Working at any summer camp (special needs in particular) you’re going to develop a whole new skillset, some of which you’ll never even use again in your home life, but hey ho they’re useful at camp, here’s my top 5 summed up:
1. Functioning on 4 hours sleep – whether your camper has been up and down during the night or just decided that 4am is time to get up then that’s you up for the day too. Somehow, you manage to get on with your day as though you’ve had a beauty sleep (having an instant coffee machine to hand always helps though).
2. Personal care – this is a skill I had absolutely no prior experience of and was quite scared to do. However, once you’ve wiped one bum, you can do them all (TMI soz), you will pick it up so quickly and then it becomes second nature (although you will NEVER forget the first time).
3. Patience – this is a skill which can’t be taught but will take you very far at camp. Sometimes you have to accept the fact you might spend an hour eating breakfast in the dining hall, or that it’s going to take 10 trips to the toilet before your camper settles down to bed.
4. Communication methods – personally, I had no idea how many different ways there is to communicate until I worked at a special needs camp. Some campers will use sign language, some will use communication devices or apps on their iPod/iPad to tell you how they feel and what they need.
5. Determination – staying positive for 9 weeks straight is a serious talent, of course there’s going to be points during when you’re tired and upset, I’d be lying to you if I said it was fun and games 100% of the time. But somehow every time you’re down, it doesn’t last long and you find the determination to carry on and stay driven, a huge part of this is due to the people you’re surrounded by and they’ll know you better than anyone by the end of summer.
In camp spirit,
Tasha xo
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