Everyone knows that college tour guides are famous for walking backward. The other day, I was at the summer camp where I work and I saw some counselors singing songs with their campers. The counselors were walking backward too. That got me thinking, maybe walking backward isn't the only skill shared by college tour guides and camp counselors alike?
1. Walking backwards.
It takes a special kind of person to be able to walk backwards for long periods of time. I know I've tripped dozens of times while attempting the infamous backwards walk, and somehow I keep doing it to myself. All in a days work as a counselor I guess.
2. Speaking loud enough for the people in the back of the pack to hear.
Whether is a slow camper, or a group of easily distracted high school students with their parents, groups can get pretty spread out. You have to make sure you speak up enough for the slackers to hear, that is, if you don't want to repeat yourself 8,000 times.
3. Being able to describe where things are.
Giving directions can be challenging, but it's your job to make sure nobody in the group gets lost. Eventually you'll figure out what phrases do and don't work. In the mean time, hand gestures are your friend.
4. Spewing positive energy.
College tour guides have to convince potential applicants that you couldn't be happier to attend your university. For camp counselors, you have to keep those campers bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. How do you plan to diffuse the tension and make convincing arguments without radiating those good vibes?
5. Memorizing large amounts of random information.
Camp songs, cheers, the year the campus library was built, how many undergrads are currently enrolled, there's a lot of information stored in that noggin of yours. It's not always easy to remember it all.
6. Making information up on the spot, and having it actually sound legitimate.
Whenever you can't recall a fact, or forget a camp cheer, you always have the option to make it up. You have to be quick on your toes though if you want it to be believable.
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