Camp Counselor

For senior Adam Atallah-Kugel, inspiration came in the form of a movie when he was 11 years old. After watching The Parent Trap, a 1998 remake of the original 1961 Disney film of the same name where twin siblings separated at birth meet each other for the first time at a summer camp, Adam told his mother that he'd like to attend a sleep-away camp.

After attending Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer in Fombell, PA, as a camper for several years, Adam decided he would take the next step and become a counselor in training (CIT) at the camp run by the YMCA.

"I enjoyed being a camper and felt being a counselor would improve my leadership and social skills,” said Adam. “And, it would be a good way to learn how to take care of kids and be a role model."

Camp counselors are each assigned to different "villages" – or age-groups – based on the camp’s selection process that matches campers with counselors. 

Adam was placed in a village called Juna, which consists of 7-9-year-old boys. Juna campers stay on main camp and participate in the typical main camp day, which begins with flags at 8:15 am. Each day, the village director lets the counselors and campers know what fun activities are planned for that day.

After flags, the campers and counselors eat breakfast before they head back outside to meet up with their program zone groups. These groups consist of two counselors and approximately 10 kids. Program zones are set up in a way that every day is different. Programs such as boating, basketball, fishing, and rock climbing make up the morning activities.

Following lunch and a rest hour, village activities of swimming, zip lining, and hiking fill the afternoon until dinnertime. Following dinner, there may be a camp-wide party or another special activity.

Adam had to arrive a week before the start of camp for staff training where counselors learn leadership and general safety skills. Adam has learned a great deal since becoming a CIT, but knows the learning curve will steepen when he becomes a full counselor next summer. 

One thing he’ll have to learn is how to talk to the kids who are homesick and make them feel comfortable at camp. It’s something he already has a little bit of experience with.

"Once the counselor for our group was out doing something and I had these four kids who were really homesick, so I would play the soundtrack for Interstellar and tell them to focus on the music or try something like counting the stars on the ceiling of the cabin,” explained Adam. “If I was successful in taking their mind off of how bad they wanted to be home, they'd fall asleep in 10 or 15 minutes. Usually, the homesickness hits at night, so if you can get them to sleep, it passes."

Adam really enjoys his role as camp counselor and hopes to continue during the summer while he is in college. 

“A lot of the counselors are college students and I'd like to continue counseling through my college years,” said Adam. “I love the place and love working there and I think it shows leadership skills and also looks good on a resume or college application."

"Helping to take care of a young child and being responsible for them has definitely helped me mature and accept responsibility,” said Adam. “It’s fun and rewarding.”