While “pandemic fatigue” — the weariness of continuing to deal with pandemic restrictions — is a real thing, that doesn’t mean that there’s no hope for relief from endless quarantine. Especially when it comes to the outdoors.
And on that note, boy do I have an offer for you! An offer to return to the camp you’ve loved, get a huge break from screens and isolation, and move up the career ladder all in one fell swoop.
To all our former campers, Junior Counselors, and counselors out there, I hope this finds you well. Perhaps you’re back from school and starting to enjoy the beginning of the holiday season. But I know all is still not normal.
The past year has been a long, strange journey as we’ve all adapted to life during a pandemic. I know you, too, have had plans, jobs, and special events cancelled, altered school schedules, and generally had your lives turned upside down. You’re grateful that things haven’t been worse for you, but the things you’ve lost or missed out on matter, too, and something familiar and nurturing would sure feel good right now.
Camp 2020 and 2021
If you didn’t already know, here at camp, we also had our losses. We didn’t operate our traditional Term Camp during summer 2020 — the first time in 98 years that that was the case. And boy were we bummed.
Campers, parents, staff, directors, and more all missed out on that special time of year when we get away from it all, riding on the Barge to “our side of the river” to enjoy new friendships and celebrate reunions with old pals, when we jump into both our goofy and our meaningful traditions, and generally just crush it with a community we all value so much.
While summer 2020 is behind us, advances in pandemic management have led us to excitedly look ahead to Summer 2021. We fully expect to be open and operating our normal camp programs either as normal, or with alterations that meet any local or state pandemic management guidelines. We’re way ahead of the game in planning for all this.
And that means that I know we’re going to have an amazing 2021 experience at Camp!
To that end, in the office every day, the Admin Team is working creatively and strategically on planning that spectacular summer. We’ve planned for all eventualities and that means we’re prepared to provide a safe and fun camp season.
The only thing missing from it so far is…YOU!
Seeking Experienced ‘Ghany Girls
One thing that would make it even better is more former campers, former JCs, former counselors, and Maroons joining us for the summer! I know it’s been a few years since you’ve been to camp, and we hope you’ll consider returning to “the place [we] call home.”
In the last few years, Camp Director Elizabeth Shreckhise and I have worked with diligence and imagination to provide an even more meaningful staff experience in the eight short weeks or so that you’re with us. We’re confident that anyone who works as a ‘Ghany counselor will leave the summer, and that last Barge trip before going home, knowing they gained valuable work experience across multiple areas, new time management and communication skills, and most importantly, knowing they changed the lives of the ‘Ghany Girls in their tents, in their activities, and across camp.
All of this powerfully translates into targeted resumé credentials to help you land the next job, internship, volunteer role, or leadership opportunity.
But what if that counselor job could double as an internship itself? We’ve got you covered.
Make Your Camp Job an Internship
I know that in today’s competitive college and career marketplaces specific internships are highly sought after, and that young people may feel they have to choose internships over on-the-job real world experience. But that isn’t so at camp.
For years camp’s Admin Team has worked with numerous summer staff and counselors to carve out targeted internships specifically geared to their future goals. For example we’ve had official internships in:
- Marketing (including writing and social media)
- Photography and video work
- Health care
- Administrative work/business
- Creative fields like art or performance education
- Sports
- Outdoor education
- Science
- Leadership
- and more…
These internships were seamlessly built into the counselor’s summer schedule while each worked in a paid capacity as a counselor. (And it didn’t hurt that there was a lot of of fun built in, too!)
We can make this happen for you.
If you’d love to be back on the Greenbrier and need an internship, simply reach out to us to discuss your area of interest and what you hope to do while also being a counselor. We want to work with you so you can come back to Camp and share your knowledge and passion for ‘Ghany with the next generation while gaining solid real world experience and building an impressive resumé.
Always a ‘Ghany Girl
Yes, you’ll gain skills with us. But we also think we can go one better than most summer jobs. You made memories while at Camp, and are part of a line of women stretching over a century. You are uniquely equipped to pass on your connection to camp to a new generation of campers while creating new memories and a larger network for this next stage of your own life.
And a big bonus is getting to escape from this seemingly ceaseless virtual world we’ve been immersed in during the COVID Pandemic. At camp you can break away from the screen, reconnect with old friends, make new friendships that will last a lifetime, and thrive on the banks of the Greenbrier River. While so much has gone virtual (and you may have to go back to the virtual after camp), during camp we’ll be face-to-face, heart-to-heart, connecting, and growing together.
Will you join us?
Summer seems far away at this point and a lot of uncertainty still swirls in the air. That said, we’re already hiring and putting together an amazing staff for 2021, with new staff announcements on our social media pages starting soon. (Facebook | Instagram | Twitter)
I hope you’ll consider crossing the river by Barge in June to join us as a counselor. You can find staff information here, and apply here. Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or clarifications you may have.
And please feel free to download our FREE e-book about The Many Career Advantages of a Summertime Camp Counseling Job.
I hope to hear from you soon!
— Casey Tucker, Program Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
