Juniors are the third eldest on camp. They are between the ages 11 to 12 and are an amazing age division.
This past summer, I spent my first time away from home working at the Heart, in a completely different country, miles away from anything familiar, and told that I was looking after twelve, 12 year old girls for a month. Needless to say, I was a tad nervous.
But I had zero reason to be.
As soon as they walked through the doors of the cabin, I knew that we were going to have an incredible summer.
Junior Tepee Night!
These girls are amazing; they are so full of energy and ready to take on every aspect of camp life. Most of the girls have been around camp since they were six so they mostly know their way around without any help, although sometimes there are new girls who arrive and need some guidance, which they have no problem providing.
They are at an age where they want to run around and get muddy, but yet they are also old enough to have the responsibility of being a role model to the younger ones, especially with having the Sunflower award which is awarded to one of them at the end of the term.
However, they also want to join in with the older kids, pulling pranks and staying up that little bit later at night, but they aren’t quite there yet,which may be a little frustrating at times for them.But then they are reminded that they should enjoy the moments being one of the young ones at camp, because soon enough it’ll be them doing their Sunday church ceremony and their last time doing tribe hill and wishing they could relive camp all over again.
As they are getting older, they are able to try out for war canoe, learn what it’s like to be part of a team, to work hard and learn from the older girls. This gives them a chance to work towards the goal of someday being in the boat; work hard and to learn the values
Junior Ice Cream!
of what it is like to be part of the war canoe team.
The month I had with these girls was an amazing roller-coaster of a ride, of course there are going to be ups and downs, laughter and tears, but who wouldn’t expect anything else with a cabin full of 12 girls?
Although the role of a camp counsellor is to look after the girls and to be role models to them, it can’t be denied that we counsellors can learn a thing or two from the campers. These girls have contributed to what kind of person I am and who I want to be when I’m older and I’ve probably learnt more from them than they have from me.
I couldn’t be more proud of the juniors who I looked after during that month, and wish them the best for their future as they continue their journey through camp, soon to be the role models to the next generation of campers.
Love,
Kate xx
About the Author
