When Everyone Else Got Younger, and You Didn’t

Here’s how the story usually goes. You came up to camp as a new staffer. At the start, you were joined by friends or a larger cohort. Maybe in the first couple years, you even recruited a few more friends to join you. But as the years went on, whether by distance, personal events, professional events, and so on, that cohort slowly shrunk until it was just you. As you sit and look around the room during staff meetings, you also notice that the faces are getting younger and younger. New inside jokes, new phraseology, and incredible stamina; you remember once being able to stay up that late with that level of energy, but for some reason, now, you’re not even sure how you were ever able to do it. Then, suddenly, you feel old… and that’s what this article is all about. 

I find that for most, this is the point where staffers feel the universe is telling them their time at camp is over. Questions and statements like:“how do I interact with staffers who are younger than me?” or “I’m not able to do camp like I used to,” and “I’m not sure where I even fit anymore.” I hear these statements a lot. Like a lot a lot. But as a person who’s had those same thoughts and feelings on multiple different occasions, I think these moments are not indicators that time is up, but instead, just key evolution points. Let me explain more. 

‍

New Relationships Use the Same Muscles

The first common lament I hear is, “Staff are so young now, how do I even interact with them?” 

Short and easy answer: It’s the same as interacting with campers. 

With a camper, it doesn’t matter that your taste in music, fashion, or pop culture is radically different than theirs. It doesn’t matter that you don’t understand 92% of the new generational terms and social media references that they’re spouting off. We’re all able to move past that and build strong relationships with our campers. It’s not any different with new staffers. Just because a new staffer isn’t a camper doesn’t mean they now secretly judge you for not knowing the latest 15-second video that’s going viral; instead, they’re outwardly judging you, and teasing you to your face, as a means of relationship building. But all jokes aside, figuratively and literally, they want to get to know you. Most new staffers are eager to perform, to experience, and feel camp in their bones, which means they want to meet the people who have been around, who are going to help them do that. 

Start by thinking about your style. Each of us has a unique way of building relationships with campers. Some find groups and insert themselves into the conversation, others take a one-on-one approach; it doesn’t matter. When it comes to connecting with new staff, just do what you do with campers: 1) move past your insecurity about not knowing the latest Gen Z references, then 2) use that same relationship-building muscle. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

‍

You Actually Have More Impact, Not Less

Now, on a deeper level, it’s easy to start thinking, “Well, I’m less effective now that I’m older.” But, it’s really quite the opposite; in reality, your impact is increasing. With the experience you have, the influence you carry, and the wisdom you hold, you’re actually among the group of people that camp needs the most. It’s the seasoned and experienced staff members who help the program come up with its most creative ideas and help it through its toughest situations. It’s also the most experienced who truly set the tone and culture. They’re really the ones that make camp feel like “camp.” 

Think about this way - of any program you’ve been to, or even while at school - list the people that you remember the most. The super majority of that list are ones who’ve been around. 

But, yes, I get it. You’re still tired and fatigued, wondering if you can keep up in the same way that you have in the past. This is natural and expected. As part of the evolution, the key consideration here is a new position. Maybe you switch teams, or maybe you take the same role, but revise your activity in a way that works for you. Again, it doesn’t mean you’re doing less, it’s quite the opposite, your impact has never been greater, but you’ve adapted the way that you allocate your time & energy throughout the week. 

‍

So, all that said, if you’re an older staffer and you’re reading this, camp needs you. It needs your experience, your wisdom, and so long as there’s a place for it in your heart, don’t let these two things be the things that hold you back. Yes, camp will be different as you age, but in this case, different isn’t bad; it’s just a new evolution. So don’t be stupid and let these stupid reasons be the thing that keeps you from coming back up.