Last week, I, along with 2 dozen other high schoolers, got loaded up into 5 school buses accompanied by the 6th-grade class from Perry Middle School and traveled an hour away to Camp Nuhop, where my fellow high schoolers and I stepped in to be counselors for the 6th graders while they enjoyed their 6th-grade camp experience.
We arrived there at lunchtime on the 13th, stayed all day on the 14th, and left around lunchtime again on the 15th: a 2-day camp experience.
We got to meet the squads that we traveled with all day, participate in competitions and activities with them, play and have fun with them, eat with them, and even hang with them in the cabins before bed.
I had so much fun even amidst the responsibility and the occasional stressful moment, it was like being transported back in time to my 6th grade experience!
When I got back, many people wanted to know how camp went, and I think the most asked question was, “Was it worth it.”
My answer was “yes”, time and time again, but the more I think about it, I’m not sure what I was saying yes to.
They asked me, “Was it worth it”, but no one specified the “it”? For the volunteer hours? For the fun? For the activities? For the friendships? For getting to know kids my age? For the excused absence and chance to miss school? For the impact you make on the kids?
If you are planning to be a counselor next year, these are all things you need to consider. And most of all, you need to consider the why behind counseling.
This might be confusing, so I asked some of the 2024 counselors for their input and for their takeaways and experiences from camp and this is what they had to share.
Jahemil Duran, a junior at WKHS, emphasized the importance of being fully there for the kids you are counseling, sharing, “Be patient with the kids and listen to what they need to say.”
One of the most important things you can do as a counselor is make your kids feel seen and heard. You are older than them, so the words you use around them and the way you treat them will stick with them more than you would think.
Another junior, Nora Cheslik, also shared some insight into her experience.
She told us, “Counseling 6th grade camp was extremely worth it. I got to meet a lot of new people: 6th graders, teachers, and other high school students who I barely knew. The activities at camp were really fun and you learned something new at each activity. Even if it was something simple, there was always a learning opportunity.”
She also shared later on, “Being around 6th graders is a lot different than high schoolers, they are a lot more talkative and creative, and having no phones added to the experience of it all.”
The last counselor I asked was Alex Porter, another junior counselor who attends WKHS.
His favorite aspect of the camp was “the experience you get working with kids and doing activities.”
If asked my favorite part of camp, I would say all of the above, but my favorite thing was being able to make an impact on the kids.
I think camp is worth it because you get to give back to the community in such a special and fun way. It is super cool that you get to revisit old memories, meet new people, and grow closer with peers, and most of all you get to leave a positive influence on kids growing up. 6th grade and middle school can be tough, so I felt super grateful to not only be trusted to care for these kids but also that I was trusted to leave an impression on those students that will hopefully be a positive one as they continue to grow. I also really loved going on the big swing, but mostly the impact.
All that said, my 6th grade camp decision is:
Yes, It’s worth it, and I would encourage all juniors and seniors for the 2025-2026 school to try and get involved in next year’s camp opportunities, you don’t want to miss out!
