CategoriesCamp News, Counselor, Intermediate Camp by

Classes, Team Leader Elections, & Evening Entertainment

Hey Y’all, 
Intermediate camp is buzzing with excitement! Campers and counselors are soaking up the sun and
having loads of fun! Campers are learning new skills and working eagerly to expand their current
knowledge. Our counselors enthusiastically lead classes and cultivate an environment rich in camp fun!
Our evening entertainments included a trio of camp classics, 12 Days of Camp, Birdy on a Perch, and
Human Bingo, which were a hit with new and returning campers. The teams voted for strong leaders
who exemplify excellent qualities that will lead the Amazons and Valkyries to a successful two-week
session.

Wo-He-Lo,
Maegan, Head Counselor Intermediate Camp
CategoriesCounselor by

Day in the Life of a Counselor

 

  • A typical Camp Nakanawa day begins at 7:00am with the ringing of the Camp Bell which notifies campers and counselors of activity changes. Campers and Counselors use this time to get ready for the day, make a quick trip to Egypt (our bathhouse), and get their blues and whites on. Counselors will set an example for their cabin by making sure they get out of bed, brush their hair and teeth, and encouraging their campers to do the same. It is really important to not be tempted to roll over and go back to sleep, because your campers may follow your lead!  You may also need to remind any Dining Hall Aides to be timely, and get to the dining hall on time to set up.
  • The next Bell is at 7:25am signaling campers and counselors to line up for Flag Raising where we say the Pledge of Allegiance before entering the Dining Hall for a family style meal. Counselors and campers are assigned a table for the week with 2 counselors and 8 campers.  This is an opportunity to help your campers with manners, get to know campers outside of your cabin, and also to check in on them.  Meals are very important times for making connections with campers and sometimes helping campers with problems, offering encouragement, and sharing in their excitement for the day.  Announcements for the morning are made at the end of breakfast.
  • From 8:00am until 8:35am we have Cabin Cleanup. Camp Nakanawa has daily inspection which requires campers and counselors to make their beds, tidy up their belongings, hang wet clothes on the clothes line, and perform general cleaning of the cabin and cabin area. Cabins can win recognitions and rewards for clean cabins, but can also get consequences if their cabins are too messy.
  • At 8:35am 1st Period begins! Counselors will go to their designated activity, and campers will rotate through classes and activities for the next 3 periods.  Camp Nakanawa has 7 periods throughout a camp day, with 5 periods in the morning with a break between 3rd and 4th periods and then 2 afternoon classes following Lunch and Rest Hour.  Counselors will sometimes assist in or teach more than one activity, and all counselors are scheduled to get 1 period off a day.
  • After the first 3 classes, campers and counselors will get either a 25 minute Milk Break on Junior or Apple Break on Senior at 10:45am.
  • At 10:45am 4th period begins followed by 5th period at 12:00pm where campers again follow their schedules and counselors lead activities
  • The Bell at 12:40pm signals the end of morning classes, and counselors may have activity meetings and area clean up while campers are sent to cabins and Egypt to get ready for lunch. Counselors may need to remind Aides about getting to the Dining Hall on time as well.
  • The Lunch Bell rings at 1:00pm, and campers and counselors enjoy another meal with their assigned tables and continue to get to know each other. This is an important time to check in with campers, offer encouragement if they are having a challenging time in an activity, help them set goals and get excited about their classes, and problem solve where needed.  Lunch is also a favorite of campers because this is when they get their dessert for the day! More announcements for the afternoon are made at the end of Lunch
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  • From 2:00pm-3:00pm Camp has Rest Hour. While many campers and counselors take naps, this can also be a time for writing letters, reading, drawing, crafting, or other activities as long as campers stay in their cabins and are quiet.
  • The 3:00pm Bell signals that Free Swim has begun. This is a time when campers can enjoy a splash in the lake, a game of tennis, animals in Nature, or go to specific activities like canoeing, archery, or sailing to work on skills for advancement in those areas. Counselors are expected to help in their activities when their activities are opened during Free Swim.
  • At 4:00pm the 6th period Bell rings, followed by the 7th period bell at 4:50pm for the last rotations of classes.
  • 7th Period finishes with a bell at 5:30pm, and campers and counselors have free time for showers, cleaning up their activities, preparing for Evening Entertainment, or relaxing before the Flag Lowering Bell rings. During this time counselors may need to encourage Aides to go to the Dining Hall to set up for dinner.
  • At 6:25pm campers and counselors gather for Flag Lowering before again joining their table for dinner. Counselors facilitate conversation and help campers process their day, and again share in the excitement of the day’s accomplishments.  Announcements for the evening are made at the end of dinner.
  • At 7:30pm Evening Entertainment (EE) begins. This could be games, skits, Rock Meetings where the 2 Camp teams meet at their secret locations, Council RIng where the camp gathers to celebrate weekly accomplishments and recognitions, or a quieter evening of Vespers by the Lake.  Depending on the EE, counselors may have meetings during this time or may be required to participate and help out. 
  • At 9:00pm Camp begins to wind down, and we have our first set of Blinks-when the lights are blinked to let campers and counselors know to get ready for bed. At 3rd Blinks campers and counselors should be in their cabins and ready for bed.  At this time counselors lead Devotions- this could be a time to read a story, discuss an encouraging topic or camper goals, and also to process the day.  This counselor lead activity can help campers to navigate obstacles, receive recognition for their accomplishments, get some affirmation and individualized nurturing to abate homesickness or help them feel supported and loved, and sets a tone of connection and caring in the cabin. 
  • After Lights out around 9:45pm Taps will be sung or played for the camp. This is the end of the day for our campers, but counselors may have a meeting in the CB (counselor’s bunk) or be needed to help prepare for an activity.  This is also the time when counselors can go to the CB to relax, use their phones or tech devices, and recharge their energy levels with fun treats in the CB.  Counselors are encouraged to not stay up too late, because at 7:00am the Morning Bell rings again!
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Click the button to the right to see a grid breakdown of Senior Camps typical schedule.

Day in the Life PDF
CategoriesCamp News, Counselor by

Two 2024 Counselor Staff Members

The 2024 camper enrollment is not the only thing around Nakanawa that is setting records, counselor applications are at an all time high! We could not wait to start tell you about member of the 2024 counselor staff that you can expect to see at camp next summer.

Mary is excited to be back at camp after taking a summer off after her TR year in 2022.  Mary has lots of Camp Nakanawa experience as a camper, and is looking forward to working with all her old friends and meeting new campers and counselors this year.  Mary is a talented tennis player, and wants to share her talent and passion for tennis with others.  When she is not at Camp, Mary attends Vanderbilt University where she is studying psychology.  One of her favorite memories at Camp was planning the TR dance with the 2022 TR Mamas.  She stated that it was great to see the counselors jump in to dance and that they made the whole summer smooth and fun.

Lake joined the Nakanawa counselor staff in 2023, and was an instant hit with campers and counselors.  She comes from Covington, Louisiana where she studies at LSU and is earning her degree in Architecture.  Lake fell in love with Nakanawa, the campers and counselors, the encouraging environment, and the fun traditions.  Lake is very excited to return to Nakanawa for another summer, and teach swimming and be on the waterfront again. Lake’s positive energy, willingness to help in any area, and enthusiasm for campers and their success makes her a Camp Counselor favorite and successful team player.

Don’t just take it from us, see there testimonies on why they are enthusiastic to be apart of Camp Nakanawa’s Counselor staff!

Mary Meacham

“I am so excited to be back at camp with all my old friends and meeting new people this year! I’m ready to be outside and unplugged for the summer. One of my favorite memories at camp was planning the TR dance with our 2022 TR Mamas. They jumped in to dance with us (it was the best solo I’ve ever seen!) and made the whole summer smooth and fun.”

Lake LeNormand

“My name is Lake LeNormand and I’m from Covington, Louisiana.  I fell in love with Camp Nakanawa last year and I’m so excited to come back for my second summer!  The people, encouraging environment, and the fun traditions are my favorite things about Camp! I love all the water related activities so you can definitely find me down by the waterfront. I can’t wait to make many more memories this summer!”