This past summer, I served as a group counselor at the Bea's Kids summer camp. Bea's Kids is a community organization that gives children of lower income families a place to hang out, and it works to keep these children off of the streets. At first, I thought this community service opportunity would be a drag, but the moment I saw the kids come rushing through the doors with a great sense of excitement on their faces, I realized that it was going to be an awesome time.
As a camp counselor, me and one other volunteer were assigned to lead a group of about thirty children, ranging from grades 7-12. When looking at the group roster, I first thought that it would be easy to get these kids to do what I ask, oh how I was so wrong. All the kids in my group wanted to hang out with their buddies in other groups. As the camp days went on, I realized that in order to get the group to do what I asked, I almost had to stoop down to their level, and become equal, rather than try and be that high and mighty leader guy.
With me as a leader, I think the group as a whole took on a whole new attitude, especially towards me. Going into it, my group knew nothing about me, and I knew nothing about my group. Through the many tasks I performed with the kids, I realized how I tend to take the things I have for granted. The kids that attended this camp were so grateful to just have a place to hang out while their parents worked, and I tend to complain when I can't hang out with friends.
I would say that the thing that made my leadership most successful was my ability to communicate with the group. I was able to drop to their level and communicate with them, rather than try and act like I was above the rest of them. Also, during the games we played, I was able to take control, and organize the teams so the game would be played successfully. The hardest part of each day, was usually trying to get the group from one activity to the next. However, because of good communication, and the rapport that I was able to establish with the group, it was not as hard as one might think.
