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Students find jobs, entertainment at Camp UREC |
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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
by CORY WATSON
News Reporter
While most Appalachian State University students have left the High Country for the summer in search of employment, there are some students who have decided to stay in Boone to seek local job opportunities.
One of the largest employers in Boone is University Recreation, a division of Student Development, employing more than 20 students this summer as counselors and programmers for its second annual Camp UREC.
Students are provided with the opportunity through Camp UREC to better their leadership skills while still having fun in an energetic and engaging environment.
 Camp UREC employs more than 20 Appalachian students this summer. The camp is for first through rising eighth graders. Photo by Alisha Park
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Erin C. Carpenter, director of Camp UREC, said the camp is open to
children who are rising first-graders to rising eighth-graders and
gives Appalachian students the opportunity to obtain hands-on
experience working with children of the High Country.
Students can assume several roles in the camp, ranging from planning
activities for the children to executing activities with them, she
said.
Carpenter explained that UREC is unique in comparison with other
employers in the area because it places students above revenue in terms
of importance.
“We realize that you’re a student first,” Carpenter said. “You come to
Appalachian to get an education and not for a job. So we’re going to
try be flexible with some things.”
Carpenter, who is now the camp director for the second consecutive
year, says she enjoys watching students develop and mature through the
course of camp.
“Some students come in with not a lot of experience working with kids,”
Carpenter said. “Watching students trip and stumble, but then pick
themselves up and become confident in their ability is really a
blessing,” she said.
In its early stages, one of the more difficult aspects of camp for
students to endure can be the exhaustion that accompanies the job.
“I’m tired,” said junior international business and Spanish major Anne
E. Giles. “I’m very tired. But it’s going to get better.”
Giles, who works with rising first-and-second-grade children, came to
Camp UREC looking for a job where she could be active and meet people
of all ages.
Despite how tired she was, Giles said it was more than worth it because
of the opportunities available to interact with people, specifically
children.
However, one counselor said that he wasn’t all that tired after the first week of camp.
Senior English major Luke C. Strader has worked with camp before and is
now in his second summer as a camp counselor working with rising
fifth-and-sixth-grade children.
“I wouldn’t say I’m too tired,” Strader said. “It’s a little more than a normal day at school.”
“The first time sitting down at the end of the day really hits you, but it’s nothing too outrageous,” he said.
Strader said that he expects to have gained more of an appreciation for how fun kids can be by the end of camp.
“There really is nothing better than just hanging out with kids and having fun,” he said.
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