The most important tip anyone can give you is to take care of yourself! It seems basic and unnecessary to mention but when you have several campers to care for, you can quickly forget to take care of yourself. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR OWN WELL-BEING!! It is very difficult to be an energetic, caring, and watchful camp counselor if you are exhausted. Here are some basic things to remember to make sure you are at your best.

Don't let this happen to you!!!

1. Get enough sleep (yes, sleep is probably not #1 on your list but it's #1 in importance!!!)
2. Eat nutritious meals and drink plenty of water
3. Exercise (this can be done by participating in activities with your campers)
4. Find a confidant (a friend you can vent to is always useful)
5. Settle conflicts you have with others quickly
6. LAUGH (enjoy your job!)

You will be faced with many different situations while counseling. You will develop your own strategies of how to deal with various situations as you experience them but until then, let’s discuss ways to deal with the 3 most popular situations: fighting, bedwetting, and homesickness.

When dealing with situations always remember to relax & think!

Fighting
One of the most major problems to arise will be fighting. It's the summertime, campers are hot and uncomfortable and not always so pleasant. Add this to the fact that several children living in close quarters WILL have their problems. If a fight breaks out between campers here is how to resolve the problem:

1. Separate the children immediately
2. Alert the camp director of the incident
3. Talk to each child individually (if talk to the children together, chances are arguments will continue)
4. Reprimand each child according to the camp's policy on violence
5. Whatever decision is made, make sure you stick to it!

Bedwetting
A common problem for younger campers is bedwetting. This oftentimes results from the camper's reluctance to walk to the bathroom at night or to wake a buddy (or yourself). To avoid embarrassment to the camper and to maintain a clean cabin, check the beds each morning. Send the campers to do an activity outside the cabin and then pat down each bed (it is important they are not there to watch you do this, could be very embarrassing). If you find a wet bed, tell the camp director as soon as possible. Always, always avoid embarrassing the camper in doing this!

Homesickness
The hardest time for a camper to be away from home is at night. As soon as the activities stop and the lights go out, the loneliness sets in. To help the child deal with homesickness and to combat it while the sun is still up, here are a few things to do:

1. Keep the child busy during down time (if there is ever a time when the campers are not doing something, a homesick camper will think of home and become sad, try to keep them busy!)
2. Challenge a camper to stay for the week and make deals with him or her
3. Link the camper up with a buddy!

(Adapted from Trisha Jackson’s “Guide to Successful Camp Counseling” website: http://www.tcnj.edu/~jackson6/index.html)