Camp Counselors' Perspectives: Finding Your Direction

Hear from Riley, a first-year staff member from New Zealand, about how his experience at Falling Creek gave him more direction in life.

Watch the video below, next in the series from the perspectives of our summer staff!

Riley

Marketing and Economics Major

“Before I came to Falling Creek, I didn’t really know where my life was headed, but definitely now I know it’s much more oriented towards giving myself to other people. I just recently graduated from University and I was in a graduate role where I was pushing pens, looking at 2 computer screens for 8 hours a day, and that drove me mad.

So I came halfway around the world to experience a summer camp, because where I’m from, summer camp doesn’t really exist. Being here I was able to dip my toes in the water for teaching, and to see if I liked teaching kids. It’s fulfilled me a lot to be fair. It kind of completely realigned my life and where I’m headed in terms of like, I now know that I want to work with people. I love engaging with people, I love talking to people, connecting with people. I think the best part is this place. I think this place is really, really special. It’s got a really cool spiritual element to it which is really unique and I think like, I’m leaving here in two weeks and I could stay for 10 more summers.

But with my time off there’s people that I’ve gone kayaking with, gone canoeing with, and stuff like that. So, the activities that are offered here you can actually jump in on during your days off and you can actually have fun with the other counselors and the other kids and stuff. They’re here to provide a very genuine experience of America, right? They are like your tour guides, they show you around the place, they get you in the cracks of America that normal tourists might not see. Yeah, these guys know what’s up.

Come to Falling Creek. Just do it. You will definitely not regret it. You will have like one of the best summers of your life, you’ll be looked after, and you’ll go home with a lifelong memory it. It’ll be worth it. Trust. Do it.”

You can apply here, or if you’re interested in tailoring your summer employment experience as an internship!