3 Reasons Why Working at a Special Needs Camp Will Change Your Life
The decision to work at a special needs summer camp is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.
Here are three reasons why this unique and rewarding job will change your life!
1. The Campers
Firstly, the bond you make with campers is more unique and profound than you could ever imagine. For many of the campers you will meet, summer camp is their happy place and one of the only places this world has to offer where they can truly be themselves and live in the moment.
It’s amazing what can happen when you immerse yourself in a technology free community. When you’re surrounded by children enjoying all the great things nature has to offer, you remember how happy you once were before the modern world of social media took over most young adults lives.
At camp, it’s time for you to let go and make a fool out of yourself to make the kids’ days and to get that extra bit of laughter out of a camper who may not be having the best time or is feeling homesick. You are the person responsible for making it the best summer of their lives; it is a remarkably rewarding concept. By doing this, you will make it the best summer of your life and figure out what truly matters to you, who you are, and the power of human connection.
Nevertheless, I promise you the same campers who have taught you to find happiness in the little things will test you every day. They will make you smile, laugh, cry, yell and totally break you all in a day’s work, which leads me to number two.
2. The Staff
No one knows the emotional roll coaster you are going through better than the people right there with you! You cry together, laugh together, dance together, work together, and make many life long memories together. Today many people come into your life as quickly as they leave, however you will never be as close to the people you work with than you will at summer camp.
I met loads of new people, made new friends and have fostered friendships all over the world. I always knew that it takes many different types of people to make up this world, however camp taught me not only to value other opinions but to also value their strengths.
Camp is not just a place for the loudest person in the room. Sure, these types of people are great at bringing the hype to activities and making events entertaining. But the introverts are the ones staying back late to help you tidy the cabin so you can win spick and span, sitting and chatting with the campers one on one or taking that little bit longer to attend to someone’s care to a higher standard.
Being an extrovert myself, I have always known my personality can at times overlook the quietest person in the room. Camp taught me to appreciate that person more than I ever would have, utilise their strengths instead of trying to change them and to truly get to know people before putting them in a box.
3. The Atmosphere
I know I mentioned that there is no need to change who you are, but it is always great to challenge yourself and grow as a person. Summer camps, especially special needs camps, will push you out of your comfort zone at every moment. If you have never interacted with someone who has a disability, the first few days at camp are undeniably going to challenge everything you know about yourself and be very overwhelming.
The campers will test you and thrive on your lack of knowledge, you will feel intimidated by the staff around you who seem so in control and you will question everything you do. Do not stress, it’s completely natural. The atmosphere at camp is so remarkable though, within a week you will know how to do personal care, interact with nonverbal campers, feed, bathe and play as long as you are willing to let go and grow. It is important to remember this may be new and uncomfortable to you but to the campers it’s their everyday lives. So if you mess up laugh it off, learn from it and get on with the day. It is far better to be engaged in the activities than worried about the mess-ups you might have had in the day.
Working at any summer camp will give you a chance to change the lives of many young children and make you humble. Being given the opportunity to work at a special needs summer camp is something you will cherish forever. It is an incredibly rewarding job to have as a young adult and will truly change your outlook on life and teach you many things about yourself.
