Anatomy of Camp Staff
I mentioned in my first post that I never have a "typical" day, but then I realized that I do have a typical assortment of things that I use and carry around every day, and that might give a little more insight into the sort of things that I do. This list is definitely ridiculous and extensive, yet accurate. I really do use most of these things every day.
Backpack - Pretty self explanatory. It carries all of my stuff,
Walkie - Probably the equipment that I was most excited to get when I came to work. It has my name on it, and I still feel very cool when I use it.
Nalgene - My precious, precious water bottle. It keeps me hydrated and lives in the left pocket of my pack when it's not being used to, you know, provide water and stuff.
Chacos - The footwear of choice of camp staff everywhere. Great arch support, usually brightly colored, awesome tan lines, can't beat 'em.
Name Tag - An Official Name Tag on an Official Camp Lanyard. I sometimes forget that I'm wearing it and then go to mass or into town with it still on, so there's a possibility that several strangers know my name now.
Watch - Because I don't like using my phone/I'm not supposed to use my phone during programming. Definitely needs to be water resistant if you want to be any kind of camp staff.
Golf Cart - Transportation of choice for hauling stuff around camp, getting things done quicker than walking place to place, and going to breakfast early in the morning and you really don't feel like walking to the dining hall.
Keys - You need something unlocked? I can fix that. (Did I mention how cool and official all this stuff makes me feel?)
Clipboard - So you can keep track of your five different schedules that you need to keep straight, which brings me to...
The Schedule - Highlighted, annotated, often folded, possibly the most important thing that I have on any given day. It tells me where to go, and I go.
Materials for Ground Based Initiatives - What do hula hoops, a plushie Pokemon, bandanas, plastic mats, and a box of pipes have in common? Team building games!
Practice Rope - A shortened version of our high ropes climbing ropes because I like to practice my knots because I'm a perfectionist nerd, ok?
Bandana - I keep one tied on my backpack at all times. Prop for skits? Bandana. Something to keep the sweat off your forehead at high ropes? Bandana. Stab your finger and need something to wipe away the blood? Bandana. One square of fabric, endless uses.
Sunglasses - I work outside. It's sunny. This should be pretty obvious.
First Aid Kit - One bandaid used on an actual participant. 10 bandaids, two antibacterial wipes, one sting relief wipe, and four butterfly bandages used on me.
Rain Jacket - Be Prepared. (Once a wannabe Boy Scout, always a wannabe Boy Scout)
Clif Bar - Since I work at a job where I actually need to eat breakfast for the energy, and these are about as outdoorsy as granola bars get.
Travel towel - You get caught in one downpour and this thing lives in your pack until the end of time.
Head Lamp - For simultaneously walking in the dark and not poking yourself in the eye with the 30 marshmallow sticks you're attempting to carry after a campfire.
Outdoor Spray Experience Enhancer - In case you don't feel hippie enough, try some essential oil insect repellent that is GMO free, vegan, and halal.
Cortizone Healing Cream with Cooling Relief - When you miss that one spot with your outdoor spray and can't keep up the charade that you are totally unaffected by bug bites.
Fire Starting Kit - Matches (usually in a box that has most of the strike pad worn off), sassafras branches, pine needles, wood shavings, and torn up toilet paper rolls. Definitely things that don't end up floating around your pack and getting on absolutely everything.
Flippy Book - Prayers, bad jokes, songs, checklists, if you need to remember the words to something, it's in here.
And finally,
Camp Shirt - Just in case the Chacos weren't a dead giveaway that I work at a camp. Some days, we never match, some days we all match, some days we all match but one (See Exhibits A and B). No matter what, it never quite feels right. (The pictures are purely an excuse to continue to share the dysfunction that was this attempt at group photos.)
Backpack - Pretty self explanatory. It carries all of my stuff,
Walkie - Probably the equipment that I was most excited to get when I came to work. It has my name on it, and I still feel very cool when I use it.
Nalgene - My precious, precious water bottle. It keeps me hydrated and lives in the left pocket of my pack when it's not being used to, you know, provide water and stuff.
Chacos - The footwear of choice of camp staff everywhere. Great arch support, usually brightly colored, awesome tan lines, can't beat 'em.
Name Tag - An Official Name Tag on an Official Camp Lanyard. I sometimes forget that I'm wearing it and then go to mass or into town with it still on, so there's a possibility that several strangers know my name now.
Watch - Because I don't like using my phone/I'm not supposed to use my phone during programming. Definitely needs to be water resistant if you want to be any kind of camp staff.
Golf Cart - Transportation of choice for hauling stuff around camp, getting things done quicker than walking place to place, and going to breakfast early in the morning and you really don't feel like walking to the dining hall.
Keys - You need something unlocked? I can fix that. (Did I mention how cool and official all this stuff makes me feel?)
Clipboard - So you can keep track of your five different schedules that you need to keep straight, which brings me to...
The Schedule - Highlighted, annotated, often folded, possibly the most important thing that I have on any given day. It tells me where to go, and I go.
Materials for Ground Based Initiatives - What do hula hoops, a plushie Pokemon, bandanas, plastic mats, and a box of pipes have in common? Team building games!
Practice Rope - A shortened version of our high ropes climbing ropes because I like to practice my knots because I'm a perfectionist nerd, ok?
Bandana - I keep one tied on my backpack at all times. Prop for skits? Bandana. Something to keep the sweat off your forehead at high ropes? Bandana. Stab your finger and need something to wipe away the blood? Bandana. One square of fabric, endless uses.
Sunglasses - I work outside. It's sunny. This should be pretty obvious.
First Aid Kit - One bandaid used on an actual participant. 10 bandaids, two antibacterial wipes, one sting relief wipe, and four butterfly bandages used on me.
Rain Jacket - Be Prepared. (Once a wannabe Boy Scout, always a wannabe Boy Scout)
Clif Bar - Since I work at a job where I actually need to eat breakfast for the energy, and these are about as outdoorsy as granola bars get.
Travel towel - You get caught in one downpour and this thing lives in your pack until the end of time.
Head Lamp - For simultaneously walking in the dark and not poking yourself in the eye with the 30 marshmallow sticks you're attempting to carry after a campfire.
Outdoor Spray Experience Enhancer - In case you don't feel hippie enough, try some essential oil insect repellent that is GMO free, vegan, and halal.
Cortizone Healing Cream with Cooling Relief - When you miss that one spot with your outdoor spray and can't keep up the charade that you are totally unaffected by bug bites.
Fire Starting Kit - Matches (usually in a box that has most of the strike pad worn off), sassafras branches, pine needles, wood shavings, and torn up toilet paper rolls. Definitely things that don't end up floating around your pack and getting on absolutely everything.
Flippy Book - Prayers, bad jokes, songs, checklists, if you need to remember the words to something, it's in here.
And finally,
Camp Shirt - Just in case the Chacos weren't a dead giveaway that I work at a camp. Some days, we never match, some days we all match, some days we all match but one (See Exhibits A and B). No matter what, it never quite feels right. (The pictures are purely an excuse to continue to share the dysfunction that was this attempt at group photos.)
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Comments
Post a Comment