So I’m nearly finished with my AmeriCamp adventure. It has gone suprisingly quickly and I’m already planning to return to AmeriCamp in a few years time. Here are a few things to expect from your adventure.
A variety of people
AmeriCamp is a place where most people have similar mindsets so your bound to meet some great friends whilst you’re away. There will however be some clashing of personalities, which is fine but remember to stay professional. Don’t let it ruin your time at AmeriCamp. The vast majority of people should be friendly enough and there will be people you won’t want to leave when it’s over.
A variety of weather
I’ve mentioned this in a previous blog but I think it’s an important one. You will have some sunny days and you will have some rainy days. Just make sure you pack accordingly. That bottle of sun cream and an old rain coat will be your best friends at least one day out of the year.
Questions… Lots of questions
Kids are naturally curious and if like me your campers only stay for a week then you will be asked the same questions repeatedly. Sometimes it may be the same camper asking the same question. Just have patience and get through it. Most of the questions aren’t difficult to answer and you can even have fun with it. If your coming in from abroad then there will almost certainly be questions about your mysterious home land. One of the ways I started a conversation with some of my campers in the morning was to ask them what they think ‘torch’ or ‘queue’ meant.
Many different problems big and small
Different kids come from different family and social environments and all of them have their own worries. Be prepared to deal with things like homesickness and small arguments but also be prepared to help campers who are experiencing something more challenging. It’s sad that campers have to go through these experiences and it can make the AmeriCamp life a little harder for both of you. However, you need to remember that your job is to make sure that your kids have a good time. Give them someone to talk to and just listen. You don’t have to be a therapist and give advice. Just comfort them and do your best. They will really apreciate it and you have no idea how much of a difference it can make.
Kids say the funniest things
On a slightly brighter note, your kids will say some things that will just have you in stitches. They are great at saying things at just the right time. I know a lot of counsellors that have a quote page of the things that campers have said. The younger ones are usually the best for this but you will have some memorable quotes whatever their age.
New challenges
Before I came to AmeriCamp I didn’t know how to start a fire, lead songs, circle knit or even ride western but AmeriCamp is the place where you will experience so many new things and you may be thrown in at the deep end sometimes. Just embrace it and try your best. Step out your comfort zone and give it a go. I’ll now be returning to England wishing I had some western tack to try out at home.
The unexpected
So as I said I’m writing this at the end of my time at AmeriCamp, and I thought I’d seen it all. NOPE! Just this morning whilst walking my kids to the fields to go and muck I found a horse out of the fields. I looked at it and realised that it wasn’t wearing one of our halters. I then quickly realised it wasn’t one of our horses at all. Yep, a random horse had escaped from his owners and wondered into our yard in the middle of the night. He was a sweet boy but it was certainly unexpected.
I’m not saying you’ll have a random horse appear on your campsite, I’m saying you never know what might happen so just go with it, they make great stories to tell and they are often the parts you’ll remember.
-Kate Marron
