For the last two years this has been the time of the year I have been preparing to travel to America to live for four months at a summer camp. However this year I have unfortunately joined the real world and won't be going back to the U, S of A - for this summer at least. With this in mind I thought I would create a top ten list of things you should be thinking of before you go.
1. Try and get as much information of what camp is actually like. This may seem obvious -there is a lot of information (just like this list on the internet) however most of it won't be applicable to your personal experience and your camp. When I got signed up to camp I got sent a lovely welcome pack from my director that included the words such as 'basic', 'forest' and 'rural' in the description of camp it's self. Now, I knew it would be country, I knew it would be a forest and I knew I would be sleeping in a cabin. I did not however expect what I walked into. There was communal showers (expected but still grim), toilets that were separated by shower curtains with no doors, snakes in the woods, cabins with two light bulbs and two plug sockets (for 5 staff members and 5 campers) and a general lack of internet or phone signal to the outside world. This is of course not explained the welcome pack, because no one would turn up, however I was shocked, jet lagged and homesick when I first turned up to camp so it did not go down well. HOWEVER after a week I had settled in fine (still not doing more than a number one in the toilets) and was loving it. If your camp was like mine it will be fine I promise, and you will get used to it quicker than you expect but I know personally I would like to have known the real deal. Ask returning staff members - they'll give you the full story.
2. Take a backpack not a suitcase, especially if you are travelling after camp. Suitcase's are a pain and cause you to over pack. A suitcase is fine when you first turn up to camp and are greeted with your fellow camp staff to transport you. However once you leave camp and are left to fend for yourself suitcase's are just a hassle to drag through the streets and on and off trains. Back packs are heavy but are worth it.
3. Don't book your travel after camp before you go. If you are making the most of your 30 days after camp don't make any solid plans. Have a list of places you want to see but wait until you meet some friends out there. It's more fun travelling in a group and cheaper too! My first year I traveled with a group of 9 including me and it was a blast. Nothing was planned until about two weeks until we was going to leave camp. My second year I traveled with my boyfriend (who I met at camp in 2014) and we didn't plan anything until we were at camp.
4. Buy cheap clothes. You will be covered in paint, shaving foam, food, snot and mud. Don't buy nice clothes. Buy shorts the more 'mom' the better - nothing that's going to ride up and your constantly adjusting. Plain logo tshirts are perfect - not too many though as you'll get a load from camp and end up buying loads over there. You'll only need one or two pairs of jeans and jogging bottoms and a couple of pairs of trainers. Pack a few nicer dresses and tops for nights off and after camp but don't let them take up too much room in your backpack as you wont wear them much. Oh, and if you're female and reading this - take a stack of sports bras, you will need them!
5. This is a cheesy one - be prepared to let yourself go. Now, as a non swimmer/non sports playing girl this was the hardest for me. I hate sport, I hate water and I hate team activity (how did I end up going to camp?) You have to get involved or you will hate it. There will be times during staff training/orientation there will be so many team building games that if you're like me you will be so anxious about however, the more you forget your nerves about messing up or looking silly the more you will enjoy. The place I found this hardest was in the 'pool program' every day, I can't swim, hate water and have refused to go into a swimming pool until about 2 years ago. Every day we had to take our campers to the pool and it was nerve wrecking for me, but because I tried and hardly ever didn't go to the pool program I felt proud of myself every day. There is no other place like camp in the world and you will regret it if you don't throw yourself into it.
6. Don't think your only job is a camp councilor. In my first year I was a social media assistant and photographer. It was a great job and I loved it. If you're reading this and are unsure if you could go to camp and be a councilor ask about other jobs, camps are always looking for different skills and positions. Don't be afraid to ask!
7. Be prepared to forget about the real world. Camp is a bubble, you will loose track with home and it'll be great. Lack of internet and phones means you wont know every movement of everyone back home. It's a refreshing break. I loved the chance it allowed me to get back to pen and paper and write letters and post cards to everyone back home.
8. The food most likely wont be great - it'll be beige and similar to school dinners but remember it's all for the kids. It's there break away from home and they love they can eat cheeseburgers at lunch and cheeseburgers for dinner. Forget about healthy eating and your waistline it'll go out of the window. Coupled with that all the amazing restaurants you may come home a dress size bigger - but it's fine. It's fun and 100% worth it.
9. Eat your weight in odourless garlic. You will get bitten alive by bugs, you will pack bug spray and it will work for 10 minutes. Start buying these vitamins and taking them for a month before you fly and whilst your out there, They'll save you from the itching and scars. Life savers for 99p.
10. Enjoy the most tiring and exhausting 3 months of your life. Its the hardest job you'll ever love. I wish I could go back and do my first summer all over again. It's amazing and will forever be your camp.
