The weird and wonderful days working at a summer camp

Now one of the most important lessons that I was taught during my training at camp, was to commit to the bit. A ‘Bit’ at camp could be anything from wearing the same hat to a long running joke.

Arguably commitment to these bits were encouraged but not essential. There was only one time when commitment was essential, and these were special days. These special days occurred twice a week, for all seven weeks. So I’m just going to talk about a few of my favourites.

4th July

4th of July is a quintessential American holiday that celebrates their independence. So naturally, as a Brit, I felt slightly out of water - although that wouldn’t last. All special days commenced with counsellors dressing up in costumes appropriate to the theme. So for the 4th July, this meant Mt Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, George Washington and Mr Rodgers (that was me, in chinos, a collared shirt and sweater vest). Breakfast was when the day really got going with a massive skit to properly introduce the theme of the day. Me and the three other British counsellors charged into the dining area, brandishing a Union Jack flag whilst shouting and hollering before being chased off by a bald eagle. (Just your average breakfast then). With the morning skits done, we turned to the first activity, capture the flag.

This led to the rather amusing scenes of the four Mt Rushmore heads running about whilst being chased by George Washington. While the morning skits might be done, the costumes did not come off as we had to commit to the bit. I want to be clear, I was regretting the choice of chinos, shirt and sweater. Lunchtime saw another skit, somewhat reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party. In the middle of announcements I leapt on to the picnic tables and declared a love for tea and crumpets, asking if my fellow Brit Ollie felt the same. Then a rousing cry of moose and maple syrup came from the Canadians. Unwilling to be out done, the campers raised a chant: “In the lake. In the lake.” With a splash, I found myself floating fully clothed in the lake. Only after lunch did I end my own commitment to the bit, changing clothes out of the now sodden costume. Then we held a carnival with an assortment of classic games including a dunk tank that I tactically avoided. Dinner was a BBQ on the playing field, before we finished the day with spectacular fireworks display over the lake.

Fish Day

Sometimes the most exciting special days start off with a relatively mundane theme… Fish Day was one of those examples. Firstly, the topic was open-ended and allowed for some interesting costumes. My friend Sophie was a mermaid, others were actual fish or fishermen. Others were more interpretive being a cat fisher or in my case, a journalist fishing for headlines. Occasionally a special day was hi-jacked, the mundane theme being replaced by something higher octane. Fish Day was about to be hijacked…

X-Games Day

Fish Day suddenly became X-Games Day. The favourite evening program of campers and counsellors alike, had evolved into a bigger more hectic version of itself. X-Games started with designated counsellors as ‘Generals’ each with a bit. A giant pair of crocs, abandoned water bottles, the week before I had been a giant teabag – leading my own team. The activities for this special day all focused around competition. All of them wacky and wild resulting in everyone getting muddy and covered in sand, water or shaving foam.

Adventure Day

Adventure Day was my favourite of all the special days. Campers and counsellors were given a choice: a trip to the beach or whitewater rafting down the Kennebec. Now I always chose the latter, mainly as it is something that I would never do back home. The day would start at 4.30am, I’d wake up and rouse any of the kids in my cabin who were also going rafting. After a breakfast in the light of the rising sun, we’d bundle on to the coaches, throw on some sort of movie before driving two and a half hours to the Rafting Centre. We’d get suited and booted before bundling on to classic American school buses for a further forty-five minutes of journeying to the top of the river. At which point the fun would begin…

We crashed and splashed for ours down the river. Shrill calls of excitement filling the air. There were even opportunities to swim and free float as we progressed down the river. The journey back was a much more sleepy affiar, the toll of our early start dictate the need for naps. Back at camp there was an open waterfront, all sorts of aquatic activities for the campers to enjoy, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing. All meant to calm the campers down after a long exciting day. Meanwhile the counsellors who’d gone rafting would fight the urge to sleep, waiting for the bell to signal the end of the day.

Special Days were always enjoyable whether counsellor or camper. They were a chance to go full out with chaos and energy. The few I’ve mentioned are merely an insight into my time as a counsellor. I mean who knows what special days you could get to do?

Been inspired by George’s story to spend the summer at camp? Find out more.