There are so many things you need to do before going to do AmeriCamp. Visas, flights, post-camp travel, it all seems like a lot, but there are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself that you may not have even thought of. These are the things which will make your life easier while at camp. They are also things I’d wish I had known so here is your chance to learn from my mistakes!
Things to do:
1. Ask your camp about your where you will be living and the storage you will have.
So here at AmeriCamp, some camps give counsellors a seprate room and bedding, which is great if you are living in one of those camps. However, when I got to AmeriCamp and realised I needed a sleeping bag so I had to buy one. Then I also realised that we had no specific storage. If you are in a similar situation then bring a suitcase because you don’t want to live out of a backpack, trust me. Alternatively if you want to bring a backpack then expect to get some cheap storage tubs or draws to keep your stuff more organised. That’s why I did and it works just fine.
2. Research the weather of the state you will be in.
You’re probably expecting sun this Summer and most likely you will get it, however some states are much hotter than others. I was surprised at how cold the Oregon could get. I had packed quite a few shorts but if I’d known then I would have packed some more long sleeve trousers for chilly days. Regardless of where you are going, bring a good waterproof jacket. It will rain at some point and you don’t want to be cold and wet all day while taking care of the kids.
Things to learn:
1. Meadow games
No you don’t have to learn an A-Z of kids outdoor games but having a few in your arsenal before you leave would be really useful. They are great for those moments where there is an unexpected delay and your kids are just standing around. If you’re not sure where to start then google ‘captains coming’ or ‘rock rock how do you wonder’.
2. Card games/ indoor games
Going back to the rain, sometimes it causes activities to be cancelled. You’ll be at a great advantage if you know a few games to keep kids busy during this time. Games like ‘contact’ and ‘what’s in the picnic’ are great for this kind of thing. Pinterest and other websites have endless lists of indoor activities you can do with you kids, just take a bit of time to have a look over some of them.
3. Songs/ nursery rhymes from your own country
Brush up on those old songs from your years in the playground because you never know, they may not be sung where you are going. Kids love to talk to you about your home country and sharing little things like that can be really nice. At our staff opening campfire, ee had a group of Aussies who sung a song that they all knew from their childhood. Everyone really liked it.
Things to bring
1. Torch – you do things in the dark and will need one at one point or another.
2. Something for you to do that isn’t digital – get your adult colouring books and stick them in your bag. A lot of camps are unplugged so that means you can use any technology round the kids, only on your time off. That means that during rest hour or other down times you will want something to do that isn’t on your phone or iPad. During this time I have read, coloured and even learnt how to circle knit. I also join in some of the kids games when they want me to play
3. A watch with an alarm – not having your phone on you around the kids means you will need another way to tell the time and something else to wake you up in the morning. Get a fairly cheap watch that is preferably water proof. You can bring a seprate alarm obviously if you want.
4. A book to read to your campers – I cannot stress enough how much reading to my kids has helped me get them to sleep at night. It is a lifesaver. My kids are anywhere from 11-16 and they all enjoy it so don’t worry about the age range but maybe let them read their own book as you read yours. Just make sure the book is age appropriate. Your camp may have books you can use but the choice may be limited or even none-existent. As another point they love been read to by people with accents. I read Harry Potter to my kids one week as a camper brought it, they really like it and said it felt more ‘authentic’. Don’t worry if you aren’t very good at reading out loud. I am dyslexic and I am upfront about it to my kids and let them know that I may stutter. I’ve had no issues yet and my AmeriCampers have been really understanding and seem to not care at all.
5. A photocopy of your passport – this will probably be done by the office but it is also useful to have a copy. If you manage to loose your passport then having a copy of it can make the getting home process much easier
6. An instrument if you play one – songs around the campfire are great and can be made so much nicer with the addition of a guitar or ukulele. Bring your instrument along if you can just do some research into how you can get it on the plane if it is something that won’t fit in your bag.
7. Some food or snacks from home – that’s right, get the Yorkshire tea and Cadbury chocolate in the bag. Double check you can bring whatever it is through customs and that the camp don’t have a policy against personal food. You will want to share things with your fellow counsellors and you will miss some of these home comforts. I personally would advise against sharing with the Americampers just because of allergies and making sure you are treating each camper fairly, also this may be a specific camp policy.
I hope this has helped you to prepare for AmeriCamp. I’m sure you will have an amazing time! There will be things you forget and wish you’d brought but that’s okay. Don’t stress too much, know it’s not the end of the world.
-Kate Marron
