Working During Corona-Era

Last summer, I had a job. It was my first job and I pretty much told everyone about it. I was a camp counselor at a day camp out in Westhampton. I was with the 5-6 year old boys and it was hard work, but it was fun.

Before Covid was even a thought in my mind, I filled out my paperwork for the same job this summer.I finished it all and was emailed the confirmation of employment.

But then quarantine happened. And I questioned whether or not camp would even happen. 

We got the email in early June confirming the plans to have camp. However, there were going to be many changes to ensure the safety of the campers.

When I was with the kids last year, there were over twenty boys that me and two fellow counselors were in charge of. Now, the groups can’t have more than 10 (for younger groups) to 15 (for older groups) kids. One of the first noticeable changes.

Camp started this past week and I was working with the 11-12 year old girls. I start with a younger age group this coming week, but it was nice to adjust to the new changes with an easily adaptable group. (My sister’s in this group and she and her friends are rockstars).

The biggest change has to do with the masks. Every counselor is required to wear a mask given to us by the camp company. It’s a gator, which does not fit around my face easily as I have a tiny head. The masks are required whenever a counselor is in close contact with a child (tying a shoe, cleaning an injury, etc.). Masks don’t have to be worn if you’re running around with the kids, as long as you are a safe distance away. The campers are not required to wear masks.

Both kids and counselors have their temperatures taken with a non-contact thermometer before coming to camp every day. There are hand sanitizers everywhere and they’re required to take a squirt before entering, leaving, or eating. Anything used inside has to be wiped down after use.

A lot of new rules and a lot of changes. Seems like a constant now. But, and I can say this easily, the campers all took these changes with a skip in their step. Within a week, they’re holding out their hands waiting for the “squirt squirt” and are waiting patiently for the non-contact thermometer (fun fact: super cool to use). As for the counselors, well, we could do better.

A lot of people, not just the ones I’m working with, have not been taking the virus seriously. As someone who was seriously burned by corona and quarantine, I’m willing to do anything to avoid that happening again to me or to anyone. But some people just don’t seem to care, in general, and it’s very worrisome to hear about rising cases and threats of a second wave.

I work drop-off and pick-up, so I always wear my mask then. It’s sad to not recognize familiar faces under masks, but for everyone’s safety and my own, I’ll quickly give that up.

Even with the masks and the new routines, work seems pretty much the same. Everyone seems to be enjoying their time at camp. A bunch of my friends who weren’t employed last year are counselors this year. A lot of the kids I had last year are campers again and it‘s honestly really great to see everyone.

We’ve got our old traditions and we’ve got new traditions. Nothing will ever be like before coronavirus, but we’ll take what we can. I’ll say, though, it’s really nice to have some semblance of ‘normal’ in my life again. I know I haven’t felt that in a while.