Camplikeagirl - Camp Like A Girl!

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Mary Schmich (1997 essay)

I think about this a lot. A lot of things scare me, but some things are worth being scared about and doing them anyway.

Finding which ones they are will be a lifelong pursuit.

Summer Camp, 1996

Green Bay Girl Scouts and counselors on woodland trail at Lost Lake Organization Camp, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

Wisconsin

1952.

Camp Names:

So you’re spending the Summer at Camp, and your Camp uses “camp names”… Whether you’re a new CIT or a counselor, using a camp name can be hard to adjust to (even if you’ve been waiting for this moment for years)!

You need to learn to respond to a new name, write it on papers, and introduce yourself as such. The secret to (quickly) learning to identify with and respond to a new camp name?

Refer to yourself in the 3rd person!

Yep, it’s weird! And yes, it’s awkward! But it truly works like a charm. Narrate what you’re doing, answer questions in the 3rd person- use your name in 3rd person references liberally and then some.

“Sunshine is feeling great about high ropes!”

“Casper is going to go to clean up in here and then Casper will head to lunch.”

“Snappy is headed to the lodge!”

Help your new coworkers to get comfortable with their names: use their camp names liberally as well! Even if they are a returning staff member, using their name can help them get back into their camp persona (more on this later).

“Rhythm is good! How is Acorn today?”

“Meadow is going to the lake with Sketch, does Atlas want to join?”

“Has Comet seen Ponyo yet?”

This helps everyone to get into the flow of camp, and can speed up the adjustment process- don’t let camp culture shock get the best of you, embrace the weird new culture around you! But of course, speak up when you feel the new (or return!) counselor scaries set in. Whether it’s your first summer or seventh, the start of summer anxiety can get to you- talk to your fellow counselors and admin staff, and know you will do amazing things this Summer!

I miss summer camp… I can’t wait for summer… I miss my buddies from summer camp… summer will come… I will rise again… to go to summer camp…

I can’t wait for camp foodjsgdusbd

Oh you are so right tho, actually- in the OG context of this: hell yes!!

Our Admin team had a few years where they were just 4 perfectly matched personalities, and it’s 1) beautiful to see but 2) so great for staff quality of life lol I need someone to embrace my weird how they do each others

I need someone to match my freak the way my Camp Directors do holy shit

i love name-dropping people from camp with absolute no context to people not from camp. like just casually mention my good friend [greek goddess], and you can’t forget our coworker [name-brand cookie]. and of course, there’s [marsupial], who keeps texting me the most out-of-pocket life updates that mildly concern me… what are you talking about those are their names, completely normal names for a coworker

(Good) Camp Directors are active supporters of staff’s pure chaos and it really does set the bar quite high for future management… like what do you mean a 9 to 5 won’t support me standing on the table singing a song suspiciously close to Rattlin’ Bog at 8 am on a Monday?

I need someone to match my freak the way my Camp Directors do holy shit

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900 favorite vintage postcards, mostly weird.

Don’t mind me. Just cleaning your dash