advice for first time staff.

Staff orientation will be starting soon and I thought I would make a few suggestions for first time staff. First let me establish my credentials. I worked on staff from 1987 - 1993 with one year off in 2001. I was never a camper but was a c.i.t. (1986) and on staff I was stable crew, nature instructor, cook, unit leader and H. and S. manager among other things. I achieved the rank of Captain which puts me in top few percent of staff.

Do your job well. This is the key. I have seen too many first-year staff that thought Camp was a vacation. You will not be there long unless you are competent at your job. You will probably not like all the things you have to do but someone has to do them and I you won't they will find someone else who will

Resist the temptation to party. I don't know what things are like on staff now but I saw many first year staff ( could name names but that would be cruel) who were away from home for the first time and got in with the wrong crowd. They got in trouble and at Camp your reputation will follow you almost forever. Make one big mistake and there are usually no second chances.

I have not seen or spoke to anyone I knew from high school for years. The best friends I have are all from Camp or College. You can forge lifelong friendships at Camp if you just be yourself and don't try to be something your not.

Have fun. I look back and I think how much more money I could have made all those summers if I had just had a different job. But there is plenty of time to earn. When you are young have fun and don't be too uptight. The bad times I had (like when I was unit leader of a group of punks from Springfield) I lost track of why I was there. We were all supposed to be having fun. I should have focused on helping the kids (even the punks) realize we could all be on the same team. We could make it Win/Win. When you get frustrated just remember getting angry will only make things worse.

It is tempting to try to want to change camp all at once in someway. My first year on staff a group of us had a protest about promotions. It worked out ok but nothing really changed much. When I got to be a Luetenant (and could put people up for promotion) I went down the entire staff list and tried to find someone who was overlooked. Things change slowly and the best way to make change is to start with yourself

Now here are a few more practical things.

The bugs at Dubin's barn can be horrible. go prepared or you will be miserable on the overnight.

Get used to cold showers especially if you are stable crew.

Study maps and learn the trails. You don' t want to get lost and it's easier than you think.

You will have to deal with some of the older returning staff who think they are king or queen of Camp. Just remember your day will come and maybe you will treat the new staff better.

Ultimately the campers and parents are the customers. They paid to have fun and be safe. Make that your top priority.


Heepwah!!




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