GBHS students get the opportunity to go to camp

On Feb. 1, the school bus departed from Roseville to Nevada County. Every year, 6th graders at Excelsior Elementary school, spend a week at Outdoor Education Camp.
   The camp, called Shady Creek, is one of the most popular events that the kids look forward to – but they were not the only ones.
   Students at various local high schools, including Granite Bay High School, have the chance to sign up to be a camp counselor for the week.
   After filling out an application, the school reviews the applications, conduct interviews and choose the best candidates.
   “The qualities we look for in a student counselor are leadership, dependability, experience working with younger students, good grades, a willingness to serve, a good attitude and a fun-loving spirit,” said Diane Duncan, the principal of Excelsior Elementary school.
   The job as a counselor is to ensure that the students feel happy, safe and secure. When students get assigned a cabin, the counselors set up cabin rules, have a theme and make sure that all of the camp rules are being followed. Most importantly, counselors have to be a good role model for their kids.
   But, as the day progresses, everyone has different duties.
   GBHS sophomore Juliana Rowe worked in the kitchen during the daytime.
   “I would be doing the dishes and mopping the kitchen floor,” Rowe said.
   GBHS senior Spencer Kimes was another counselor. Every day, there were two different periods that the sixth-grade classes had to go to. Kimes helped out and attended the first morning period, but the second one was his break time.
   Even though these two counselors had different duties at the camp, Shady Creek was still very enjoyable for both.
   “My favorite moment of the camp was probably the dance at the last day,” Rowe said. “My younger sister, whom I was a counselor for, apparently had a boyfriend that was dancing a bit too crazy, so jumped in, pushed him out of the way and put a lot of space in between them. It definitely made my week.”
   After a week of being out with nature and a giant pack of sixth graders, these GBHS counselors had to return to school once more and face the week full of make-up work they’ve missed.
   As Rowe talked to each of her teachers, she realized that even though the load of work might be difficult to finish, the teachers were there to help her when she needed the help. She crammed in as much work as possible and used the three-day weekend to her advantage.
   “I’m taking really challenging classes like honors Spanish and AP European History so it kind of killed me,” Rowe said. “But I think it was worth it because I was able to be my sister’s counselor and I enjoy working with kids.”
   Although the heavy load of make-up schoolwork was difficult for the Shady Creek counselors, the counselors didn’t seem to regret the decision they made.
   Kimes had such an enjoyable time that he’s even looking in to becoming a counselor for Shady Creek during the summertime.
   “If I got to counsel again, I would,” Rowe said. They actually asked me to return and I definitely want to for the next two years.”
   These students were inspired to become counselors because of their own personal experiences at camp.
   “I remember when I went to Woodleaf  (now called Shady Creek) in 6th grade, I had a great time and I admired my counselor,” Kimes said. “I’ve wanted to be a counselor ever since that experience.”