Deerfield Academy

Camp Counselor

June - August 2019 • Deerfield, MA

What I liked

I went to DASAC (Deerfield Academy Summer Arts Camp) for my whole childhood, so it was both surreal and incredible to be back for my 3rd summer as a counselor. The community/collaboration between everyone on staff is a central part of the experience, and one of my favorite aspects of the job. The campers only come during the day, but the counselors all live on campus at Deerfield, so we're collaborating and creating for 7 weeks straight for many hours every day. We also get to use the arts building and materials for free after hours, which is pretty incredible. I also love working with the age group 11-16, it's a really fascinating developmental range, and it's really special to see kids developing in leaps and bounds between summers.

What I wish was different

Honestly, there's not much I would change about the job. By then end, everyone on staff is completely exhausted, but I don't really think there's a way to avoid that, and it's also kind of integral to the experience. It wouldn't be the same if we weren't going a little crazy during the last week. There are a lot of things that are really hard about adjusting to the position. It can feel intensely lonely, overwhelming, and I can guarantee that you will never feel fully rested, but I think there isn't a way around those things. I've definitely learned the most from the difficult aspects, and it's necessary to do that learning.

Advice

The job is very special, but it is also very difficult. If you're feeling frustrated, like an imposter, overwhelmed, or lost, you are definitely not alone. You're not doing it wrong, and you're not missing something that everyone else has magically figured out. You bring something to the table and group that literally no one else can, and round out staff as a whole unit. There is some camper out there who will identify with that specific thing you bring, and feel more at home at camp because you are there.

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