Posts Tagged ‘Camp Staff’

Big Easy Blues

Monday, August 10th, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-08-10 at 4.52.05 PMThe day began well for the Blue team, starting 115 points up and with an uplifting Billy Madison reference by General Ben Kadel. As the day progressed Big Easy Blues fought as White Madness attempted to ease the lead.

In the Upper Plebe Gamma game, Cooper G. and Kyle F. both caught several touchdown passes. Even with their impact, Blue was overpowered by Abe W. and lost 70-54. This afternoon the Junior Gamma hockey game was decided by just one goal and it was the Blue team that had it. With time running out, Owen G. scored our team’s sixth goal and then ended the chance of a comeback by White. Tonight is rope burn, one of the most exciting nights of camp, our Seniors look to continue our impressive run and improve our lead.

Star Camps

Thursday, August 6th, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-08-06 at 8.43.13 AMCamp Starlight was full of excitement as our campers participated in their favorite Starcamps. This special part of our program gives campers the chance to focus on one area of interest for two days. Campers get to work closely with our guest coaches and instructors, as well as our entire Starlight staff, who bring all sorts of skills to the table, from basketball to painting.

This year Camp Starlight had some incredible individuals leading Star Camps. Campers had the opportunity to learn hip-hop from the impressive Larry Albright.. At our sporting sessions, campers were able to learn hockey from hockey pro Bob Markowick, and tennis from Tennis star Mel Purcell. And there were tons of other sports workshops, too! From lacrosse, to golf, to water skiing and Krav Maga, campers had the chance to enjoy all sorts of sports activities. Campers were also able to rock climb, golf, and hike. But it’s not just sports that campers were excited about, campers were also able to enjoy Starcamps in: acting, photographing, arts and crafts, and other creative preforming arts. And for the first time ever students were able to make and mix their own music at our music workshop, which was held in our brand new music recording studio! It was another great year at Starcamps thanks to our amazing kids and great staff.

Camp Starlight Softball

Wednesday, August 5th, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-08-04 at 1.01.07 PMCamp Starlight Vs. Camp Westmont

Upper Inters Softball

The Upper Inters girls have made it to the Wayne county championships! They earned the victory against camp Westmont 4-2. In the felid Starlight was an unstoppable force. Elizabeth E shutdown 3rd base. Hannah W dominated first base getting three outs with the help of Julia H at second. Julia had an amazing catch while playing first in the fifth inning. Jordyn P and Hannah J dominated at the game both making amazing plays at third base. Allison S, Ava M, Hannah J, Alexa C, Madeline R, Jacqueline P and Allison S all shined through at the game in the outfield. Sammy S and Hannah W conquered the pitcher’s mound. Emerson P and Jacqueline P were brick walls behind the plate.

8/9th Grade Girls Soccer

Monday, August 3rd, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-08-03 at 10.29.51 AMStarlight Vs Chenawanda

Teamwork was a huge factor in this win against Chenawanda. Sammy B had a phenomenal game, finding the back of the net five separate times. Lilly K was a close second with 3 goals whilst Jessie V and Jamie F both added 2 goals into the mix. Isabel A, Olivia R and Jamie C played an amazing solid defense. Emily S and Sydney P were great assets to midfield. Abby S had eight saves in goal for a final score of 12-9.

Interning at Camp: The Ultimate Summer Job

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014

In today’s society of college students there is an underlying pressure to get the coveted internship or summer job to boost your career. According to dictionary.com, an internship is defined as “any official or formal program to provide practical experience for beginners in an occupation or profession.” The experiences our staff endure and take away from working at camp are limitless, but the idea of a camp internship can easily translate to many fields in the workplace.

Connor Lange, a recent graduate of Iowa State University completed an Exercise Science internship while working at camp as a Fitness Specialist. Lange shared what he learned from his experience, “I learned how to effectively manage my time, coordinate events for a variety of age groups, communicate with both facility and the kids, work as a strong team, and manage my work life and personal life in an effective way.”
10526136_10152177443296960_5570309213981646310_nWhile working at camp is indefinitely a fun experience, being able to take away real skills and knowledge for future careers is a translatable yet rewarding experience. There are thousands of options of companies; an organization to intern with, but camp does offer something special. Lange went on to mention, “I would recommend Camp Starlight over a traditional internship because I learned more about the aspects and skills needed to be successful in my work field. Also, during my summer at camp, I learned more about myself than I ever thought I would. I learned more about myself this summer than I did in my four years at college.”

Austin Nelson, a Senior at Ohio Northern University studying Business Management recently completed his internship working as apart of our Programming and Operations Department. Nelson eventually would like to work in the sports industry and shared his experience about this past summer, “Coming from a non-camp background, it was interesting to see how Starlight operates and runs as effectively as it does. I learned how to meet deadlines effectively, work with all different kinds of people, and balance the idea of work and play at camp.”

Another huge benefit of working at camp is the ability to have so many co-workers and learn from all different personalities. With staff coming from all over the world, the culture and diversity at camp is unlike any other. “I cannot think of any internship or even study abroad program that offers the same level of diversity that a summer camp does. I learned so much about other cultures. I would not have learned this in a typical internship position,” Nelson added. Rather than being a typical intern, our summer staff are growing, learning, and enjoying the summer as the best two months of their lives.

“The camp atmosphere is truly evident because of how passionate all the staff members are about making the summer the best summer of their entire life for not only the kids but for everyone else in the camp, said Lange.”

While some may not think of camp as a place to intern, Starlight offers internships for all majors and works with many colleges and universities to create distinguished, one of a kind internships for our staff. Even with the stress of getting that sought-after internship, sometimes the simplest things like camp can provide the most gratifying experiences.

My First Year as a Counselor

Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

I went to Camp Starlight as a camper for 8 summers. I remained in the same bunk with the same group of girls since I was a junior all the way until CA summer. I was understandably nervous about joining the starlight staff for the summer of 2014, but knew that it was an experience I must complete in order to complete my journey at Camp Starlight. Undoubtedly, this summer exceeded any of my previous expectations. I was a Lower Deb Counselor (GO UNICORNS) and I couldn’t have asked for a better

group of girls to spend my summer with. I admired their constant positivity and energy at every activity and in the bunk. My co-counselors and I became the best of friend, and I learned more about teamwork and responsibility than I thought I could ever learn anywhere. Outside the bunk, I was a lacrosse specialist and it w

as amazing to get to know almost the entire girls side. Every group of girls brought forth a different contribution to the program, which only added to my incredible experience as a coach. I truly thought my years as a camper were the best it was going to get, but my first year counselor experience exceeded anything before it. I learned so much about myself, while spending every second with the people I came to love the most.

Devon H.

So Now What?

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

After the initial feelings of elation that come from having completed their first summer at camp, many first year counselors are left wondering what comes next. For some, the choice to return to camp (or not) is an obvious one. For others, there are many factors involved, impending college graduations or internships, the prospect of a full time job, etc. Others simply need time to process the summer before making a decision. What may have seemed like a one-time-only experience in the moment, proper reflection can give birth to goals that require at least one more summer. Still, some counselors are just too exhausted to even consider next summer without some down-time to rest. During the transition, priorities often quickly shift from camp to academic responsibilities. Although the final decision to return to camp may be months away, fall is actually a good time to make a tentative decision about whether you’re interested in returning and initiating communication with your camp.

Because summer camps recruit heavily during the early part of the new year, they like to have an idea about which staff members have intentions of returning prior to the end of the year. This helps them focus their recruiting efforts. It’s therefore a good idea to contact your camp sometime during the fall to let them know your overall feelings about your summer experience and to express interest in returning the following year.  Although your camp may not have made final decisions about which staff members it will invite to return, having an idea of who is interested in returning is helpful when creating recruitment plans.

Likewise, if you think you might want to return to camp next summer in a different role than you had this season, the fall is a good time toexpress that interest so that your camp knows that you want to be considered for that role should an opening become available. For clarification, it’s a good idea to explain why you think you might be a good fit for your desired role as well. Although it may be obvious to you why you might be right for that role, your camp likely goes through hundreds—if not thousands—of resumes each year. Some proactive notes from you may be helpful.

Making a tentative early decision about potentially returning to camp also gives you more time to prepare for the experience. Even well-seasoned counselors sometimes find themselves scrambling to make summer plans come together at the last minute. The earlier you commit to another summer at camp, the more time you have to financially prepare for the travel to camp. This is of particular importance for international staff who tend to have significantly higher traveling expenses than domestic staff.

Keeping in contact with other staff members is a way to keep camp fresh and the anticipation high throughout the year. It’s also a great way to position yourself to hear news of rideshares or winter join ups among staff.

With a little advanced planning and proactive measures on your part, ‘So now what?’ easily becomes, ‘Now it’s time.’

Epic Anniversary

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Tonight, Camp Starlight is celebrating its 68th anniversary during the annual Anniversary Party. Because time flies at camp, it’s easy to forget just how long 68 years of family, tradition, spirit, adventure, and fun is–and how much it adds up. When Camp Starlight opened, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. Since Roosevelt, there have been 12 additional United States Presidents. Man walked on the moon. An entire space shuttle program began…and ended. Computers have gone from being the size of an entire room to being the size of notebooks. Practically every household has a television. Microwaves were invented. The VCR came…and went. There have been literally dozens of movies and television programs made about camp. Through it all, Camp Starlight has thrived. In 68 years, there have been literally hundreds of campfires and thousands of campers. The flag has risen over the camp no less than 3,000 times.  From 10 original bunks to 50 plus a Lodge and a Lakehouse, from less than 100 campers to nearly 600, the Camp Starlight 68th Anniversary Party is a reason to celebrate a camp that has not merely stood the test of 68 years but is alive with the pride of campers, staff, and alumni. And celebrating we are! Campers and staff alike are dancing and singing along with live bands from Camplified. Earlier today, everyone enjoyed the carnival. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “epic” as ‘telling a story about exciting events or adventures.’ Given the history of Camp Starlight’s 68th Anniversary Party is E-P-I-C!

Catching Up with Matt Whatley, Camp Starlight’s Head of Soccer

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

Recently, the Camp Starlight blog caught up with our very own Head of Soccer Matt Whatley to find out more about him as well as why he chose to work at camp–in particular, Camp Starlight.

Matt (“Whatley”–as he is affectionately known by the Starlight family)has been working in the camp industry for 15 years, 9 of those years at Camp Starlight. He says he was drawn to traditional sports camps like Starlight because, unlike at camps that specialize in soccer, he gets to see the campers in a non-soccer environment. Prior to coming to Camp Starlight, Whatley worked in other camps within Wayne County and decided to come to Starlight because of the excellent facilities and great campers.

Although he has called the United States home for more than 10 years, he is originally from Kent, England. His love of travel is highlighted by his career path as well as his education. In addition to having lived in New Zealand and Canada, he now calls Malaysia home during the winter months. There, he works for the US Sports Academy as a physical education teacher and coach. His education was also an international affair. He attended Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Greenwich in London  and Rockford College in Illinois.

He has been coaching for more than 20 years and, for 8 of those years, he coached nationally ranked college programs. He has also coached for Charlton Athletic FC and worked with teams at the USL 2 Academy. When asked why he decided to become a coach, he is not without a sense of humor, “Because I don’t like wearing a shirt and tie.” His favorite thing about being a coach is seeing the progression of players as they learn new skills.

His list of Camp Starlight “favorites” is a long one. He has quite the reputation for his love of Canteen and his penchant for putting in “special” birthday party appearances. He also loves visiting the Magic and Tennis programs as well as watching Jason Glick’s dancing on Friday evenings.

Aside for his intense love of soccer, he is a passionate cyclist. In fact, he once cycled from Alaska to New Mexico.  He’s also a bit of prankster and enjoys a good practical joke.

Camp Influences

Sunday, July 20th, 2014

In their book True North, Bill George and Peter Sims challenge readers to examine the qualities and influences that have made them great leaders through a series of motivational chapters complemented by interactive surveys. In the survey that follows the first chapter, readers are asked: “During your early years, which people had the greatest impact on you?” This is a very significant question to anyone who either attended camp as a child or who works at a camp as an adult.

It only takes a single summer to influence a camper for a lifetime, but the majority of campers attend summer camp for seven summers or more, which exponentially increases the chances of camp counselors having a lasting impact on their lives. Add the community environment of camp in which campers and staff live together 24 hours a day, and it’s nearly impossible to imagine that each camper’s life is not greatly impacted by at least one member of the camp staff. Such a conclusion is evident by the amount of former campers who state the influence of former staff members as one of the primary reasons they chose to return to camp as camp counselors themselves.

George and Sims challenge readers to “discern passion through life experience.” Such an intense task puts the role of camp counselors into a new perspective. Not only do counselors have the ability to greatly impact a child’s life, but to inspire passion in them through the experiences they provide at camp. This is an interesting concept because it is not one about which most camp staff tend to reflect throughout the summer. Camp is a temporary environment that is structured with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Combine this with the fast pace of camp, thinking tends to steer in the opposite direction.  Yet, many campers –and even counselors– are so influenced by their camp experiences that they take away a passion for camp as well as the traditions and values they are taught there.

When examined from such a perspective, the role of camp counselors becomes so much more than a summer job, whether a staff member spends one summer or many summers at camp. When counselors pack their bags each summer and head off to camp, they are taking on the tremendous responsibility of inspiring children to become so deeply invested in the camp experience. It’s neither a small nor insignificant challenge. Yet the hurdles of living up to such high expectations is exactly what draws so many camp counselors to their summer camp roles each summer—and what makes them return in subsequent summers. In this regard, the campers have as much influence and inspire as much passion in the counselors as the counselors do to them. The two roles are interdependent.

It’s easy to go through one’s daily life without slowing enough to properly contemplate the potential influence each of us has over others. But when the concept of influence is examined through the perspective of camp, it’s very easy to see how little time is needed to influence someone for a lifetime.