Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Camp ends tomorrow. DS goes to the school district rec program. He typically has 3 counselors. I've been going back and forth about it. Two of the counselors are college-aged and the other is an older woman.
What do you think?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Personally I would. When I was a camp counselor I always got a gift

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Most camp counselors don't make that much and depend on tips.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

I've never heard of giving camp counselors tips or gifts and my son has been going to camp for several years now. I personally don't do it, and won't, since I pay a fortune already for it.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

My kids did a summer rec program and I gave them all Starbucks gift cards. By the time I was done with all the counsellors for 2 kids, I ended up getting 7 or 8 gift cards. I gave $20 to the main girl and $15 to the helpers (they all basically did the same work but one was officially in charge) My kids went for 4 weeks so I hope I gave the right amount, I didnt want to be cheap (my mother was saying $5 each ) but couldnt spend more than that.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Jacob's last day of camp was today.. We gave tips to all three counselors ( teachers) and an assistant ( teenager)...

We all gave the same ( 12) kids and put it in 1 envelope for each counselor... We did $10 each and for the assistant $5 each...

he only goes 2 hours a day for 2 days a week...

I thought this was low but the girls said during the year they give there gifts based on how many days you send your child to school at $5 a day...

I just did what everyone else did, personally I would have went higher with $20 a counselor and $10 for an assistant... I am the "new mom" ( they all have older ones) so I didn't want to step on anyone's toes..:-

Oh they did not give any guidlines....

Message edited 8/9/2007 9:08:47 PM.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Message edited 11/10/2011 5:45:04 PM.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Most camp counselors rely on tips as a big part of their summer income. They make peanuts. Many camps actually have tipping guidelines.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Yes, camps pay next to nothing..even for the adult head counselors..Yes, give monetary tips...It is a rough, tiring job being a counselor..I did it throughout college

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

I know someone that works in a camp upstate - and she says that they all depend on them - they usually get cash - but sometimes it is a gift card or a gift

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Sammy goes to day camp. The camp actually gives us a list of suggested tip amounts to give to the counselors.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

As a former camp counselor I can say that just about everyone tips. Out of 30 kids, maybe one family would stiff the counselors. I do not know if school run camps are the same but I would tip.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

They usually send something home with how much $ each counselor gets, I would give something nice!

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

We just received the "gratuity Suggestion list" in the mail today.
Head Counselor 35 -50
Counseler 20 - 35
Counselor in Trainging 15 - 25

They had something in there for the bus drivers

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Many years ago, I used to work for the YMCA and also a district as a camp counselor. I would get gifts/tips but not from everyone. The pay wasn't great.

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Posted by Summerrluvv

Posted by Marcie

Posted by Summerrluvv



Is this a sleepover camp or a day camp? I could see a gift or tip to sleepover camp counselors since they are with and carying for your child 24/7.

day camp

interesting. I am probably the mother that gets talked about then since I'm not a tipper. Albeit, he doesn't go to fancy pants camp, mostly not for profits, but they are still pricey (to me at least). Oh well

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

A cash tip or a gift card would be nice...When I worked at a camp I was always so happy to get a tip...really made my day

Re: Do I give a gift to the camp counselors?

As a former camp counselor, tips should be given. Yes camps are expensive, but the money does not go to the counselors. Working at a sleepaway camp, I made the equivalent of $2 an hour, day camp was simply minimum wage. You don't have to go into bankruptcy to give a tip, something as small as $10 would be greatly appreciated.