More Than a Summer Job: Counselors Reflect on GFS Camp

Barefoot children dancing and giggling, leaving vibrant footprints from paint-dipped feet: this is one of Becky Morales’ warmest memories from her nearly decade-long time working with GFS summer camps.

"There's no rush at camp," said Morales, who is a GFS third grade teacher in addition to being a summer camp co-director. "Students have the freedom to explore. If they find something they really like, they can keep at it until their heart's content."

Over the course of eight weeks, GFS hosts nearly 50 widely varying camps for explorers of different ages—from math, English, and art programs to robotics, wizardry, and urban biking. The rich selection of camps is a reflection of the GFS school curriculum, emphasizing self-discovery through a trove of courses, projects, and extracurriculars.

Looking over a fast-paced gaga ball battle on the GFS Lower School playground, Amir Johnson, an incoming neuroscience freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, reflected on his experiences as a GFS camp counselor. He’d been working at GFS camps since he was a freshman in high school. 

“It was amazing starting my first year. I always knew a camp counselor job would be fun. It’s been great interacting with kids and with my coworkers.”

For some, GFS summer camps are their first experiences with the GFS community, allowing them to make friends, meet their teachers, and learn the ins-and-outs of campus well before the start of the school year. For others, camps offer an opportunity to continue building relationships and taking advantage of leadership opportunities.

Across campus, working with students on the sets and props for a production of “Newsies”, was Campbell McCormack ‘25, a recent GFS graduate. They were encouraged by music faculty Carly DeCock to join her as a counselor in theatre camps two years ago. 

“The students are so creative, and they're always so happy to get up on their feet and try new things and make big mistakes. It’s the best to watch kids learn how to inhabit their bodies in a theatrical space.”

McCormack, who was an active part of GFS’ Upper School Theatre program, will begin studying English and theatre at the University of Chicago this fall.

GFS summer camps aren’t just fun and games—though there’s certainly no shortage of that. They’re also a space where students and counselors come back year after year as they move through different stages of life.

“It’s amazing coming back every summer and seeing the kids grow up,” said Johnson. “And it’s cool, because I’m also growing up.”