It’s camp season, and that means the kids are coming to camp soon! Camp counselors prepare for camp long before the kids arrive, and these are ten things they keep in mind throughout the summer:

1.Camp songs are a perfect distraction.

Camp songs can be used as fillers for waiting time or as something to do during transitions. They can distract kids from the heat or a first aid situation. Every camp counselor knows that camp songs are a great way to distract or occupy a group of kids.

2.Friday nights have special value.

Monday through Friday can be rough, especially when you work with children all day every day. That’s why Friday nights are practically sacred. Friday nights mean another successful week for camp counselors, and we love them. Friday nights have special value for camp counselors because they are the start of a much-needed and well-deserved two-day break.

3.Children will not take less than 20 minutes to get changed.

They never will. They take forever. They lost their pants or their socks and now the world is ending. Changing is a nightmare, and camp counselors know this is true.

4.Your co-counselors can make or break your summer.

Great co-counselors can ensure a smooth summer, but bad ones can cause a lot of tension and miscommunication, leading to bigger problems in your group. Your relationship with your co-counselors is important for you and for the kids, so make sure to maintain positive ones.

5.Children are always listening.

Always. They know what you’re talking about; they’re listening to the story you’re telling. Camp counselors (should) know to watch what they say around the kids because they are always listening.

6.Mary Poppins’s bag would make the best camp backpack.

There is no other bag with enough room for all of the band-aids, wipes, sunscreen, towels, and toys you need to keep in your bag for the kids.

7.You need a “bag of tricks.”

Being a camp counselor means always being on your toes. You have to be prepared to start a game or activity at any time because you never know when there could be downtime or when the situation could change. Every camp counselor needs a “bag of tricks” to use when plans change or something doesn’t work out the way it was planned.

8.Dunkin is your best friend.

Camp counselors need their Dunkin—iced coffee, iced tea, or a donut—to get through the day a lot of the time. We are nice people, but some of us need some Dunkin before we’re ready to face the day!

9.Thunderstorms can be a blessing and a curse.

On a hot day, thunderstorms can be exactly what you need for an excuse to take the group inside. But on a day when you don’t have full use of the facilities or when you had a special outside event planned, thunderstorms can be your worst nightmare. It really depends on the day.

10.Not everyone can be a camp counselor.

Being a camp counselor is not an easy job, so not everyone can have it. There are people who are not meant to be camp counselors, and that makes the job a little more special.

Being a camp counselor is more rewarding than a lot of other jobs, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Happy camp season!