Meet a Counsellor: NIALL
Name: Niall
Age: 19
Location: Ireland
Camp: New Jersey Camp Jaycee
This will be Niall's second year working at a camp in the USA. Camp Jaycee is located in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, and is a camp for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabillities.
What was your main role at camp?
Supervision of campers while they had a good time. Also, ensuring that they kept hydrated, safe in the group and protected from the heat in the sunny weather. Their self care, such as brushing, shaving, showering was also necessary for some dependant campers. The main thing was to make sure they had an amazing summer.
What were the best AND worst bits about camp?
The best bits definitely outweighed the worst.
Everything was good, from the rewarding experience and meeting new people all over the world. The worst part was the home sickness which quickly left as everyone gave you a sense of family.
The absolute worst part was going home.
What are you hoping for at camp this year?
Just the same, but to meet more new people from different races and cultures.
How was the application process?
The first year, it was easy and straight forward. It was very detailed and Americamp were great.
However, the second year, they seem to lose interest in returnees.
So I would recommend CCUSA to anyone for future years.
What should everyone know before camp?
To go in with a positive mindset and be up for absolutely anything as it is the summer of a lifetime.
What should everyone pack for camp?
Other than the usual clothes, I'd say definitely a journal as writing is so therapeutic and also helps you keep memories.
Where have you visited as a result of camp?
I’ve met people from all different countries and nationalities, because of camp.
I went to London to see my friend and Sheffield for a large reunion. I also went to Amsterdam to meet all the Dutch guys!
Where was the best place you visited travelling after camp?
I should say Philadelphia especially after being in busy New York for 3 days. NYC eventually got too boring and there was too many people as I come from a rural Irish town.
Philadelphia was more relaxed and chill and allowed all my friends and I to go to relatively famous sights which many people might not know off.
Where do you want to travel this year?
I want to concentrate on the west coast and spend most of my time in California, in particular San Francisco, LA and San Diego.
Has camp changed you at all? If so, how?
In every way possible. It’s made me say ‘yes’ to more things in life. It has also massively improved my self confidence.
What did you learn from camp?
The importance of friends and how people of different backgrounds are no different.
Do you have any advice for people thinking of applying?
Do it!
Don’t think of the money as you can always earn money. If you don’t like camp, which is highly unlikely, then at least you had a summer in the USA.
Finally, what is the best camp song?
It would have to be the YMCA.
Keep a look out next week for our next 'Meet a Counsellor'.