58 PMWhile having fun learning interesting cartwheels and handstands during gymnastics activities at camp, your child also benefits in development areas that will help them become a better person and student. To know more about how your child can benefit from gymnastic activities at camp, read on.

Healthy Lifestyle

The number of obese children in the US is increasing at an alarming state. This increases the need for parents to teach and encourage children to lead an active life, which is exactly what participation in gymnastic activities can do for your child. They get to enjoy physical activity at camp and are also encouraged to be active when they return home. So, don’t be surprised if you see your child engaging more in physical activities instead of sitting on the couch with their iPads.

Social Skills

Your child has the perfect opportunity to build social skills. During gymnastic activities, there will be loads of other campers and experienced coaches whom your child will work with, due to which they learn how be respectful, taking turns, following directions, thinking and working as a team, as well as enquiring when they have difficulty in understanding the way a certain exercise is done.

Screen Shot 2015-02-10 at 4.25.11 PMOvercoming Fears

If your child has never done something like gymnastics before, it could be a little scary for them, which is why the camp management set attainable goals, so that campers can overcome their fears. This in turn, helps your child develop confidence that there is absolutely nothing they cannot do or achieve.

Self- Confidence & Self-Esteem

Learning gymnastic skills can be challenging and since they are taught through progression, your child gains confidence with each step they take. This enhanced self-confidence transfers to other areas and aspects of your child’s life, including school.

Flexibility

Flexibility is an extremely important aspect, vital for injury prevention as well as to prevent the daily pains and aches one can face from tiredness or exertion. If you didn’t know, there isn’t any other activity that boosts flexibility quite like gymnastics. This improved flexibility not only proves to be effective in gymnastics, but it also helps in the development of several other sports that interest your child.

As you can see, gymnastic activities at camp can prove to be extremely useful for your child. Hopefully, you will find this article insightful and helpful as it highlights all the major benefits your child can gain from gymnastics at camp.

 

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4 Tips For The Perfect Cannonball

Monday, February 9th, 2015

Things every camper should bring to camp to ensure an amazing summer:

  • Extra underwear
  • Bathing suit
  • This classified, top secret, limited edition guide to doing the perfect cannonball.

Screen Shot 2015-02-05 at 12.53.49 PMAs the summer temperatures peak, most campers find themselves lounging around the beautiful swimming pool at Camp Starlight, or splashing the day away in the lake. Hanging out in the water is a great way to beat the heat, while hanging out with new friends and making memories that will last forever. When it is time to make things a little more exciting, initiate a camp wide Cannonball contest! Equipped with these researched, tested and proven tips, you can leave camp as this year’s Cannonball Champion.

First, it is important to remember that safety is always of the utmost importance. Remember to always check the depth of the water where you are going to jump. Jumping into water that is too shallow could cause serious injury. If the cannonball contest is taking place on the pool deck, remember not to run. You could slip and fall, and then you’d never get to show off your cannonball skills. You can achieve a perfect 10 cannonball without running and jeopardizing your safety.

Get Some Height: If there is a diving board, use that bad boy to get some extra height and land with a splash. The simple logic behind the perfect cannonball is that the higher you go, the more gravity you have to pull you back into the water with a splash.

Loosen Up: Many believe that the perfect cannonball is created when you fold yourself into a tight, round ball. This is actually not the case. The more area you take up when you hit the water, the bigger the splash. To accomplish this, wrap your arms around your legs, but keep your elbows out to the side, don’t pin them tightly to your body. Remember to keep your form loose and focus on taking up as much space when you land as possible.

The Landing: You loose a lot of splash potential when the bottom of your feet are the first thing to hit the water. If you angle backwards a little bit, your bottom should be the first thing to touch the water. To avoid a knee vs. head accident, keep your knees slightly apart so the force of the impact doesn’t cause your knees to come up and hit you in the nose. Remember to keep your head up so you can see the faces of everyone who is in awe of your perfect cannonball style. Don’t be surprised if there is a line of campers waiting for you when you emerge from the water who want to learn a thing or two from the cannonball master.

 

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Why Working at a Camp Is Better Than an Internship

Monday, February 2nd, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-02-02 at 9.02.36 AMAccording to statistics, there are an estimated 1.2 million camp staff in the United States, and the numbers continue to grow steadily. Now, you might think – “why should I get a camp job over an internship?” Well, working at a camp gives you the opportunity to earn more than just cash. Internships are all about gaining skills and that’s exactly what working at a camp provides, but the question here is that how working at a camp is better than an internship?

The biggest reason why it is better is because working in a camp helps you develop skills that will not only build your resume, but also last you a long time to come. You have the opportunity to lead from the front and solve problems, in addition to fulfilling your responsibilities with utmost sincerity. A camp simply offers real-life experiences that cannot be learnt behind an office desk.

Benefits of Working at a Camp

There are many benefits you can gain by working at a camp. Below we have listed some of the most common:

  • You develop better self-understanding
  • You enhance personal growth
  • You master problem-solving skills
  • Have positive and significant influence in the lives of children
  • You expand/develop a network of peer relations.

How is Working at a Camp Better than an Internship?

Here are a few convincing reasons you should consider working at a camp:

It Builds Character Along with Your Resume

If you do not have character, your resume is pretty much useless. If you make a comparison, you will notice that most interns count the minutes until they are finally done with work, and on the other hand, camp counselors and camp staff dedicate their summers. So, why do they do it? That’s simply because they enjoy what they do. When you work at a camp, you learn to dedicate your time for things besides yourself, as you have the opportunity to deal with adults, kids and other counselors.

Screen Shot 2015-02-02 at 9.03.53 AMIt’s Not Only about the Money

When you work at a camp, you not only show up every morning because you are getting good money. You show up because your job involves spreading smiles and happiness. You are not confined to an undersized desk, relentlessly waiting for payday.

You Make Kids Smile Instead of Customers

It’s not uncommon to come across interns pretending to be extra nice, so that they can make a sale. A camp job, however, revolves around campers and making them happy. Getting an authentic laugh or smile out of a camper is something more pleasing and enjoyable than selling a particular product to a random guy.

You Learn to Be Selfless Not Selfish

While interns spend most of their time pretending to be busy or surfing the web, every minute you spend in camp is devoted to the campers. Each minute of your time is spent for others, not just for yourself. After all, have you ever seen an intern worrying about the progress of their company they work for, as much as they do for themselves?

So, if you have been considering a job, why not go for it, as you will gain experience and skills that will definitely be of use to you in the future.

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