Why I work at Wico

When hiring our staff throughout each off-season and planning for the summer ahead, we try and explain to our applicants what working at Wico really encompasses. We frequently discuss the sessions, the 3Cs, the responsibilities of a cabin counselor and the dual role a counselor at Wico has. We talk about a first year staff member meeting new friends, being role models to campers and possibly working harder than they ever have before. Katy, nicknamed “Katy with Y” during Summer 2022, explained what working at Wico meant to her and we could not have said it better. Katy, thank you so much and we are so glad you are part of the Wico family.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It’s waking up every morning at the crack of dawn, and just as they are still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, your campers are already finding ways to fill the room with laughter and their loud stomps to the bathroom.

It’s being a shoulder to cry on for your girls in their hardest moments as well as being their biggest cheerleader, celebrating them in their best moments.

It’s watching your homesick kids fall in love with camp, as they open up their hearts to not only you, but to camp as a second home.

It’s learning to be a kid again, dancing out in the rain with your girls, completely barefoot wearing tutus on your heads; fully embracing constantly being covered in sweat, dirt, glitter, and acrylic paint, because you know that however it got there, it was worth it.

It’s spending every waking moment with your favorite people in the world, and every meal spent hoping that a dance party breaks out in the middle of the dining hall, and not wishing to have it any other way.

It’s looking forward to ending every day with your girls, with either a puppet show or late night dance party; and once you finally do go to bed, you can’t wait to wake up the next day and do it all over again.

It’s not always perfect, the breakdowns are inevitable, but in the toughest moments you’ll be met with the unconditional love and support from your co-counselors- your best friends, your family; who will see you at your worst and love you to your best.

It’s these kids, these people, the camp community that will overwhelm you with love and happiness you never thought was possible.

And by the end of the summer, it’s learning that the hardest part of the job is saying goodbye.

It’s all of this that makes the job so special, unlike anything else you’ll ever experience. So if you aren’t working Wico, you’re doing it wrong.