Science Camp is an excellent opportunity for fun, informal learning. But sometimes, you come away with a genuine slice of life. There is something about creating a space of natural exploration that opens up the possibility of learning something when you least expect it. Perhaps it’s the environment of fun, or the general openness that comes from creating a safe space, but often times it makes tougher life lessons easier to process and accept. Here are the top three lessons I've learned from science camp (as an adult):

1. The line only needs to be straight enough to count.

If there is one thing that will make an educator break out in the cold sweat of abject terror, it is losing a student. In order to avoid that, you have to line up the kids and count them regularly throughout the day. The thing is, anyone who has ever tried to lead 24 fourth-through-sixth graders knows it’s about as easy as herding cats. It’s not their fault–kids are just kids. Trying to make a perfectly straight line, get them to all face forward and be perfect little soldiers, that is a recipe for disappointment. Similarly, I have wasted a lot of time trying to “get my ducks in a row” in order to be in the best financial position to attempt something new. Making plans for the future is great, but you can’t live for anything beyond today. If I were to spend all day working on “lining up” science camp, we’d never have a chance to do anything fun.

2. Lying is pointless and validation is key.

I find kids are much smarter than most adults give them credit for. Kids will often ask me questions that are either entirely tangential to a particular curriculum or sometimes they are simply personal in nature. Kids are pretty good at picking up on lies (or maybe I’m just bad at telling them). Either way, a straightforward “I’m not going to answer that” is much more effective. However, validating their curiosity is about as important as letting them know they aren’t going to get their answer. In other words, life requires the dutiful application of tact when resolving problems. More importantly, an honest answer is the only one.

3. You can’t take care of anyone until you take care of yourself.

I don’t recall ever having the type of metabolism that would make The Flash feel sluggish, but apparently that’s a superpower extended to anyone whose age is in the single digits. Keeping up with the kids when you’ve stayed up late writing or feeling under the weather is a challenge of epic proportions packed into a snack-sized day. Although this is a lesson I have read many times and learned before, trying to ensure that kids not only learn but have fun doing so is a task that has cemented this fact. Showing up to work under-slept because you’re up late writing an article or doing research will turn a long day into an arduous and drawn out struggle. It is a reminder that you really can’t take care of anyone unless you have yourself in order first. This is perhaps one of the life-lessons I have had the hardest time learning. However, coffee and energy drinks lose efficacy over time and, ultimately, the honest wonder of children has always inspired me to strive for my best.

I could spout off many more clichés I have learned from working with kids in informal education. I could–but really, these three lessons are the most poignant to my experiences with science camp. Learning with kids is an interesting experience. As much as I truly hope to have instilled knowledge in them, the truth is, I’m not teaching, but just creating a space for all of us to learn together. That, and dispensing SpongeBob Squarepants Band-Aids.