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The summer before my 2nd year in college, I was blessed to obtain a job at Riverway Ranch Camp in Sanger, CA. My counselor name was Ice. I was not only a camp counselor, but I was also their yearbook editor. (I created an 80 page yearbook documenting the whole summer from scratch)

This camp is every child's dream: Go-Karts, wakeboarding, gymnastics, dances, campfire songs...the list goes on.

The camper to counslor ratio is 4:1. This intimant contact with the campers allows the counslers to become their confidants. These kids, no matter what their age will open up to you, even when you don't expect it. You smile, they smile. The music you play for them, they will start to like. I still maintain contact with many of the girls who I was a cabin counsler to. This bonding experience is fortified by evening activities of dressing up in silly clothing and playing games, having your campers cheer your on as you act in a skit just to entertain them. You give them awards for being the funniest or the best book worm at the end of every session.

I recived letters from my campers a few days after they left camp, saying how much I helped them become confident in themselves; It broke down in tears because I never knew how powerful of a personality I had until that moment. I realized that I was a role model and I had changed these girls for the better.

If you want to help children develop as leaders, then you must be true to yourself first. You must have the ability to listen to these kids when they are having a hard day and you must be excited for them when they learned a new skill at the lake. You are their "stand in place" parents. Great campers are made from great counselors and great counselors are made when the dynamic between all of them is powerful. The counselors at Riverway are there for each other as well as the campers. When everyone wears their heart on their sleeve and helps other unconditionally, that is when great role models and leaders are made.

My experience as a camp counselor there was almost one year ago. It changed me for the better. I become a happier person overall and I am never without a smile. I am confident that I passed this trait onto the kids I came in contact with. Taking a job there was the best decision I made in my life.

Learn more about this author, Joanna Nelius.
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