Nothing beats being a summer camp counselor. You learn to manage and motive a group, become one with the outdoors, develop lifelong friendships and maybe make nice with another counselor by September. But there are some things you need to know before you place your paddle in the water and go for fun.

Realize You Will Lose a child to a Bear

Why do camps take payment upfront and accept more kids they can house? Because they realize that there are going to be a lot of irate parents, empty cots and full grizzlies come mid-July. That's what goes on when you base a business within the wild. But don't feel bad. After all, this is what is known as the "circle of life" (a minimum of according to the waivers families are forced to sign). Best simply to focus on the kids you did restore uneaten, and hope they don't turn their archery lesson into "The Hunger Games."

Give Every Kid exactly the same Nickname

It's hard to remember every camper's name, particularly if you weren't listening to introductions in the first place. That's why you need to give all your campers a universal nickname like "Sport" or "Champ" or "You There." Obviously, this may make things awkward when singing "Happy Birthday" to some camper or trying to name the most recent child to be eaten with a bear. In that case, best to choose the personal touch and give nicknames that play from a camper's outstanding characteristic, like "Freckles," "Insulin User," "Cute Asian Kid" or "That Kid using the Shirt."

Get Everyone Involved, Whether or not they Like It or Not

Some children is going to be hesitant to get involved in camp activities because they're shy, not particularly active or are experiencing a seizure. But as a counselor it's your duty to make sure they be a part of all the fun, no matter what their objections. So toss that crying kid in to the lake. Hurl that screaming child across a zipline. Launch that shrieking camper on the makeshift catapult. Of course, remember that there's a fine line between getting kids involved with camp activities, and just winning insane bets with fellow counselors.

Experience New Allergies

Camp is a time to open you to ultimately new possibilities, including realizing you're allergic to wood cabins... Or grilled food... Or outdoors... But remember, camp is first of all about the campers. So attempt to deal with any new allergies by appearing every day in a hazmat suit, keeping a minimum of a 100' distance from all nature, or teaching your children to swim, hike or mend their very own broken legs through Skype video calls.

Possess a Romance That Will Shatter Your Heart

Camp is all about meeting new people, for both the campers and the counselors. A number of theses people may end up being lifelong friends. Others can become distant memories. And maybe you will be the boy or girl of your dreams. Before you realize they have another girlfriend or boyfriend back home... Or at camp... Or in your dates. But until then, enjoy it by holding hands, sneaking kisses and sharing spare time together. And should the romance go sour, just settle it by pitting all of your campers against one another in an all-out battle of strength, endurance and nine-hour hand-to-hand combat.

Don't Sob Hysterically before Campers

Sometimes it all reaches you. The countless kids who don't react to "Whatsyerface". The sudden allergic reaction to both daylight and moonlight. The camp ground romance that ended whenever you blurted out "I LOVE YOU!" immediately after she or he said "Hi" for the first time. The fact the bears appear to be targeting only your campers. It's enough to create a counselor drop to their knees and cry so loudly it causes an avalanche to bury the rest of your troop. So if you must cry, turn your back and get it done when the kids are too busy finding out how to swim, operating a weapon the very first time, or holding on for dear life on the mountainside.

Learn to Make Private Threats

A camper might misbehave. They will tease another kids or ignore all you say or somehow lead the woodland creatures inside a revolt against the cafeteria. The important thing would be to never yell at the camper or act in a fashion that might frighten the other children. Instead, go ahead and take unruly child to a remote portion of the camp-like a mountain's edge or roaring rapids-and calmly, maturely, say something so terrifying and cold-blooded the camper goes white with fear. Then bring the kid back to the other campers and happily state, "Look who's chose to be a team player! Just ignore his shaking."

Don't Take Arts & Crafts Too Seriously

Camp "arts & crafts" is all about mistaking dried macaroni for creative expression or wearing a play finally revealing how awesome the summer time is. It's not about teaching kids how you can sculpt metal with 40 blowtorches and something shared pair of goggles. It's not in regards to you screaming at a child the way they spit on the corpse of Cezanne when they try to paint a bowl of fruit. And it's not in regards to you strapping a bunch of children to flying harnesses so that you can direct your own version of "Spider-Man: Switch off the Dark." Just keep to the "arts & crafts" basics: popsicle sticks, yarn and killing 40 minutes until they drain the swimming pool of pee.

Keep the Mood Upbeat, Regardless of what Happens

By mid-July you'll realize that all things have gone to hell. But a part of being a camp counselor is ensuring the experience is fun and light-hearted for the children despite all evidence on the contrary. So always maintain a big smile, even though you have to keep your fingers inside your mouth to upturn your lips. Repeatedly shout, "Everything is excellent!" even if your voice begins to crack and everything is burning. Keep dancing a contented, happy jig even as the
">best camping food all of the archery lessons in the world did not ready them for a zombie assault... Rather than, ever stop laughing even while the asteroid strikes.

Know When you should Call It Quits

Eventually you'll reach that point when you must think about, "Should I finish doing the job I subscribed to, or should I just jump off this canoe and allow the campers experience the wonders of the waterfall for themselves?" Of course, the adult move to make is fulfill your obligations and stick to it. Or at least leave a nice resignation letter stapled to random tree in the center of the night... But remember, whatever you choose, get it done with an upbeat attitude, a large smile and constant laughter while you walk deep into the dark woods, understanding the bears await.