Three Steps to Joy

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For the holidays, we’re featuring an aptly themed guest blog  about “joy” written by Cole Kelly, Director of Camp Weequahic:

As school lets out and families spend time together at the end of each year, we spend a lot of time wishing ‘Joy’ to one another.

It is a joyful occasion, is it not? Parents who work hard throughout the year take a few moments to relax and connect with their children. Kids are thrilled to be out of school for a few weeks and look forward to the celebration of their family’s holiday.  The tv is full of messages of good tidings and cheerful holiday music plays through most speakers.

All of these joyful tidings made me remember what a mentor once said about true joy. He told me about three major points concerning true joy that I’d like to share with you.

First, if you want to be joyful, surround yourself with joyful people.

That is one of reasons I love camp so much. One of the defining themes of camp staff interviews and training is joy – how much counselors have and how willing they  are to express it. The best staff members may not be the most talented singers, hockey teachers, or bunk cleaners. They are, however, always the most joyful.

So, how do you handle those ‘joy suckers’ around you? My friend suggested to be kind to them but just don’t hang out with them. Makes sense to me!

Secondly, true joy comes from devoting your life to something larger than your own personal happiness.

Tony (Camp Weequahic Assistant Director) and I were just talking the other day about our most memorable coaching experiences. Both involved helping a young person achieve a level of athletic competence they didn’t think possible. The look on their faces when they did something they never thought they could do was priceless. There was complete joy in their faces and manner. That was the best reward we could have received!

Camp counselors and campers see this every day. Bunks and cabins that truly come  together becomes an ‘us’ rather than a collection of ‘me’s.’ And that is when the magic really starts to happen.

By the way, did you know that those who devote themselves to their own personal happiness never truly find it? It will always remain out of reach.

Finally, he told me that joy will always be in spite of something else.

I love this point. Camp, as much as we would like to make it so, is never perfect. There will always be a few bugs, a meal that is not as good as mom’s, or an evening activity that is just not your favorite. However, if you are waiting for the conditions to change in your life for joy to arrive, you’ll wait a mighty long time.

Karl Barth said “Joy is a defiant ‘never the less!’ It’s not contingent on circumstances. If it is, we are all in trouble.”

Sure, we can be upset by something. However, this moment of sorrow should be temporary and our primary attitude should be that of gratitude and joy.

So, this holiday season, I wish you the happiness which comes from joyful friends and families, being a part of something larger than yourself, and the recognition that, despite the bumps in life, joy is an attitude you can choose to adopt daily.

Happy holidays, all!

Cole Kelly

Director, Camp Weequahic

*This blog was originally featured on Camp Weequahic’s website on December 23, 2011.

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Try Something New at Summer Camp

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Weequahic is one of the best sleepaway camps in Pennsylvania, we offer a traditional co-ed summer camp experience, soccer, roller hockey, theater, etc–others are learning how to clear a ramp with their boards in the new skate park that made its debut in the summer of 2011 and instantly became one of the most popular programs at the camp.  At Camp Laurel South in Maine, campers are learning the great watersport of Crew on Crescent Lakes.  Camp Laurel is bringing campers together as part of a Rock Band while Camp Starlight is introducing them to world of giving back through its new Community Service program.

Everyone knows about the traditional fun stuff that summer camp offers—but more and more, non traditional activities are gaining popularity with campers. No doubt, summer camp is a world steeped in tradition, but it’s also a world of innovation, offering children a chance to think outside the box and reach beyond the everyday through their imaginations.  At summer camp, children can be rock stars, magicians, skate aficionados, ga-ga pros, robot enthusiasts, rocket makers and aspiring chefs.  The setting of summer camp no doubt contributes to the ability of campers to try new activities.  After all, part of the “spirit” of summer camp, as reported by the American Camp Association, is “play”.  Camp is the perfect place for children to place themselves in new situations without feeling threatened or judged.  Thus, they’re relaxed being on a skateboard for the first time or being the drummer in a band.  Maybe this is why so many campers have reported first trying an activity that eventually became a passion at summer camp.

The fact that summer camps have the resources to offer new, exciting activities to children that their parents may not otherwise be able to let them experience is also worthy of mentioning.  Constructing a skate park, a ga-ga pit, or a recording studio in the backyard can be costly.  But at summer camp, such programs provide many children with the benefit of being able to explore new areas.  So next July give your children the opportunity to try something new on a Tuesday afternoon.

Summer Camp: The Perfect Holiday Gift

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The holiday season is at hand and so many of us find ourselves searching for that perfect present for the children in our lives.  Sure there are Kindles, iPads, and Wiis, but we’re looking for the gift that will last far beyond fads and trends…the one that lasts long after the decorations have been taken down.  Have you thought about contributing to a summer at camp?  Not only is it a unique gift that gives back, it’s the gift the children in your life can enjoy months after the holiday season has ended.  Summer camp allows them to make new friends, to become part of a summer family, and to cherish memories that will last a lifetime.  It’s also the gift that will help them learn how to understand ritual, routine, and being part of something bigger than themselves.  Countless people of note have attributed the role of summer camp as an integral part of the people they ultimately became.  Denzel Washington credits his acting career to a summer camp experience.  Michael Eisner gives summer camp credit for shaping a large portion of his identity.

Sitting around a campfire, eating s’mores, participating in special events at camp, being part of a bunk or cabin , making that special project in arts and crafts, learning a backhand in tennis, and scoring that homerun are the significant moments that build children’s lives.  It’s also the gift that children cherish for a lifetime.  Friends made at camp are friends for life and many present and former campers count their camp friends as some of their closest and most dear.   The memories and experiences from summer camp reach far beyond the scope of, ‘What gifts did I get that year?’  They reach into the realm of: ‘That’s what helped shape my life.’  President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama saw the value in sending their daughter Malia to summer camp last year.  Former President George W. Bush is also a summer camp alum.  Long after children have moved past smart pads and video game systems, they will remember their experiences at summer camp.  So this year, when you’re thinking of what to give the special children in your life, consider the gift of summer camp.

We at Summer Camp are Thankful for…

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Every year around this time we pause to reflect on those aspects of our lives about which we are most thankful.  To celebrate this turkey day, we thought we’d share what makes us most thankful for summer camp:

Our camp families: Without our campers, there would be no summer camp.  We’re thankful you value your summer camp experiences so much that you return every summer, and that you continue to build and carry on the traditions that make America’s Finest Summer Camps so special.

Our camp family: The unique family we are all a part of each summer.  The bonds that campers and staff create truly do last a lifetime.  We love every moment of the summer when we are laughing, playing, singing, and sharing together.

Camp Memories: Every year we bring home new memories that motivate us to make the next summer even more special than the previous.  Talking with our families and camp friends about our summers and sharing in each others’ unique experiences while at summer camp are some of our favorite times during the winter months.  They help us get over our “camp sickness” and carry us through those months between summers.  Speaking of camp friends…

Camp Friends: Every camper knows that camp friends are friends for life. Our camp friends share some very special memories that one can only get at summer camp.  Our camp friends are also great at helping us get through those ten months that we’re not at camp by reminding us of just how special summer camp is, whether it’s through the distance that makes seeing each other at camp every summer so special or the closeness of having a camp pal who  “gets it”.

Amazing Staff Members from all over the Globe: Summer Camps are only as good as their staff, and we’re thankful that we have some of the most amazing staff anywhere in the world.  Each summer, you come from all over the world and commit yourselves 24/7 to insuring our campers have a safe, amazing summer.  We know it’s hard work, and we are grateful that so many of you find the experience so gratifying that you return year after year.

The Breathtaking Scenery of Maine and Northeast Pennsylvania: We love where our camps are located almost as much as we love our camps.  The beautiful woodlands of Maine, the mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, hiking paths, the lakes that are such a big part of our camp experiences and traditions, and the wildlife all make the perfect backdrops for our amazing campuses.

The Beautiful Campuses that are our Summer Homes: Just like the houses we live in the other ten months of the year, each of our summer homes has its own energy, homey feeling, and special places for gathering, playing or contemplating. We’re proud that ours are some of the most awesome facilities in camping and look forward to continuing to build and improve them each summer.  We know our campers eagerly await opening day when they finally get to see how camp has changed since the previous summer and what new additions might be waiting for them.

Our Year-Round Staff: Yes, even summer camp requires a staff to work year-round.  After each summer, they go back to their offices and immediately begin planning the next, thinking about what new programs we might add or how we might make existing ones better.  They begin traveling, recruiting new staff members.  They create newsletters, Tweets, and blogs.  They answer the phones when you call.  They plan the menus.  In short, they tirelessly build each amazing summer day by day.

Being a Part of Such an Iconic American Tradition:  All over the world, American summer camps are an icon of Americana.  They’re unique to America and so many have found them inspirational that there have been movies and television shows that feature them, as well as books and songs written about them.  We are also grateful that many of our international friends are beginning to see the value in the American summer camp experience and, increasingly, are joining us from all corners of the globe.

We hope this Thanksgiving that we’ve inspired you to contemplate what it is about camp that you’re most thankful for and how it has enriched your life.  We encourage you to share those thoughts with us.  We’d love to hear them!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

It’s a Camp Thing

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If you have children who attend sleepaway camp, work at a sleepaway camp, or know anyone who attends or works at a sleepaway camp, chances are that you’ve heard this at least once in your life: “It’s a camp thing.”  For those of you wondering what that means, here’s an exclusive look inside the world of sleepaway camp and exactly what constitutes “a camp thing”.

We’ll begin with a definition.  “A camp thing” is an experience or tradition that is unique to summer camp.  It’s also actually “camp things” rather than a singular “thing”, since there are a host of experiences exclusive to the summer camp environment.  For instance, have you taken part in a competition, spread over several days, that divides the entire camp into two teams and requires contestants to do such things as cover their heads with shaving cream so that a teammate can attempt to make cheese curls stick to it, dress in team gear that includes crazy garb such as tutus, mismatched socks, and face paint, or passed buckets of water down a line in a race to see who will fill their container first?  Nope?  Do you know why?  It’s “a camp thing”.  Ever sat alongside several hundred other people around a campfire while you watch friends and staff members perform crazy acts, sing songs or participate in games?  Nope?  Yeah…it’s another “camp thing”.

In case it’s not obvious, “camp things” happen every day at camp, from that first moment when you get off the bus and see your camp friends and your new counselors holding your cabin or bunk signs for the first time to the last when you’re saying ‘goodbye until next summer.’  Camp things are being part of a league sports team, whether it wins or loses, going on a special trip out of camp to get ice cream, performing rituals and eating s’mores around a campfire, sitting with your friends at cookouts, taking part in the traditions that are unique to each and every summer camp, and understanding the feeling of being part of a camp family.  Camp things are having sleepovers with your bunk or cabin or having a venue in which you and your camp friends can pretend to be a rock band, DJs, or magicians.  Camp things are that special inside joke that your friends  share all summer, end-of-the-summer trips out of camp, sing-a-longs when you’re arm-in-arm with your camp friends.  And hugging some of your best friends while singing your camp alma mater and watching candles burn or fireworks explode, knowing that you might not see them again until next summer, is definitely the most precious of “camp things”.  If only everyone could experience “a camp thing”…

Choosing the Right Summer Camp Program

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One thing that is essential to a successful summer camp experience is a solid summer camp program.  Sure, summer camp is full of fun activities, but scheduling those activities throughout the summer so that every camper has equal opportunity and experience can be challenging.  Some camps prefer to divide all of the daily activities equally among campers on a rotating schedule, while others place campers completely in the driver’s seat.  Both styles of program options have benefits and, often, the type of camp program that is right for your child comes down to your child’s style and tastes.

For many younger campers, especially first time campers, summer camp is about familiarizing one’s self with the summer camp environment and making new friends.  So they’re happy to have all or most of their daily activities choices scheduled for them.  However, many older campers, and some younger more independent campers, prefer to make all or most of their own decisions about what they do on a daily basis.  Fortunately, there is an array of camps that offer different types of scheduling that cater to campers’ programming needs.

A lot of camps offer a hybrid program; one that schedules some activities while giving campers the opportunity to choose their own activities for one or more activity periods.  These types of programs, such as those offered at Camp Starlight and Camp Laurel, are popular with campers because they offer an element of autonomy alongside structure.  Some campers, however, are either not quite ready for the intensity of a specialized camp or prefer the offerings of a traditional summer camp but like having the freedom to choose their own daily activities.  For these campers, there are summer camps that offer a complete option scheduling program that literally allows campers to choose what they do each day.  Camp Laurel South (with a guided chocie program) and Camp Weequahic (whose motto is Your Sumer…Your Choice)  are two camps that have found success with unique programming structures.

Deciding which is better for your children requires a close evaluation of their needs. Do your children want to enjoy the general environment of summer camp or is there a specific activity on which they’d like to focus?  Do your children have a hard time making decisions?  If so, then a camp program that makes most of their decisions for them, based on their personal interests, might be the best bet.  But if your child is one who likes making independent choices, from what they eat for breakfast in the morning to the clothes they wear to school and how their bedroom is arranged, then a complete choice program might be better.  It’s also important to keep in mind your reason for sending your children to camp.  If it’s to experience new things, then a camp program that primarily rotates a prescribed set of activities amongst campers while giving them two or three choices will likely be a better choice.  However, if you’re children have embraced summer camp as a way to spend more time doing a particular activity that they love or is more inclined to a particular sport or hobby, a complete options based program might be right for them.

Ultimately, deciding which program type is best for your children involves speaking with them and choosing a summer camp with a clear set of expectations about what you and they expect to take away from the experience.

Learning Self Reliance at Summer Camp

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This week’s guest blog is from Camp Starlight…

When the time comes to make the decision about sending a child to summer camp, many parents worry because it will often be the first time their children will be “on their own”.  How will they decide what to wear, what to eat, and in which activity periods to participate?  Easily overlooked is the staff of young, yet well-trained staff just waiting to help campers with such decisions.  However, essentially to parents, it’s the first time their children will be making a lot of their own decisions, and it’s nerve-wracking to think how they will do not being under their parents’ watchful eyes.  But wait!  Isn’t this what parents have been preparing their children to do from day one?  The new found freedom and independence children gain at summer camp gives them the chance to exercise the tools their parents have instilled in them and, further, develop self-confidence and learn reliance.

By learning to do more things on their own, self esteem booms and children feel more comfortable trying to new things as well as further engaging in familiar activities.  This type of development is a different sort of development children acquire in the classroom.  However, it can lead to higher performance levels when they return to the schoolyard after a summer at sleepaway camp.  By learning that putting themselves out there and making decisions for themselves while in a summer camp setting leads to success, children often become more assertive in the classroom as well.  Even more exciting is that parents may find their children taking more ownership of their personal areas and roles in the home life.  They just might clear their own dinner plates once in awhile without being asked!

When a child returns from summer camp, a parent certainly should not expect their “organized chaos” children to run back into their arms as “hospital bed corners” children.  But they can look forward to a child who has a boosted self-esteem and a greater sense of independence.  This change exhibits itself in different forms, whether it’s the highly sought after unsolicited plate clearing, the desire to sign-up for new clubs or teams, or even just less anxiety when heading off to a class full of new, undiscovered friends.  No matter the manifestation, the results of allowing your children to take the step toward individuality and self reliance that they will find at summer camp are surely going to supercede the few times during the summer that you let yourself wonder, “Does he know to floss before he brushes?!”

Lindsay

*  This blog was originally posted to http://www.campstarlight.com/blog/uncategorized/learning-self-reliance-at-summer-camp/ on Thursday, October 27, 2011.

Which is Right for You? Session Camp or Full Season

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You’re looking through camp literature, checking out camp Facebook pages and camp websites and find yourself debating whether to send your child to a shorter session camp next summer or a full season seven week camp.  What’s really the difference?  Will my children feel like they had less of an experience of they attend a three or four week session camp?  Is seven weeks too long for my eight year old?  These are questions that prospective camp parents find themselves asking every fall.  Here a few clarifications of the differences to help answer your questions:

What is really the difference between a session camp and a full summer camp?  The long and short of this answer is time.  Session camps are basically shorter versions of traditional full summer camps.  They offer the same activities and programs as full summer camps, albeit abbreviated.  This means that your children will experience the same things at a session camp as they would a full summer camp, only in shorter durations.  This is not to say, however, that there are not differences between full season and session camps:

Traditional Full Season Summer Camps

Traditional seven week programs offer a great solution for keeping children active during their entire summer break.  Because they have more time, full summer camps are able to emphasize tradition and sense of community.  Children also have more time to make friends, get to know their counselors, and enjoy an environment that allows them to be themselves 24/7.  If your children need time to adjust to a new setting, a full summer session may be the best fit.  It’s typical for young campers, particularly those new to camping, to take some time to adjust to their summer camp surroundings.  However, some require more time than others.  These children may feel rushed to enjoy themselves if sent to a shorter session camp.  At a full summer camp, they will have plenty of time to acclimate themselves to their new surroundings, settle in, and enjoy themselves. If you want your children to be grounded in tradition and able to maximize their summer camp experience, then a traditional full season camp is likely the best fit.

Session Camps

Session camps, like their full summer counterparts, are also steeped in tradition and community.  If you choose to send your children to a shorter session camp, they will not miss out on these vital elements of summer camp.  However, when considering what you want your children to bring away from their summer camp experience, it’s important to understand and accept that three weeks are shorter than seven.  Session camps are shorter to provide those children who, for whatever reason, might not otherwise get to experience summer camp. Session camps are ideal for families who still want to take a vacation over the summer or have other commitments, such as sports leagues or other extracurricular activities.  By attending session camp, they still get to be campers.  Another advantage of session camps is that they often attract a slightly more diverse group of campers than their full season counterparts.  Many international families opt for session camps simply because their school schedules do not permit them to attend traditional full season summer camps.  Because of their abbreviated lengths and more global camper communities, many session camps take a somewhat progressive approach to camping.

Whether you choose a full season camp or a session camp, your children will have a rewarding, international experience that emphasizes tradition, community, friends, and fun.

Where is Your Ideal Summer Camp?

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You’ve begun to think about summer camp, hope to have your prospects narrowed to a handful by the first of the year, but are struggling with how far you should expand your search area for potential camps.  How far is too far?

The “right” answer to this question is very different for many families and depends a great deal on what type of experience they want their children to have.  Of course, when choosing a summer camp, one must consider obvious points, such as transportation to and from camp.  Most summer camps also have visiting days for parents, typically in the middle of the summer for full season camps and at the closing of a session for session camps, making it necessary for parents to take into account their own prospective travel plans.  Will you attend Visiting Day?  How much time do you have to travel to and from Visiting Day?  How long do you want to spend visiting the area around your child’s camp?  These answers are different for many families.

Many parents opt to send their children to summer camp within a few hours of home.  This makes it convenient for them make Visiting Day plans (an easy day trip) and gives them the peace of mind of knowing that their children are within reach, should an emergency arise.  Many camps also provide transportation for campers to and from camp from pick up spots within a few hour radius of camp, which virtually relieves parents of having to plan how their children will travel to and from camp.

Traditional American summer camps, though, are increasingly receiving the attention of international parents who want to introduce their children to a global culture and give them the opportunity to gain some hands on English speaking experience.  Says the mother of Nicholas, a Camp Weequahic international camper, regarding the decision to send a child overseas to summer camp, ““Each kid is different…each mum is different …” For these parents, finding the right summer camp is less about distance and more about how they feel a camp’s atmosphere will enhance their children’s lives.  Their priority is to look for a summer camp that will give their children a good dose of American culture and the provide them to make friends from other nations and backgrounds.  Nicholas’s mother emphasized that she, “did not want to send Nicolas to the United States just to meet other French guys!!!”

For these families, finding the right American summer camp “fit” is paramount to travel.  They want their children to experience the iconic traditional American summer camp.  Nicholas spent a summer gaining independence and confidence in his English skills and acquired a host of new friends in his summer camp family.

The appeal of atmosphere over distance isn’t one strictly exhibited on the international scene, however.  Many American parents are drawn to the idyllic and scenic setting of New England and the Poconos of Northeast Pennsylvania…the mountains, the trees, the lakes, the streams, the rivers, the seasons.  Undoubtedly, the campuses of New England and Northeast Pennsylvania summer camps are among the most beautiful in the U.S.  Many camps in New England and Northeast Pennsylvania are also among the most reputable in the country as well, and, as the birthplace of the traditional full summer session, the majority of the country’s full summer residential camps are located there.  For those parents who want their children to experience a full summer of camping, New England and Northeast Pennsylvania are often the obvious choices, regardless of distance.  America’s Finest Summer Camps draw campers from as far away as California, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, and many other states.

For those parents who opt for camps more than a few hours from home, there is often little need to worry about the safety of their children while traveling.  Many camps in New England and Northeast Pennsylvania offer chaperoned flights from such popular destinations as Florida, California, Illinois, and Colorado and, at the very least, will personally meet your children at the airport, escort them to camp, and put them back on the plane at the end of the summer.  American summer camps understand that in 2011, they’re catering to a global environment, and are fully prepared to make accommodations to do so.

Make Your Camp Counselor Experience an Effective Tool in Your Job Search

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So you’ve spent a summer—or maybe the better part of your college career—working as a summer camp counselor.  You’re nearing graduation and you’re starting to pull together your resume for finding a job in the “real world”.  You’ve been wondering, ‘How do I adequately articulate my summer camp experience?’  You’re worried that it will sound trivial to hiring managers, but you know that what you gained from your camp experiences are some of the most valuable skills you’ve learned.  You’ve learned the art of communication, having worked with people all over the world and children ranging in age from seven to fifteen.  You’ve learned the importance of discretion; your campers didn’t need to know EVERYTHING about you.  You’ve learned how to negotiate, mediate, and maintain a positive morale, having coached your campers through swim tests, disagreements, activities, stage fright, and just about a million other things.  You’ve learned time management skills.  How many other job applicants can motivate twelve campers to move across campus from soccer to woodworking in five minutes or less, consistently coax them out of bed at 7am, and convince them that it’s time for lights out after an exciting evening of activities? You’ve learned how to use creativity to solve problems and are MacGyver with a few jars of paint, construction paper, a little bit of fabric, some scissors, and maybe a little glitter…add feathers and beads to that mix and you can practically re-invent the wheel.  In fact, you’ve learned so many things as a summer camp counselor that you’re not even sure how you’re going to fit it all onto one 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper, nevermind about your other job experience. So how do you convey the importance your summer camp job experience has had on your life in a way that hiring managers will see the value in it, too?

First, as sentimental as those experiences were for you, a hiring manager isn’t looking for the screenplay to the next The Blind Side.  They’re looking for prospective employees who can efficiently yet effectively and specifically communicate their skills and abilities in a very concise manner.  This means keep it relevant and as action packed as most of those days at summer camp were.  Convey how active your summer camp job was through the verbs that you choose.
Second, without being too broad, make your resume sing of how well rounded your skill set is because of your summer camp counselor experience.  Employers love diversity.  A resume that sings of it will be sure to get a hiring manager’s attention.

Third, do your homework.  Job hunting is not a one size fits all endeavor.  You need to know and understand not only what you are looking for, but what the company to which you are applying is looking for as well.  If there is a particular quality you feel you possess because of your summer camp counselor experience that makes you a good fit for a position or a company, highlight that one quality in your cover letter.  Explain specifically how you feel your summer job experience and knowledge will translate into the new role.    Having experience is one thing.  Demonstrating that you understand how that experience can be integrated into others speaks volumes.

Fourth, don’t be afraid to remind prospective employers, either in your cover letter or at the interview, that being a camp counselor is a 24/7 job.  Employers are attracted to people who aren’t afraid to throw themselves heart and soul into their work.  What’s more heart and soul than being on duty 24/7?

Finally, be prepared.  Be prepared to tell a hiring manager at an interview EXACTLY why you feel your summer camp experience gives you the edge over other applicants.  When asked, don’t go into a lengthy mumble that basically amounts to a rehash of your summer(s).  Show the hiring manager that you’ve thought long and hard about how your summer camp work experience is relevant to your future and that you understand specifically how to extract your experiences and apply them to other areas of your life.  Most importantly, give examples, give examples, give examples!