Meet a Director: Cat

It’s time for our last director introduction! You’ve already met her in your interview, but Cat’s here today to say hi.

Cat’s biggest job during the summer is taking care of YOU, but you may also find her handing out t-shirts, coordinating the Honor Council, or helping out with Program Staff.

Watch the video below to hear from Cat, and then check out her Q+A afterwards. Want to say hi?

Get to know Cat:

• Years at camp: 12 as a camper, 15 on staff!
• During the year, I…. Get to talk to all of YOU about the best job ever.
• Here’s what you can find me doing during the summer now: Having one-on-one meetings with staff, organizing t-shirts, and jumping in to every Greystone Groove dance I can.
• Come find me if… You want a hug on a hard day or someone to celebrate a good day with!
• These are a few of my favorite things: Reading the newest thriller, trying out new desserts, and meeting your dog.
• Something I’m loving right now: Ellie Holcomb’s Psalms album and Full Swing - apparently I like golf??
• Something I want you to know about this summer: it will be different from what you expect but has the potential to be so much better! Come in flexible and willing to make it all about the campers and you won’t be disappointed.
• My best advice to counselors is… pray all the time! None of us can do this job relying on our own strength, but the Lord works in our weakness and He is already preparing the way for you to make an impact this summer.
• Working at Greystone as a counselor is… never long enough!

Orientation will be here SOON, and we are counting the days until you arrive at camp! May is full-on camp-prep mode for us, and we know you’ll be doing lots of packing and preparing as well over the next couple of weeks.

This Newsletter will be your one-stop-shop for important to-do’s and reminders before you arrive at camp. Have specific questions? Just reach out to us! We want to make sure you feel prepared and confident every step of the way. Here we go!

• Required - Pre-Arrival Health Screening Form: ALL staff will need to fill out this quick online form before you arrive for Orientation! This form will go live in your camp account the week before you arrive and will ask you a few simple questions. We’ll send you a reminder, but mark your calendar now so that you don’t forget!
• Fill out a background check. This will take you 2 minutes! Just make sure you do it by May 22nd.
• Shipping your bags to camp ahead of time? Fill out this form! This will help us keep track of your bags and get them to you when you arrive.
• Know your Enneagram Number: We’ll spend some time in Orientation talking about the Enneagram and how it can help you work with those around you. You may already know your number, but if you don’t, we recommend checking out this book or taking a test. If you can’t figure it out before you arrive, don’t worry! We’ll go over the basics during Orientation.
• Department GroupMe Groups: Earlier this month you should have been added to a new GroupMe group for the counselors you’re teaching your activity with. Look for that if you haven’t joined, and go over and say hi! If you’re having trouble accessing the group, and she can help you out.
• Important forms and to-do’s - don’t forget! Here are some important things you need to check off BEFORE you arrive at camp: complete your staff forms (these were due May 1st), order from the Staff Store (this was due April 25th), watch the Ministry Safe Training if you haven’t completed it previously (by May 22nd), and fill out your background check form (by May 22nd). If this is your first year at Greystone, make sure to look at the New Staff page. The Newsletter homepage has a checklist to make it easy on you!

Arrival Dates and Times

We know it’s hard to keep all of the details straight, so here’s a quick reference guide to arrival times and dates for different departments. If your activity area requires Pre-Orientation Training, it will be listed below, and Ellen-Anne will have been in touch with you about it. Otherwise, we’ll see you for Full-Staff Orientation between 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 26th!

If you have questions about your arrival date or time, and she can answer!

Packing tips:

One of the things our first-year staff wonder about the most is packing. What will I need? How much should I bring? What if I under-pack or overpack? What’s normal? We get it, and we want to help! Still wondering about something after reading? Shoot us a quick text - nothing is too small or silly!

• Start with our Staff Packing List for the basics. Make sure to scroll through to the 2nd page for tips and tricks from the people who know best - our former staffers!
• Consider what you’ll pack in. You will move all your items yourself multiple times throughout the summer, so portability is key. Many staff like to use plastic tubs or duffels (instead of a bulky camp trunk) for this reason.
• Focus most on the items you’ll use and wear every single day: shorts and t-shirts, good shoes, a fan, a flashlight, and comfy bedding. Yes, it’s nice to have a couple of cuter outfits and a costume for every occasion, but those will sit in your drawer a lot of the time.
• A few necessities you may not have thought about: an alarm clock (no phone in your cabin to wake you up!), a watch (same, for on the go; no Apple watches please!), a head lamp (many of our staff prefer these to flashlights!), and stationery for all the snail mail you’ll send.
• It’s always handy to have your own set of scissors, markers, and duct tape - you’ll be surprised by how much you use them!
• You’ll be glad to have a comfortable set of whites (the all-white outfits we wear on Sundays and for our traditional EP’s. These can be anything you want, as long as they are all-white with no crazy designs or logos). Think white running shorts and a t-shirt - great for pulling on when you’re sweaty and gross!
• Overall, don’t stress too much! If you forget something, there’s always Amazon (and lots of new staffer friends to borrow from!). Camp is simple, and your packing can be as well.