The Salvation Army

Summer Camp Counselor

June - July 2018 • Leesburg, FL

What I liked

Everything! I loved being with the kids and creating the lesson plans for their activities.

What I wish was different

The organization. The youth director hired everybody too late and started planning only 1 week before.

Advice

Start planning a month or months in advance. Winging it is not a successful tactic.

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Service Coordinator Intern

June - August 2018 • Escondido, CA

What I liked

I like the close working relationship with the service coordinator at the site. And there are opportunites for related events and information.

What I wish was different

I wish I could get some pay and benefits.

Advice

Ask questions whenever you are confused, it is one of the best opportunities to learn in the filed.

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Eatonville, WA

What I liked

Being able to impact kids lives in a way that I have never been able to. Showing teenagers what real love looks like was an experience that is close to my heart.

What I wish was different

Improving the efficiency of the camp.

Advice

Go in with an open mind and be ready for some challenges. It’s one of the hardest jobs I think I’ll ever do but you grow so close to the people around you.

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Day Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Plymouth, MI

What I liked

This job was perfect for me as an education major because it gave me an opportunity to work closely with kids and practice many "classroom" management skills. I also learned from lots of unpredictable but no less formative experiences, like taking care of a sick child on a field trip, intervening before a physical fight broke out, dealing with injuries, dealing with behavioral issues, etc. Working with kids can be exhausting, but it is also extremely rewarding!

What I wish was different

The leadership of the camp in general left much room for improvement. All three of our superiors were actually wrapping up their last months at the Plymouth Salvation Army location and I think that some of the day-to-day planning of the camp, especially the Vacation Bible School camp, got put to the wayside. Most of the day-to-day planning was left up to us as counselors, yet there were some awkward miscommunications about changes in camp hours on field trip days, the scheduling of the Fourth of July picnic, when supplies would be purchased, etc. We ended up working with back-up/on-the-fly plans a bit too much for my preference.

Advice

I think the biggest thing that I learned was the importance of communication with your coworkers. You may have to be the one to speak up with a question or suggestion or to advocate for yourself, but everything will run much more smoothly if you aren't afraid to "step up to the plate" and be a leader when you need to be.

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Soup kitchen

May - August 2018 • Richmond, VA

What I liked

Volunteering

What I wish was different

Payed

Advice

Do it it's a great and fun time

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Hospital Administration Intern

June - August 2018 • Chikankata Mission, Southern Province

What I liked

I liked the fact that I was able to learn about all of the various departments involved in the hospital. The people there had much to teach me and were very patient and loving.