Tag: America’s Finest Summer Camp

Tips for Surviving the Summer Without Your Child

June 28th, 2015

Now that your child has left for Camp Weequahic your daily routine has come to halt. You might be thinking, “What now?” Well here are some tips for surviving the summer without your children.

1. Take time for yourself
Parents out there, thank you for the selfless time you devoDSC_0046te to your kids and family. Even though your child is away at camp, you are used to the normal routine of waking up and doing anything you need to do that day (with your kids by your side). Even though you may miss them or feel guilty for taking some time for yourself it is so important to relax and unwind. Go on a date with a significant other. Watch your favorite TV show without being interrupted by a “Mom, have you seen [the endless list of misplaced items]?” We all need a break every now and then.
2. Take a step back
It is such a unique experience to send your children away for camp. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing they are becoming more independent, but it can also be scary. We understand that this is your baby and you may be worried about strangers taking care of him/her. However, it is essential to take a step back from the computer and not fixate over how many pictures he/she is in or the lack there of.
3. Realize it takes time for the kids to adjust
Many kids won’t make friends or feel comfortable overnight. Don’t worry. It’s normal. It takes a little while to adjust to the new environment that is Camp Weequahic. Rest assured our entire staff is dedicated to making sure every camper feels included and comfortable here at camp.
4. Let them have this experience without you
It’s normal to want to know everything that goes on during your child’s time at camp. However, it is important to let your child have his/her own space and go through this experience on their own. It will help him/her grow and become more mature and blossom into the best version of him/her self.
5. Stay calm
When your children are out of your sight it can be very easy to imagine the worst or take your child’s displeasure with something as a sign that he/she is miserable here at camp. However, nine times out of ten your child is having a fantastic time so stay calm. Your child is in very good hands. We only employ the most qualified people to take care of your children. Cole, Kate, Sue, and the Wonder Twins (Alex and Dana) have spent countless hours searching for an adaptable and responsible team of counselors and staff to provide the best possible experience for your child.

I will leave you with these last few words. Camp Weequahic is an amazing place to send your child. We constantly practice gratitude, attitude and courage and leave at the end of the summer knowing that we have become better versions of ourselves. You can rest easy knowing that every staff member and counselor is devoted to making this the best experience for each and every camper.

 

Are You One in a Million?

January 22nd, 2012

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), nearly 1.2 million people take on the adventure of working at camp each summer.  They come from all over the world and all walks of life.  Some of them are former campers while others have never experienced summer camp at all.  Their educations are as diverse as their backgrounds and many of them choose summer camp over a traditional internship because of the unique, well-rounded work experience it provides.   Whether the winter weather already has you thinking about what you’ll be doing this summer or you’re just browsing summer employment opportunities, it’s worth asking yourself, “Am I  one in a million?” :

  • Summer camp staff come from all over the world.  Increasingly, as summer camps recognize their unique position to promote a global community in a fun, relaxed environment, they are recruiting staff from near and far.   The ACA reports that within the last decade “there has been an increase in the use of international staff to expose campers to different cultures.”  If you live outside of the U.S. and you’ve been wanting to travel to the USA, summer camp is a great way to earn some cash while getting to intimately experience life here.  If you’re an American and a trip abroad just isn’t quite in the budget, you need go no further than a residential summer camp to make new friends from all over the world—and pad your bank account while doing it!
  • If you think that being a former camper is a pre-requisite to being a great camp counselor, think again.  Many camp staff members who return to camp year after year never even set foot on a summer camp campus prior to working at one.  Like many of their colleagues, that one step was all it took.  They were won over and continue to return each season.
  • Summer camp employment isn’t just for education majors and coaches.  Increasingly, those with majors in the social sciences, sciences, math, engineering, and even medicine and nursing are finding a summer home at camp as an alternative to the traditional internship.  Summer camp provides many unique experiences that one can gain nowhere else, such as a 24/7 commitment and the opportunity to simultaneously work with children and adults in a close-knit family type community.  Summer camp also develops a diverse range of core skills valued by employers today.  As a camp staff member, one must make split second decisions, be an efficient negotiator, use creativity to sell ideas and concepts, resolve conflict, solve problems, be an effective leader, know how to prioritize, be extremely flexible, accept change, and be awesome when it comes to multi-tasking.  If it sounds like a big order, it is.  But almost all who take on the challenge report that it’s also one of the most fun and rewarding experiences upon which they’ve ever embarked.
  • If you are an education major or a coach, have you thought of summer camp as an opportunity to build experience working with children ages 7-15?  Working at summer camp develops many of the same skills that are often used in the classroom or on the field.  Many educational institutions view summer camp experience as some of the  most valuable on a potential educator’s resume.
  • How many traditional internships pay you AND provide you with room and board?  In addition to a stipend for the summer, almost all residential summer camp positions offer room and board as part of their employment packages.  What this means to you is that, potentially, everything you earn throughout the summer goes straight into your pocket…or your bank account, as the case may be.  Even if you allow yourself a bit to splurge on sightseeing around the local area (many of America’s finest summer camps are located in some of the most beautiful parts of the country), it’s still possible to take home a substantial amount of cash at the end of the summer.  This is particularly appealing when one considers how much rent and food can add up to over a summer.

If you’re looking for the summer job to beat all summer jobs, summer camp may definitely be your cup of tea.  At summer camp, everyday will be a new adventure that takes you both indoors and out from sunrise to sunset.  There are no cubicles, no computers (aside from computers available for staff to use on their free time), and no time clocks.  And…there are beautiful surroundings, a camp full of campers who depend on you, a slew of challenges you never knew you’d face (and enjoy), and a circle of lifetime friends waiting to meet you.  If you’re one in a million, what are you waiting for?  If you are a college or university student, check your college’s upcoming career fair lineups.  Many summer camps travel to universities to recruit this time of year.  It may be possible to meet the first member of your future camp family in person.  If your college days are behind you or there are no summer camps scheduled to visit your university, you can apply directly through Camp Weequahic’s web page.