Hi all! 

My name is Taylor, and I’m thrilled to be writing this guest series of the Rattlin’ Blog throughout the spring. I’m lucky enough that my own journey at camp has been long. I started at family camp when I was five years old, then spent six years as a camper and three as a counselor. For the last ten years, I’ve balanced my full-time role as an English teacher with my summertime gig as camper coordinator on the shores of Whitefish Lake, and I’ll talk a little more about each of those roles in this series. 

But let’s start with the most recent: What is a camper coordinator??

A camper coordinator is a member of the Foley admin team who wears many different hats. This position is shared among 3-5 seasoned educators each summer. Depending on the needs in the session, we work alone or in pairs to support the campers, coach the staff, and communicate with the families back home throughout their children’s time at camp. Often behind the scenes, we use our professional know-how and our love of camp to make the session run a bit more smoothly for everyone. This includes… 

Easing the transition: 

Those early days in camp are so exciting, but they can also be overwhelming! New campers wonder about what’s for dinner and who their bunkmate might be. Meanwhile, parents back home worry over whether their child passed her swim test and if they’ve thought of everything to pack. We camper coordinators make ourselves available from that very first day, introducing ourselves as answer-givers to the newest members of the camp community within 24 hours. We deliver extra toothbrushes when they’ve found themselves tucked into an unknown pocket of the duffel and reach out to parents with updates on campers and their buddies. 

Managing special diets:

Kids need fuel to enjoy busy camp days! We happen to believe that the Foley food is awesome, and we’re here to help campers navigate the challenges that sometimes come with eating in an unfamiliar place. If your child has an allergy or intolerance, the camper coordinator will work with them discreetly to make sure they get the healthy and delicious balance of options they need to do camp right.  

Providing extra TLC:

As teachers, we know that what works for most doesn’t always work for all in the course of a youth program. When kids need a break for whatever reason, we help them reset and rejoin the community. We are expert listeners and mediators, and we help campers hear one another’s perspectives so that they can resolve disagreements and get back to having fun. We support our talented staff in backing campers who are homesick, self-conscious, or otherwise nervous with a variety of strategies and supports. 

Serving as utility players:

Like everyone at Foley, we do a lot of things that fall into the “miscellaneous” category! We flip hot dogs, scrub buoys, and make rain plans on days that were recently sunny. It’s a team effort, and we’re lucky to play for Foley. 

2nd session Camper Coordinators Kate and Mikka!

I’m delighted to know many of you already and look forward to the chance to meet even more Foley staff, campers, and families this summer during third session and family camp!