Super Floaters are incredibly important to the SEP experience. They fill in for any counselors who have their day or night off, while also planning major camp-wide events and assisting the head counselor with their responsibilities.
Maggie is a rising fourth year at the University of Virginia. She's majoring in biology and religious studies and planning on going to med school after graduation.
Damon is a rising junior at Brown University. He is also a biology major with plans to go to med school.
How long have you been with SEP?
Maggie: This is my second year working here.
Damon: This is my second year working here as well, but I was a camper for seven years.
What about SEP made you want to come back and work here?
Damon: As much fun as it was to be a camper, it is so much more amazing to be behind the scenes, running the show, and taking care of the kids. I had such an incredible experience as a camper every year that I was at SEP that I just couldn't wait to come back to SEP and provide that same experience for the kids.
Maggie: Last summer was the most fun I've ever had with a job, and I wanted to repeat that again this year, while taking on more responsibility as a super floater.
What are your special topics?
Damon: My special topic is called Evolution of Animation. I am teaching my kids about how the styles and technology of animation has changed over the years. We watched clips from Steamboat Willie, Fantasia, Snow White and Seven Dwarves, Toy Story, Wallace and Gromit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride, and Wall-E. We also made storyboards and made a flipbook animation in order to showcase the skills we learned watching examples.
Maggie: Villains in Disney Movies. In this class we examine the villains from Disney animated classics and evaluate their positions in the films. We consider the villain's point of view and discuss various alternate ways a story can be told. Then we apply this knowledge and determine whether or not concrete ideas of good and evil actually exist in real world situations.
What's are your favorite parts of camp, and why?
Maggie: My favorite part of camp is FIELD DAY!!! The kids get so excited about competing in the different activities, including a water balloon toss, relay race, and tug of war. We come up with team cheers and it's an incredibly spirited part of the week!
Damon: My favorite part of camp is definitely the Trivia Challenge. As both a camper and a counselor I have been--and likely always will be--absolutely obsessed with random bits of trivia, so Trivia Challenge was a great way for me to find my way as a camper and to give back as a counselor.
You two don't have halls to decorate, but how have you added some personality your door decorations?
Maggie: My door has a unicorn on it.
Damon: My door theme is Batman!
Damon, you were a camper here for a long time. What's your favorite memory from that time?
I can't cite any particular memory, but my favorite parts were always just getting to meet new, smart people and hang out with people like me. I always learned that being smart isn't something to be ashamed of, but something to be celebrated and be excited about.
Do you prefer eating at O-Hill or St. Anne's?
Damon: I vastly prefer St. Annes, they have such amazing and varied food every day. I have no idea why the kids always seem to prefer O-Hill, I suspect that they just like the pizza.
Maggie: St. Annes! The food is high quality and the system for composting is fantastic!
What's something about you that someone might not expect if they didn't know you well?
Maggie: I consider myself pretty introverted normally, but if you met me at SEP you would never expect that! I'm always in front of the kids embarrassing myself with skits or jokes, but it's all in good fun.
Damon: I am an avid skateboarder, it's the best way I've found to release stress and just be at one with the world. You'll know if I haven't been able to skate in the while because I get antsy and anxious.
When you first started working here, what's something that surprised you?
Damon: I was surprised by how close I got to the other counselors, as a camper I always knew the counselors were close, but I never knew the how amazing the friendships were that formed between them.
Maggie: I was told that it would be hot and tiring, but I had no idea exactly what "hot and tiring" meant until working at SEP.
What are some funny happenings that have taken place this session?
Damon: The funniest thing this summer was my face when I realized I had to walk two stories down in order to take a shower.
Maggie: We play a game called "Counselor Dating Game" which is like The Bachelorette for the counselors. Instead of asking an eligible counselor where they would take the bachelorette on a date or what they look for in a girlfriend, one camper asked him to make a camel noise. Needless to say, it was entertaining for everyone!
What do you think is the most difficult part of the job?
Maggie: The toughest part of the job is getting to know each of the kids and hang out with them in the short period of two weeks!
Damon: The most difficult part of the job is maintaining the line between being a friend to the campers, but still remaining in an authoritative role so that I can keep them safe if a situation ever arises.
What do you think about gifted education?
Maggie: Working with gifted kids is very rewarding. It's fun to hear what sorts of ideas they come up with both in and out of the classroom.
Damon: I don't really know much about the current state of gifted education, but I know from my work in public schools in Providence that gifted education is super important, but unfortunately I feel like a lot of really smart kids get overlooked. I wish there would be more funding and interest in gifted education so that every kid can have the opportunities that they deserve.
h both in and out of the classroom.
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