How to Spend Your Day off at Camp
‘DOFF’, like most things at camp, is a word formed by combining two words because who has time to say “Day off” when you can say DOFF? At most camps, counselors get one day off a week.
At most camps, counselors get one day off a week. At my camp this was Monday night into Tuesday. Throughout the 8 weeks spent at camp I had 6 days off, so I’m here to tell you how to spend them wisely.
There are two main ways I’d break it down: relaxed DOFFs and not-so-relaxed DOFFs
For your first DOFF i’d recommend swaying towards a not-so-relaxed DOFF as you’ll have more energy at the beginning of camp than you will towards the end. As well as this, it is a great opportunity to get to know your co-staff on a different level, outside of the working environment (not that camp resembles any normal working environment).
Go to the nearest town or city and explore all it has to give. If you’re in a remote area then the nearest town is sure to have a lot of local history to offer. If you’re not too far from a big city then why not grab a bunch of people, figure out your travel and go on a 24hour city break. Civilisation might scare you at first for you haven’t seen people dressed in normal clothes for a while now but if you aren’t travelling after camp then this is the best way to see as much as you can whilst in the States.
Another way to spend your DOFF is to throw a party with your fellow colleagues. For my first ever DOFF, returning staff members had hired an Airbnb and threw a party. It was a great way to get to know the people you’ll be working alongside for the rest of the summer in a more comfortable environment. With party games we managed to get the whole crowd together, sing and learn more about each other. So get your party hat on and dance the night away!
Trying to save your money for travels after camp or just fancy a more relaxed DOFF? Here are some alternatives...
Staying on camp and catching up on sleep is one of the best ways to spend a day off. After most DOFFs staff tend to come back more tired than they left (I didn’t even know that was possible) so having a lie in and staying tucked up in bed for most of the day is a luxury. One of my best DOFFs was spent at the lake, sunbathing, listening to music and laughing with my friends. We ended the night with a takeaway pizza at the top of the Corral hill that looked over all of camp, watching the sunset and playing our favourite camp tunes.
If you fancy a chilled day but want to get off camp then why not head to the nearest shopping mall to get your nails done (warning: they will be covered in camp grime in a matter of hours), go bowling or to the cinema? These days truly allow you to re-energise yourself and unwind from all the craziest of daily life at camp which, in turn, enables you to be the best version of yourself for the kids.
Another option is tubing. Something I hadn’t heard of before camp. It basically requires you to sit in a rubber ring and float down a river. Bobbing along the Hudson river was an annual highlight for me at camp. It was a way to get off camp, explore a little on the way and then relax for hours in the sun. Not the mention the laughter that comes hand in hand with watching your friends rubber ring capsize.
Organising your DOFF doesn’t have to be stressful. Arranging a lift and transport can be tricky but if you don’t have a mode of transport then remember it is never a waste to spend your day off on camp, taking it all in while you can because it is a magical place you’ll be desperate to return to the second you leave. One thing to remember with your limited days off is that it is your time; time to do what you wish, create memories, slow down, and make the most of the summer that will be over in a heartbeat.
