Sixth Grade Camp Counselor?

by Rebecca Bloom

Out the school bus window, I saw a line of cheering counselors, waving their cabin flags with pride. My heart raced. Which of these overzealous teenagers would be my counselor for the week? I hopped off the bus at Sherwood Forest Camp and was enveloped in a warm hug. The whole week, Sonia and Andrea and their CIT, Sarah, were by my side, cheering me on, making me laugh and supporting me through homesickness and middle school friend fiascos.

Oh, how I wanted to be like them.

In eighth grade, I returned to Sherwood Forest as a CIT (counselor in training). Now I could be a Sonia or Andrea or Sarah to another kid, and found it rewarding to be a support to the 6th graders.

Being a CIT, though, was all the fun without the responsibility. The counselors were ultimately accountable for the safety, security and happiness of our 12 campers, and I wondered how on earth I could ever be like them.

I had my first counselor experience as a  at 6th Grade Camp last month caused me to reflect on how much kids grow from sixth grade to eighth, and from eighth grade to tenth.  Somehow, being accountable for a cabin of girls was not all that daunting. Luckily, I had an amazing co-counselor and CIT, but independently, I felt confident in my ability to take care of these girls.

As the students spilled out of busses, we cheered. I immediately connected with kids like Ruby Gallegos, a new student to the District. “I thought oh my gosh this is going to be an awesome group because my counselors are going crazy,” Gallegos told me later.

She was reserved by nature, and that was amplified by the nervousness of being the new kid.

“I didn’t know if people would like me or want to be with me. I didn’t know if I would make a lot of friends,” Gallegos said. “I worried that people would be stuck to their groups from elementary school.”

Counselors have the opportunity to alleviate those fears, to help kids make new friends and to start their years at Wydown on a positive note.

Despite these rewards, many high school students don’t apply because of academic pressures. They understandably worry about the long-term effect of missing a week of school and the stress of catching up in their studies.

QUOTE FROM SOMEONE WHO DIDN”T APPLY

Sixth grade camp is an excused absence, so teachers are readily available to help counselors catch up on missed work.

Adam Treuitlar participated as a counselor, but had a positive experience catching up on his missed work.

“Most of my teachers have been really helpful about it. They let me turn things in a little late. They also took their free time to work with me individually,” Treuitlar said. “Camp is definitely worth the make up work. It means a lot to the kids. I really looked up to my counselors when I was in sixth grade, so I wanted my campers to have counselors who wanted to be there and its just a really fun time.”

Years from now, I won’t remember the stress I felt about missing a chemistry lab or turning this article in late, but I will always remember the satisfaction of helping kids make friends and grow confidently at Sixth Grade Camp.

Mason Sharon, another new student to Wydown said, also had an experience at camp that will extend beyond those four days.

“I learned that I can be a leader even though I’m the kind of person who likes to observe,” Sharon said. “I also know that I can make friends in my new school.”

And who knows, maybe Mason and Ruby will be wildly cheering as counselors when the busses arrive at Sherwood Forest Camp in a few years.  I will be so proud of them if they choose this route.