Manitoba Camping Association

May 4, 2017 MANITOBA CAMPING ASSOCIATION 9 Su m m e r Children: Shemesh Ages 3-5 Ruach Entering Grades 1&2 Keshet Entering Grades 3-6 Teens: Adamah Entering Grades 7&8 Teen Leadership Camp Badminton Ages 12-16 Teens with Special Needs: Teen Connection Ages 13-21 July 4 - September 1 2017 Register Now! 123 Doncaster Street | 204-477-7510 | radyjcc.com A MEMBER OF THE JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA By Shane Gibson for the Free Press S ummer camp leaves young campers with new friends, an appreciation for nature and a lifetime of memories, but it's not just the kids who benefit from the experience — staff and camp counsellors also gain invaluable work experience and life skills that can prepare them for anything and everything life has in store. Often working their first paying job, camp counsellors get the chance to plan an entire summer of activities, influence the next generation of young campers and learn to work with a wide range of people. It's a unique experience that makes it one of the best jobs a young person can get, says Allan Mailloux, camp manager at Manitoba's Red Rock Bible Camp. "The leadership qualities our staff gain and the experiences they gain set them up for great things in the real world, in the workforce and in school," says Mailloux. "Camp counsellors spend the summer doing everything from making food to cleaning toilets to running activities and the biggest thing I see counsellors leaving with is a confidence in their ability to tackle anything that comes their way." That feeling of confidence is something that sticks with camp counsellors, says Diana Schreibmaier, a former camp counsellor, who, at 22 years old, is just one semester away from graduating from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba and is starting a summer internship at Boeing International in May. "It's given me independence and strong self-esteem skills," says Schreibmaier, who worked for four summers at Luther Village Camp near Kenora. "Being a leader secured and refined my leadership skills and capabilities. I've been able to use those skills — everything from time management to organizing and leading a team and organizing the summer — for job skills, at school and just my day to day." Before getting her job at Luther Village Camp Schreibmaier spent her summers at the camp as a camper, and says joining the staff was something she'd always hoped to be able to do. "It's exciting because you're now the person they look up to," she says. "During that week you're the coolest and most exciting best friend for that child — that's an amazing feeling." In her time as a counsellor, Schreibmaier worked as a program leader and office assistant before finally becoming the camp's program co-ordinator. The roles saw her work in both Luther Village's youth camp and its family camp, meaning she interacted with people of all ages, experience she's now glad she had as she gets ready for her new summer job and all of its responsibilities. She also says getting to work for weeks away from home at such an early age taught her life-skills she might not have learned so young, something that's helped her get ready to move out and live on her own. "You're living away from home for four months and I'd say that in itself gives you a ton of independence," she says. "You learn how to do things like your own laundry and pick up the kind of skills that prepare you for when you have to move out and start out on your own." Since working at camp Schreibmaier has taken on leadership roles through her school's student council, something she doesn't think she'd have been able to do without the confidence she gained through her leadership roles at camp. Schreibmaier doesn't hesitate for a second when asked if she'd recommend the experience of working as a camp counsellor to others. "Oh, absolutely," she says. "Working at camp will probably end up being one of the best jobs I've ever have had." ❚ Growing with camp

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