Summer Camp Secrets

What happens when you put 100 or so young people together for a prolonged period of time? Well, a lot of drama, that’s what. And summer camp is no exception.

Obviously you are there to do your job and make the summer amazing for the kids you are looking after, but there’s a whole other side to summer camp too… a sort of ‘behind the scenes’ if you will.

You are going to make friends at camp. Awesome friends. And then there are going to be people who you are going to be ‘more than friends’ with. Let’s face it, it’s gonna happen. And it’s going to be great.

I think almost everyone who’s ever worked at summer camp has a ‘this one time, on my day off…‘ story that usually involves some sort of romantic relationship and a head full of regrets in the morning (blame the ‘camp goggles‘).

But there are also those relationships that start at camp and continue long after those two people stop returning to camp. In fact, I went to my first ‘cample‘ (camp couple) wedding in February and it was beautiful. It’s amazing to think that without camp those two people would just never have crossed paths!

The main thing I want to say about relationships at camp though, is that, however you do them, and whatever they end up to be, you need to be aware enough that you don’t let them interfere with your job as a counselor. Don’t get me wrong, being in a relationship at camp is bloody great – it’s fun to have one particular person to want to see all day and then hang out with in the evening, and even if you don’t have any of your own, it’s always fun to be filled in on all the gossip of other people’s dramas. But it always needs to come second to your kids.

Maybe it’s just a one time thing, or maybe it’s an awesome summer fling, or maybe it’s something more and you’ll both live happily ever after, but however your camp relationship turns out there’s pretty much just one simple rule… don’t ever talk to your campers about your relationship (or anyone else’s). Campers will always speculate (especially if they are girls aged around 10) – it’s one of their favourite things to do, and anytime two counselors even hug they think you’re dating!

So that’s my advice. Camp relationship are the best. I think it’s something to do with the magical ‘camp bubble’ (don’t worry you’ll understand it when you get there). Keep them private and out of the way of the campers’ beady eyes and big ears and then just go for it. Have fun!