Dear parent,
I am writing about something very important, which you may not even realize is important. I am a counselor in a day camp, even though this applies to counselors in overnight camps too.
As a counselor, when I come to a day-camp every day, I have two main responsibilities:
1) To give the kids a good time in an educational manner.
2) To make sure the kids are safe.
The second thing is not that easy, seeing that there are a lot of things a small boy likes to do when his parents are not there that are not really so safe.
Still, I (and we) try my hardest every day – in the heat and humidity, even when I may be tired, I still give it my best effort.
Now most parents think counselors work for, and are paid by, the camp, and so tipping would be extra.
Well, I have news for you:
In most camps that is not the case, the camp relies on youth corp. to pay its staff, and if they don’t get money from them, then we get a few dollars from camp or even nothing.
So we turn back to you. I know tuition may be high and why would you want to spend more. But on the other hand, don’t you tip your waiter and taxi driver to the airport.
It is the right thing to do. Especially when your precious child had fun and was kept safe and happy. Don’t you think it’s only fair to give a small tip of a few dollars to the counselors for their hard work?
I think you’ll agree that they deserve a small token of appreciation. Please show us you think we did a good job. Show your son the meaning of hakaras hatov.
Thank you,
Your child’s counselor
dont know what genarartion your from but my mother went to camp and she always tipped
what a chutzpah!!! i dont know if you were ever a witness to the amount of effort that goes into making your child have a great summer!!! i am a counselor and whether or not you tip me doesnt change how i treat your kid!!!! i love all my campers and whether their parents choose to tip us or not we give them our heart and soul!!! i am simply disgusted by the ungratefulness you are showing.
to# 93
most counselors dont care who tips them or not it is very sick to call counselors vindictive pimply teenagers if your sons counselor is like that complain to the head counselors and request a bunk change though it is true that the directors should pay more i am not so sure tuition cvers expenses such as electricity bus drivers cook
I am tight on cash, but I tipped my kids counselors nice and very generous, because of the terrible neglect that would ensue if I didnt. Tipping is NOT for a job well done. Tipping is bribery for the incompetents that the camps hire and don’t pay. I see the directors rolling in my dough, but I will continue to cough up loads of it, because I know my kid will get treated a little better. it is highway robbery: the camps are no longer mosdos, but businesses, shrai gevald, but what can you do? We are being held at… Read more »
they are made out of cups starphone
we are not even asking for $$$, we just want some appreciation!!!!!!
A counselor
For a $10 or $15 tip…
Wow… we are in trouble…
I know times have changed but 42 years ago counselors did not get paid, did not recieve tips. We had a great time, money was not a issue, infact we felt it was a privalige to be chosen.
…and then cry poverty when it comes to paying tuition at school, so the school in turn will not be able to pay the melamed, who will be pressured to tip both his son’s counselors, the learning teacher, waiter. and bus driver …
everyone needs to just calm down……counselors work super hard…its seriously not a joke…..they use all their energy and as one counselor pointed out some of their own money to make it the best possible experience!! as a shliachs child i c money is deff not coming in by the barrels but i kno my mother always always tipped and said a big thank you because she had an understanding of what was right!!!! as for people who say that its sad when the furst question is money…thts the world we live in…as well as it being an experience its a… Read more »
This is a cheap article…there are some bochurim and bochuros who do this lishmo and they give their lives and they deserve both payment from the camp (at least minimum wage with overtime as dina demalchuta requires) so the camps won’t get sued for “child labor” and “violation of slave labor laws, and these counsellors also deserve a nice tip when a parent can afford it. There are others who unfortunately do this to “get out of learning” and “choose places that are exotic” and have no interest in the children other than doing what is minimally required. Such counsellors… Read more »
when I was younger my parents sent me to a local Jewish, but not religous, camp.
There was no such thing as tipping. Even today this is a thing found in religous camps only.
when i work i don’t care 4 tips but I DO want a thank you note to know i am appreciated
Also I don’t treat my campers diff based on who they are, popular,… I don’t believe most counselor do either
i love all my campers sooooooooo much and i am really truly gonna miss them when the summer is over
most peaple lets say have 7 kids and send them to school for 8 hours a day and still think its hard.in camp 3 staff take care of 12 kids for 24 hours aday that means acting like mother father and teacher. kids cry to their staff there staff buy them stuff out of there pocket and so on.
do you think if these staff walk out with 500 that is to much
I think that this whole tips idea needs to be changed! if a parent wants to tip let them give it to the director who will split all tips equally and give it to the counselors. This way the counselors wont know who gave and how much and the parents who cannot afford to tip-wont need to.
Obviously every parent should still send a thank you card.
I know from experience that they would be appreciated!
The only job that collects tips is a mohel. If you guys want tips, become a mohel!
to qoute you, “YOU should be taking up your issue with YOUR camp director. He should be paying you a salary, and not make you slave like a dog without pay.” that sounds really funny, im not sure how tuned in you are to these things, but these days non of us feel needed, we have fight for a counselor position, the director then has the liberty (also under the umbrella of shlichus) not to pay & “make us slave like dogs” i we ask for more money? goodbye. the camp has another 50 buchorim lined up to happily fill… Read more »
I am a teacher and at the end of the year I do get gift cards, visa cards etc.. but it all doesn’t mean much when it comes with a card and a few lines that say thank you for a great year. But when I get a card which my student wrote in it and a nice letter from the parents it is something I keep forever and keeps me going. It is something also my children can always look at and say wow! My Mother was a good teacher and they have something to be proud of! Money… Read more »
tip your counslers and show hakaros hatov
in other countries…where the tip concept doesn’ t exist…
the camp gives tips to the most devoted counslors!
if yes then notice how this is more important if not cuz u cant aford it then nobody wants to scratch off ur last pennies so they forgive u
BSD yes we must show appreication however its not always in $$. alot of parents cannot afford the expense of camp and they have tremendous mesirus nefesh. i think we all must have a little more bitochon here that Hashem sees our struggles and will help us. i feel this article is crass to say the least. its not like we as parents are shirking our responsiblity by not giving a tip. camp is not a luxury its something that especially now in these days absolutely needed for the kids. i think the owners of the camps have to rethink… Read more »
as a counselor a can say it would be nice to at least get a note
Is my son going to be treated badly by his counselor because I cant tip this year?
My checks are bouncing and I cant afford the tips either .
PLEASE dont treat my son badly because of that
its the money thing that bothers. it doesn’t sit well. do you really think that in todays day and age a thank you note would make a counselor feel the same way towards a child as the one who handed him a $100. i doubt it. not todays generation of youth, that have all these great expectations. years ago i would believe it but not today. today when you ask girls or boys to do shlichus work or even chesed, they first question they ask is “how much will i get paid”. sad reality.
I have been in overnight camp for two years and in my expiriance the parents of the good campers tip, and the parents of the bad campers do not…doesn’t that tell you something about the parents…
You put it the best
Counselors must understand the financial position of the parents. Most lubavitch families have many children and the expense of sending them to camp is enormous. 3 boys for the summer can come to almost $9000. At the same time counselors should realise they are not doing the job for the money, if they want money dont go to camp get a job for 2 months. I really dont like the tipping business as you cannot avoid preferential treatment after visiting day, AT the same time parents should be aware that the majority of counselors work very hard and the most… Read more »
IF THE REBBE TIPPED WHEN HE WENT TO GAN ISRAEL YOU CAN TIP TO!!!!!
Back in the day we didnt get paid much but we went as part of helping a shaliach or to have a good time after camp. As parents I wonder when did money become such a big issue for our youth. Most these boys and girls are taken care of by the camp with a car, food, apt and a bit extra for the week. We pay for camp to pay you. Yes if I was wealthy and not living the financial difficulties of a shaliach (unfortunately I think today this applies to many others as well) ideally I wold… Read more »
I was a waiter, Counselor for 4 years, Head waiter, Head counselor for 2 years and now a parent of three campers. The concept of a tip works as follows: I will give you an extra monetary thank you because you have gone above and beyond the call of your duty. NOT for just simply doing the minimum that is required in your job, but for the extra love and devotion you have shown to my child. Unfortunately I have seen staff who did not even deserve the 11 cent an hour wage that camp gives and others that deserve… Read more »
i am a camp director. here’s my perspective. most children in our camp come in on a scholarship, some paying nothing at all. obviously this is different for all camps, some camps make money on camp tuition. we pay our counselors a small something, and we take really good care of them. (we have numerous counselors returning for a few years). we encourage parents to tip, or if they can’t afford it, we encourage them to write a note, or if nothing more, verbally express appreciation. of course money is appreciated, but most of all, counselors want to know that… Read more »
hakaros atov could come in many ways, not just with money…. u can use words infornt, 4 example!
tip your counselours
and LT s a;lso
i am a counselor as well.
and true, i am not making much, and would love to get tips at the end, but… its not as much about the money, as it is feeling appreciated.
if you don’t have enough money, that is ok, just send a thank you letter, just show that you know the counselor works hard.
as a human being, tried hard as i may to treat all my campers equal, imstill human and therefore treated somecampers better and others worse due to tips.
additionally it turned out that if i go the extra mile to treat the campers well their parents will treat me well,
the result was the second month 7 of 12 tipped mre than the first
I believe the counselors work just as hard, and the parents are not paying an exorbitant amount. they should be able to tip a few dollars and show some appreciation.
those kids dont get paid alot either.
I worked at a camp this summer and no parent gave me any tips until one came and gave me 200!!! It payed off for all the other.
So i get it that some cant afford but if you can then its nice and right to tip your childs counsler
Some of the English and grammar on this forum is horrific.
its called mesiras nefesh to help your kids – you’re right – these counselors could find jobs that’ll get them 100x the money, but they give that up so that they could give kids the ruchniyus and help they need. now a little thank you and some money would be very kind on your part.
As a counselor I can attest to the fact that even a small tip goes a long way. It doesnt have to be a big deal, something small still shows us that you appreciate all the hard work we do. Yes, we do choose to work as counselors, no we arent saying that you HAVE to tip us, but please understand that we do work very very hard to ensure that your child has a good time and a small token of your appreciation is very welcome. It doesnt even have to be money. I’ve worked in Gan Izzy for… Read more »
Nuff said!!!
to number 18 you are disgusting and despicable while unfortunately there are some who do neglect the kids that is not the norm most counselors work very hard and deserve to get paid to all those who worry about bias i myself am a counselor it is a very hard job but it is satisfying i dont get paid a lot i don accept tips till the last day after i get my tips i just take the money and dont look at who gave it because of bias if you cant give DONT give and i would do it… Read more »
i agree with #21 and we should litraly tip the waiters in the lake for all the time they waste on the sighns and thay wasted sooooooooooooooooooo manyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!in “the rebbes camp”???????????????????????????????????????
hey thats the tip your waiter sign in cgi montreal last month
tips dont just mean money, it can be a thank you card from you and or ur kid. it can mean an inexpensive gift or a homemade frame with a photo of ur child and counselor. if its an out of town camp, perhaps have the counslor over for a meal to thank him/her. there are many ways to tip. the counselor is hired like any other job (ie waiter, bellboys that get tipped) and your children are being taken care of. just bec you dont have money, doesnt mean you cannot tip another way TO the counselors: do not… Read more »
Hey counselors don’t fret. All those who object tipping counselors, probably don’t tip their taxi drivers or waiters in restaurants, (it’s the company’s job to pay them) so why should camp counselors be any different? Sad…
As a counselor in a day camp I received tips on the LAST day of camp, so obviously there is no bias towards kids who’s parents tipped generously (which there shouldn’t be anyway) so maybe if you are so concerned with that either give the counselor the tip on the last day or if your kid is in sleepaway give it to them to give to their counselor on the last day but it is menchlech to show your appreciation
Camp directors estimate average tips per staff member based on position – PAY THEM A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT!
Ban Tipping – IT CAUSED PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, and it creates kids that write such articles, along with all the other visiting day shtick!
PEOPLE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THE HOTTEST CHAMBERS OF HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE THAT REMAIN NEUTRAL IN A TIME OF CRISIS.
Make no mistake for many many parents – they’re in a financial crisis right now.
I’m horrified and hurt by the pressure for tipping generated toi parents and campers. I remember being upset as a camper that my parents couldn’t tip well and how embarrased I was on visiting day. I wish there were better finacial oversight of camps. There is a black hole somewhere. If the camps are legitimate not for profits I wonder if its possible to see theire balance sheets.
Where is all the money that the camp administration gets paid for each kid? They pack 20 kids into a stinken bungalow, where if it were in a bungelow colony, they would get a mere $2000. Here they got that amount or close FROM EACH KID! DO THE MATH… Just because the camp pockets the money and doesn’t pay the staff, so the parents have to pay DOUBLE??? Where is the “menschlichkeit” from the CAMP??? THEY should pay the counselor! Why do the parents have to pay TWICE??? People, i’m sorry, the staff do work hard and deserve to get… Read more »
just a short thankful note means so much and doesnt cost anything,
A small monetary token along with a note saying thanks for all you’ve done for my child. For that matter, teachers should be thanked the same way.
most of the time visiting day is 2 weeks into camp now there are still 2 weeks left so if u dont at least show your appreciation for the counsler dont forget there are still 2 weeks left and the counslers may be a little “upset” and there trying there hardest 2 give your kid a great time so at leat do it for your kidand the counsler will definitly appreciate it and remenber the tip for the next 2 weeks.!(my personel opinoin)and dont forgegt these counslers are working very hard for your son(no matter if they voletered or not)… Read more »
“reasons, ex. name, fame, shidouchim”
NO that is wrong do you really think that someone would give up a summer to be popular?
I am a staff member and the last thing I have on mind is “name, fame, shidouchim”
I am a staff member b/c I get lots of inspiration from seeing the way kids davin, learn, play etc… (especially shluchims kids you should know!!)
Mr.13, your comment is disgusting…
“Show your son the meaning of hakaras hatov.” This is the meaning of this counselor’s article. #3 is a perfect example of why there is a need for COLLIVE to EDIT comments. Before posting a comment, READ the article and make sure you understand its meaning. Please stop allowing the spreading of such ill-will in general and idiotic comments in particular.
wake up community!!!
it’s impossible for a counselor not to give preferential treatment to a child whose parents gave a handsome tip and therefore “real” camps prohibit tipping and staff are fired for accepting tips
we are falling asleep at the wheel and are children are in great danger!
HOW DARE U!!! i am a counselor and i work with around 25 other staff members and not ONE of them choses one kid over another. maybe the situation you were in was different, but you make it sound like all counselors are like that!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!
at least if you know that your child is a toughie……
tip in comparison to how much peace you got..
(MY son would never do that! im horrified!)
I worked at both orthodox and non-orthodox overnight camps. tuition was pretty similar in both. However, the in the non-orthodox camps we got paid much more. The parents were NOT allowed to tip. The facilities were nicer, and the parents showed their appreciation- they said thank you at the end of the session. In the orthodox camp I saw counselors treating kids differently based on parent’s tips in the past. We were paid very little by the camp and were told to work the parents for tips visiting day. Making the counselors work for tips is not good for the… Read more »
Do you honestly think that all the counselors are doing in the summer is trying to get out of helping your kid? That after avoiding the children as much as possible they proceed to there raucous parties? I just finished a very fulfilling six week program at a day camp, and there wasn’t a day I didn’t get back completely wiped-out helping EVERY one of my campers have a good time. For myself, and probably for most counselors my age, my attention wasn’t affected by the cliques that developed in my bunk. My job, was to give every child entrusted… Read more »
this year i was a consoler and a mother gave me $5.00 and a note i was very happy with it because i saw they cared!
cant generalize. who ever can give should give they deserve it. but they have to understand that there is families some large ones with few kids boy and girls that cant afford it. every dollar counts by them (G-D should help them). Beside the camp tuition there is many $$$ they need to spend to send kids to camp. We should understand each other.
Sometimes you get gifts or tips but the thank you is very small.
somtimes you get a heartfelt letter that is worth more then a $100 tip.
The main thing is Hakaros hatov write a letter from your heart it is appreciated much more then a gift or a money.
But, if you have the money then give it. it is a nice gesture.
…..is that working for the rebbe in gan yisroel was never about money! in my generation we didnt get tips ,we never expected tips and certainly never would dream of asking,…..so my friend,thanx for looking after our kids, from a parent that might have been ur councellor once apon atime GLADLY FOR NO MONEY!
$10 or $15
from a day camp counselor
I wonder if you were ever a staff member…
(By the way that photo is from CGIMontreal.com from last month visiting day!
So, what is an appropriate tip for a day camp counselor?
Expressed by a sincere thank you… maybe by a note of appreciation… it is NOT always money – some of us don’t have it! Bochurim don’t need it as badly as growing families!!
It is WRONG to demand tips by putting up signs and pressure on the campers… that conduct MUST stop!!!
As a counselor myself I agree with the article. Yes I did get paid this summer but the parents tipping does show their appreciation to the staff for their dedication to your children. The fact may be that you paid a lot for camp but the counselors aren’t asking for a large tip, even $20 makes a difference and shows you care… (and clearly the people saying so what you volunteered either don’t rememer what it was like being a counselor or never were, beaause regardless of the fact it IS a taxing and sometimes stressful thing)
I understand that the counslers work hard..they do and yes some of us pay full tuition for camp which is over 2000…but the counselors take care of our kids and make them have an amazing summer …with all the money that we spend on getting them ready for camp another 40 dollars to say thank you to 2 counselors is not such a big deal..its a way of saying thank you…they deserve it…
We cant afford to go to visiting day,the cost of the gas, let alone tip after sending kids to camp(and day camp)
there is nothing for kids over 10 to do in the city during the summer if there was maybe they wouldnt have to go to the expencive overnight camp and we would have something left to tip the wonderful counselor (who we DO realy apprciate)
I think your wrong.
Tipping is menschlech. That is all that needs to be said. Generally those who do not tip, are reflecting poorly on themselves.
The counselors should of course be tipped. If you cannot afford it, go to the counselor, voice your apprciation for the hard work and dedication, acknowledge that they deserve a tip, and explain how your financial situation precludes it. You might consider giving a gift – even a nosh for a few dollars to show that you are aware and appreciative of thier efforts.
most counselors work for their $… it is not a volunteer situation for most counselors… these counselors work hard and expect be paid… and the least the parents can do is tip…
it is just going to cost more to send a kid to camp cuz they are not paying for the staff the camp expects the parents to tip
i’ve seen many counselers who totaly neglect their jobs. the kids which arent popular dont get looked at by the counselers. i think that on the most part staff are there for sellfish reosons (as is also evident from all the after hours parties which go very late – an obvious distraction from responsibility) why the tip
New look to our oldest profession.
I send my kids to sleep over camps and put out so much money as it is – camp cost and and all the additional costs.
Then we have to tip staff – if we don’t we are considerd cheap, inconsidarate etc… Why can’t camp pay more why is it falling on the parents who are payin for camp?
i spend most of my summers in camp and now as a fellow parent who has to send kids to camp and pay tuition and a shliach who is not making it easy. the summer is a time that kids are out of school, camp fills that gap thy try to educate and to give them fun. so for parents yes its expensive but very worth it. a bochur gos to camp to get the experience that he study’s in yeshiva out thier for tow month’s he can teach and help with kids. this is a big responsibility and is… Read more »
There is absolutely no disputing that these junior and regular counsellors work very hard to give our kids a good time (and I thank you dearly for that) but we HAVE paid for camp, alot more than school tuition is. A person like me who has 7 kids in different camps, (and whilst I am by far not rich, I do not qualify for any scholarships), so do the math…. 7 kids, around 14 counsellors, in the overnight camps, add waiters/waitresses, learning counsellors, Rebbe’s etc. Do you have any idea how much this would cost in tips? Let’s face it,… Read more »
If the camp directors would know that they need to pay the counselor like mentchen, and if not they will NOT get counselors, they would pay, but the problem is that the BOCHURIM are running after the camps!!! (for various reasons, ex. name, fame, shidouchim… )
Been threre done that, as a counselor, and now b”H a parent…and still a teacher as well.
I give when I can, but when I can’t, I don’t. I expect from my student’s parents no less— if they can, nice, if they can’t, okay– they do pay tuition.
all the best, may we all have enough for everything
All theses people who oppose his idea don’t tip your counselors and waitresses?
No were not doing it for the tip but appreciate all the work were doing for your chilsd and say thank you with a tip
and no one said they were forced we do it to help out cam ad we do enjoy the job but its not easy
Parents are already milked dry from the camp’s outrageous tuition, they cannot be expected to give a handsome tip.
YOU should be taking up your issue with YOUR camp director. He should be paying you a salary, and not make you slave like a dog without pay.
If a parent has some extra cash and they would like to give a handsome tip, well, kudos to them. But for the majority of parents, don’t expect them to rip out their Neshama for you.
All the counselor is saying is that he would appreciate a tip. There always have to be comments like yours that disagree and state their own opinion. If you don’t want to tip, then don’t, but don’t discourage other parent’s on account of the counselor who works so hard.
i am a counselor too and i totally agree. sometimes it is not the amount that matters, but the thought. a nice card with a personal message shows us that yes, there are parents out there that realize how much time and effort was put into making their child have a fun and safe summer experience.
you dont volunteer you apply its a job just like any other thay just dont pay
I think your wrong.
You do deserve more money, granted. But that money is not to come from the parents who already paid an exorbitant amount to the camp to send his kid there.
Your complaint should be redirected to the camp director who the tuition money is going through, don’t complain to the parents.
I totally agree, and plan to tip my child’s counselors!!!
Yes we all do recognize the fact that you gave our kids an amazing summer and kept them safe and we thank you all very much for that,
But don’t volunteer for the job? You not forced to do it!
Yes we thank you all very much, but don’t make out in this letter that it a hardship and you cant be bothered and all you do it for is the tip?!?
short, sweet, and to the point. Very well said.
give counselors tips!!!!!!!!!!!!