Anonymous asked: I know of a camp still hiring. YMCA Camp Kitaki in the Lincoln, Nebraska area is still hiring for Aquatics Staff, some Ropes Staff, and Male Counselors for sure. All applications/people are hired as "camp counselors", if anyone is interested in applying.

Job seekers, here’s something for you! Also a few add-ons:

Grace Adventures in Mears, MI is still looking for male counselors and anyone who can play the drums. However, you should know that it’s a christian camp.

Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp in Branchville, NJ is definitely looking for a Nurse (live-in, EMT qualifications and such) and might have an Outdoor Education counselor position or two open.

Anonymous asked: We're not allowed to friend campers, and we pretty much try to avoid even telling them our last names. As far as photos, we're allowed to be in photos as long as our photographer/the parents/a camp director is taking the pictures. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that my camp works with a younger age range (5-12).

At my camp, it’s absolutely forbidden to be friends with campers/CITs on Facebook, which is hard sometimes, because as a young, new staff member, some of my friends I’ve been going to camp with for years are still campers and there’s serious pressure from the admin staff to remove them and not have communication during the offseason. We have to use less public methods if we want to talk.- another anon.

In regards to media policy, my camp doesn’t really have one, but the camp i work at is only for high school students, so the age difference is usually going to be smaller. If a camper friends me, I accept, and I only friend campers if I was close to them or if i know they won’t be a camper the next summer. Many of us were also participants (what we call campers at my camp) with current participants, so its a little different.

We have a pretty strict media policy. Don’t upload photos of campers. Social Networking Sites are more difficult. For high school aged volunteers, we are not to really have “relationships” with them outside of camp. You may add them, but only on a limited status. For campers, discretion is best. Only add older campers. Only add on limited views. Best yet, don’t add them. But It’s up to each staff member. All posts MUST be considered camp appropriate, even if you don’t have friends as campers.

Our camp operates on an honor system — we are allowed to friend campers or let them friend us, but are expected to use extreme discretion and if something is brought to the camp as a concern we lose the privilege. Most of the staff take advantage of the limited profile settings — I personally do not friend campers, but if they find me I accept and put them on limited view. The same goes for pictures, although we are expected to keep those on private if campers are in them.

Anonymous asked: My camp does have a social media policy as well. The campers and staff both have to sign social media contracts. As a counsellor, we are not allowed to post anything offensive/inappropriate at ANY time of the year, and we can be asked to remove things from our personal sites. We are also not allowed to post any pictures of campers without their consent. We are allowed to add campers to Facebook, but there are warnings about stalking etc because it has happened before.

In response to the social networking question- At the camp I work at, I am not allowed to friend campers on any kind of social networking site, nor am I allowed to post pictures on social networking sites that have campers in them. I can keep in touch with campers through private e-mails, but in that case I just can’t let my bosses know (It’s basically like the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell of keeping in touch with campers)- person b

My old camp just asked we use judgment. If we were to list camp as our employer and have camper friends our profiles had to be 100% camp appropriate (church run camp) As far as being friends w/ campers they allowed it. Almost all of the staff were former campers, so most of us were already friends with campers prior to each summer/ friends outside of camp as well. My new camp has us set up profiles our name with the camps name just for camper friendships- person c

At my camp we are told that if we do accept the request, it is almost like becoming a counselor year round. You are trying to set a good example to these kids. So I personally watch what I post and make use the privacy settings to exclude them from seeing parts of my profile- person d

Anonymous asked: In reply to the social media question: At my camp, staff are not allowed to friend campers (even CITs), but the camp has it's own facebook page, on which it posts pictures from the week. Parents are encouraged to check it out and tag their kids, but we're not supposed to post pictures of the kids ourselves, since the parents didn't sign a waiver for us like they did the camp.

This seems close to standard for larger camps. 

Anonymous asked: This is strangely specific, but I'm wondering if there are any camps that are co-ed with a large number of foreign people that have beachfront on an ocean that anyone knows of? It doesn't matter where, I'm just wondering! IN RESPONSE: Hidden Valley camp in maine. it's on the coast. there's ocean, coed, and there are many foreign people including some from france and new zealand. 15% are international camp goers

That was fast.

girlscoutcamp asked: I have worked at four different camps, my fifth will be this summer. I learned SO much from so many different people about different areas of my home state and country, different camp environments, and made so many new friends from all over the world. Having a "home" camp is great, but sometimes broadening your horizons is even better. Good luck, be open to change and new things, and "make new friends, but keep the old."

The helpful tips keep rolling in.

My best advice is to try to get contact info from your boss (or friend who got you the job) for someone who’s well respected at your camp that has a similar job (a counselor if that’s your new position). That way you can ask about special things to bring that are not on your old camp packing lists. Moving from a camp with tents to one with electricity meant that my new sauna-like sleeping arrangements could be combated with a fan. Another life saving tip was the importance of bringing more costumes than regular clothes. 

purebluesky asked: to the follower afraid to switch camps! - Last year I worked at a completely different camp than the one I grew up going to and working at. I was terrified too, but it was the best change ever! Everyone was so amazing and welcoming. They're my second family. Don't be nervous! It will be amazing :)

Seconded!

waitinforasuperman asked: To the anon that is switching camps, don't be afraid! Last year was my first year at a COMPLETELY new camp from the one I grew up in. Totally different people and totally different camp. I was scared to death when I showed up but everyone was so nice and made me feel like family. I consider this camp my home now because I loved it so much. The magic happens when you get out of your comfort zone. Totally rewarding. :)

Bam! Thanks follower!

We were asked this question a while ago and since our followers come from several camping traditions and probably have different takes on how Color Wars work, we thought it would be a great opportunity to share. 

So, What is color war?