Being a camp counselor

This past week I was a camp counselor for a group of 11 campers between the ages of six and eight. Typically I have no problems working with campers, but that is because I usually had the older campers between the ages of 15 and 17. Working with such young children was a challenge. I had campers who were homesick, immature for camp and children who did not want to be at camp so they did whatever they could to get sent home. However I did have one camper who I genuinely wish could have stayed at camp forever. This camper was a young girl who arrived at camp Sunday morning excited and ready for a great week of camp. I was a little confused when she had repeated to who I believed to be her mother, "I get to keep this bag now because my name is on it, right?" I thought it was simply a hand-me down bag from an older sibling. When the woman said no I thought she must only be borrowing it from an older sibling then. It was not until we arrived at dinner when I realized why the child had wanted the bag so badly. The young girl had informed me that the three other boys who she had called her brothers were all in the foster care system. I then understood why the young girl wanted the bag so badly. This young girl who was only seven years old was in the system with her two older biological brothers. Every meal this girl would ask for more food or more lemonade even if she still had half a plate or glass left. All week this little girl would just crave the attention of my three coworkers and me, who were her counselors for the week. I had felt so bad when Saturday morning rolled around and it was time for this little girl to go home. Although this young girl is in a good home now, I fear that she may be moved again in the future. Being a camp counselor I wish I could say this does not happen often but unfortunately it does. That is why as a camp counselor I make sure the minute that a camper is left in my watch they have one of the best experiences they can have at camp. If nothing else is going right for a camper I want them to be able to forget their troubles and be able to have fun and be a kid and enjoy their time at camp. Being a camp counselor can be challenging at times but the greatest reward is the smiles and the laughter from every camper there.