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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by SweetTooth
Posted by hazeleyes33
Can I ask how long ago you were a camp counselor and was it at a place that charged customers alot of money?
Sure, I started about 10 years ago and did it for 3 summers. I worked at two camps which were very expensive. I'll admit that was part of my expectation for tips - I knew I had kids living in mansions in Muttontown.
If I had worked for a town camp or something similar, I would not have expected the same amount in tips. I do not know if the town camps pay differently.
Thanks. My kids go to a town camp, MUCH less than those expensive camps. Maybe they ARE paid much better as I have NEVER been asked for a tip.
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Posted 8/19/09 1:46 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Calla
My girls
Member since 7/05 4303 total posts
Name:
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by hazeleyes33
ITA with you. You should NOT get something from a camp telling how much THEY think you should give. If and how much you choose to tip should be decided by you.
I have to add, I actually was glad there is some information on tipping provided by the organization so that parent who want to can be consistent and confident they haven't insulted anyone. I wasn't offended in the least, just glad to have some clue where to start. I didn't even know all the names - not because they weren't important, but because my daughter is only four and her reporting skills aren't quite developed yet.
The original point of this thread was just to discuss how much it all added up to -- $300 in my case -- to know if that was typical for day camps on Long Island. I appreciate the responses that told my this is consistent at camps that offer all the different specialist activities and such good camper to counselor ratios. I'll be less shocked next year!
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| Posted 8/19/09 1:51 PM |
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HillandRon
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2922 total posts
Name:
Hillary
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Wow!!! This thread has gone completely off topic...
People really have strong opinions but you have to look at the situation. If you don't like tipping then don't send them to the camps that do...
The camps I mentioned are the main ones for a large portion of Long Island.. trust me they all have to keep up with each other to be competitive... Tipping is just a small part of the big picture keep that in mind...
Again-- Having my almost 4 year old child come home and tell me he went on the go carts , went boating on the man made lake and saw fishies, went on the zipline, had numerous different sport figures come to camp, once a week have bouncy houses come in, partiipated incolor war, loves playing basketball and tennis, and now goes in the pool underwater ( which he was scared to do before camp) and says his counselors are the best and take care of him is well worth the extra 200 in tips for the counselors...
I think it is time for this topic to be put to rest until next year at the end of the summer..
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| Posted 8/19/09 1:59 PM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by Calla
Posted by hazeleyes33
ITA with you. You should NOT get something from a camp telling how much THEY think you should give. If and how much you choose to tip should be decided by you.
I have to add, I actually was glad there is some information on tipping provided by the organization so that parent who want to can be consistent and confident they haven't insulted anyone. I wasn't offended in the least, just glad to have some clue where to start. I didn't even know all the names - not because they weren't important, but because my daughter is only four and her reporting skills aren't quite developed yet.
The original point of this thread was just to discuss how much it all added up to -- $300 in my case -- to know if that was typical for day camps on Long Island. I appreciate the responses that told my this is consistent at camps that offer all the different specialist activities and such good camper to counselor ratios. I'll be less shocked next year!
I have to say if what you wrote above is true... "I" totally misread what you were trying to communicate. TO me I saw a parent stating tipping 300 plus was too expensive. I wasn't thinking for a sec that you thought the sheet being sent hom was positive. I thought you were stating that they had "some nerve". From the way the post strayed I would think others might have thought the same. If you like the idea...Great...then it will work for you.
Message edited 8/19/2009 3:03:08 PM.
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:02 PM |
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staceyd
LIF Adult
Member since 8/08 2052 total posts
Name:
stacey
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
I worked at camp for at least 10 years and just stopped recently... I did it because I enjoyed it, and because I could use the extra money over the summer... I will tell you when I was in high school and going to college I was making probably about $1,000-1,500 for 8 weeks, working from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.... and yes... I looked for the tips at the end of the summer.. if you do the math.... at 1500 a summer, thats about $37.50 a day... for an 8 hour day... even with the average tip back then, it would still end up less than minimum wage... I then went on to become a supervisor... and at that point... working those hours was worth it... (of course at that point, i worked 10 hour days... and had no weekends from may-june) so.... yes... tips do add up, but unless camps can figure out a way to do away with them, the staff members who are taking care of your children will be looking for them at the end of the summer....
I must add.. I did move to a different camp the last 5 years of working summers that did not accept tips... it gave their staff bonuses for their hard work twice throughout the summer.. based on their performance... they were evaluated, and given bonuses depending on how well they were with the kids and at camp... this would end up totaling 500 bucks for the highest level bonus... basically for the best counselors... which I think is a much easier way to do it.... The no tip policy was one of the selling points i think... and i also believe it made the staff work much harder... so they can get that bonus
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:22 PM |
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JChia
Mom of 2 Princesses
Member since 9/07 2540 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
.
I was a camp counselor for 7 or 8 years at a day camp on LI. When I was a CIT, I did not get paid at all. I worked for the tips.
Once I got a paycheck, it was very little, way below minimum wage. I think I maybe got $100 per week. The camps are able to get away with this b/c the tips supposedly make up for the paycheck.
ITA!
I was a counselor the year after I graduated college... I worked my butt off AND they expected the counselors to come up with fun chants, dances, posters etc to create a fun group identity- so I ended up working a lot of extra hours at home and buying props out of my own pocket.
At the end of the summer, I ended up learning that parents were outraged to recieve the tip suggestion sheet that I had to put in the kids backpacks (so it looked like I was asking for a tip- but really the camp was too cheap to mail it to the parents) I had a fun summer but made hardly anything that year -
Also, FYI a lot of the counselors (especially the specialties) are teachers that are looking to supplement their income - so its not like its a bunch of 16 year olds with no responsibilities.
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:48 PM |
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computergirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3118 total posts
Name:
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
I have no experience with LI day camps (my oldest is 3 and I did other non-camp activities with him over the summer), but honestly, the whole tip sheet doesn't surprise me at all. It seems like just another facet of the whole Long Island culture. Where else in this country does your wedding cost more than the down payment on your first house, lol? I've been to LI bridal showers that are more elaborate than the actual wedding reception in other parts of the country! Never mind the expensive multiple registries, the $$$ expectations for christenings and such. It just seems like everything on LI is done in such a "big" way, and I guess camp and the associated costs are just part of that.
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:54 PM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Also, FYI a lot of the counselors (especially the specialties) are teachers that are looking to supplement their income - so its not like its a bunch of 16 year olds with no responsibilities.
I guess it all depends on the camp as the camp my kids go to only has teenagers as counselors. The "head" counselors are adults but they work for the town all year long.
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:57 PM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by computergirl
I have no experience with LI day camps (my oldest is 3 and I did other non-camp activities with him over the summer), but honestly, the whole tip sheet doesn't surprise me at all. It seems like just another facet of the whole Long Island culture. Where else in this country does your wedding cost more than the down payment on your first house, lol? I've been to LI bridal showers that are more elaborate than the actual wedding reception in other parts of the country! Never mind the expensive multiple registries, the $$$ expectations for christenings and such. It just seems like everything on LI is done in such a "big" way, and I guess camp and the associated costs are just part of that.
ITA with you.
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| Posted 8/19/09 3:59 PM |
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lovemy2boys
LIF Adult
Member since 10/07 3915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks! 
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| Posted 8/19/09 5:38 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by lovemy2boys
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks!
Yeah we spend that for 9 months of 1/2 day preschool and aftercare. I can't imagine spending that for a summer. 
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| Posted 8/19/09 6:30 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
My friend is a head counselor this summer...in the midst of a career change and decided to do this to see what age group she wanted to work with. She is much older then a teenager and what she makes a week...well I think people in the poorest parts of the world make more....I know she is really depending on her tips to make ends meet.
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| Posted 8/19/09 6:37 PM |
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cjb88
Little Brother
Member since 5/05 3540 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by monkeybride
Sorry but that's ridiculous!! It's a camp. The counselors get paid an hourly wage which I am sure is more than that of a waitress. For the camp to suggest tips is so unprofessional IMO. If the parents feel they got great service then it should be their prerogative. I would not appreciate getting a recommend tip schedule.
Just an FYI, I have worked at a few camps on LI and at a lot of the camps the counselors DO NOT get paid an hourly wage... they get paid a salary for the summer and the tips is really what makes working a camp worth it... CITS usually PAY to go there since they are still considered campers and Jr Counselors do not get anything besides the tips...
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| Posted 8/19/09 6:53 PM |
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JRD2008
CT. here we come!!
Member since 5/08 2944 total posts
Name:
Kathleen
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by staceyd
I worked at camp for at least 10 years and just stopped recently... I did it because I enjoyed it, and because I could use the extra money over the summer... I will tell you when I was in high school and going to college I was making probably about $1,000-1,500 for 8 weeks, working from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.... and yes... I looked for the tips at the end of the summer.. if you do the math.... at 1500 a summer, thats about $37.50 a day... for an 8 hour day... even with the average tip back then, it would still end up less than minimum wage... I then went on to become a supervisor... and at that point... working those hours was worth it... (of course at that point, i worked 10 hour days... and had no weekends from may-june) so.... yes... tips do add up, but unless camps can figure out a way to do away with them, the staff members who are taking care of your children will be looking for them at the end of the summer....
I must add.. I did move to a different camp the last 5 years of working summers that did not accept tips... it gave their staff bonuses for their hard work twice throughout the summer.. based on their performance... they were evaluated, and given bonuses depending on how well they were with the kids and at camp... this would end up totaling 500 bucks for the highest level bonus... basically for the best counselors... which I think is a much easier way to do it.... The no tip policy was one of the selling points i think... and i also believe it made the staff work much harder... so they can get that bonus
Did you work at North Shore Day Camp? I worked there for 4 summers and that's exactly what they did- it worked great!
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| Posted 8/19/09 6:55 PM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by lovemy2boys
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks!
Per Child!
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| Posted 8/19/09 7:08 PM |
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Kierasmom
I love my kids
Member since 5/05 2885 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
I think most people on here are in agreement that counselors deserve the tip. The complaint I see from most people is the camp suggesting an amount to tip. Yes for some it may be helpful but I think most of us find it inconsiderate to put a suggestion. I fully understand that counselors get underpaid but so do many teachers and I don't get a letter from the school reminding me that it would be nice to tip the teacher at holiday time and at the end of the year. And I sure as heck don't get any kind of suggested amount. If camps want to remind parents that tipping is appreciated since many of the kids make barely minimum wage, I'm totally fine with that. But that's where it should end. Parents should tip what they are comfortable with. Not what the camp feels the parents should do. To me that's crossing a line.
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| Posted 8/19/09 10:42 PM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
Name:
baby fish mouth
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by hazeleyes33
Also, FYI a lot of the counselors (especially the specialties) are teachers that are looking to supplement their income - so its not like its a bunch of 16 year olds with no responsibilities.
I guess it all depends on the camp as the camp my kids go to only has teenagers as counselors. The "head" counselors are adults but they work for the town all year long.
nope. Most of the counselors at my son's camp (which cost me a little over 2500.00 for 7 weeks) were college and HS kids...
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| Posted 8/19/09 10:55 PM |
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by Calla
Wow, this is the first post I've started that has gotten so heated.
Thank you everyone for your input. I'll be giving the recommended amounts, but stick to the minimum except for the counselors that my daughter has told me stories about throughout the summer. (Especially the one who I'm thinking of recruiting to be a babysitter!!!)
It is not your fault that it got heated.  The counselors will appreciate your tips. It's how counselors know that they did a good job. For a long time, I saved the nice cards and notes that I got with my tips.
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| Posted 8/19/09 11:10 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by Kierasmom
I think most people on here are in agreement that counselors deserve the tip. The complaint I see from most people is the camp suggesting an amount to tip. Yes for some it may be helpful but I think most of us find it inconsiderate to put a suggestion. I fully understand that counselors get underpaid but so do many teachers and I don't get a letter from the school reminding me that it would be nice to tip the teacher at holiday time and at the end of the year. And I sure as heck don't get any kind of suggested amount. If camps want to remind parents that tipping is appreciated since many of the kids make barely minimum wage, I'm totally fine with that. But that's where it should end. Parents should tip what they are comfortable with. Not what the camp feels the parents should do. To me that's crossing a line.
It's not that counselors make barely minimum wage. They don't even make anywhere close to minimum wage. IMO, you cannot compare a teacher to a camp counselor. Teachers make minimum wage and do not rely on tips to supplement a majority of their pay.
Counselors are similar to waiters and waitresses who get a very low hourly wage and rely on tips. I don't see how a camp sending home a suggested tipping sheet is any different from a restaurant adding an 18% gratuity for groups over a certain amount or suggesting what a tip should be. These are industries that are legally allowed to grossly underpay their employees b/c of the tips.
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| Posted 8/20/09 7:01 AM |
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Jillysmom
We made it to 8 years
Member since 5/05 1134 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by lovemy2boys
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks!
I live in westchester and my DD camp was a little less. it actually only comes out to la little more than $150 a day and for my sanity it is totally worth it and she loves it
as for tipping we do not get letters home i gave what i could give to her 4 main counselors...
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| Posted 8/20/09 6:33 PM |
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Jillysmom
We made it to 8 years
Member since 5/05 1134 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by JRD2008
Posted by staceyd
I worked at camp for at least 10 years and just stopped recently... I did it because I enjoyed it, and because I could use the extra money over the summer... I will tell you when I was in high school and going to college I was making probably about $1,000-1,500 for 8 weeks, working from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.... and yes... I looked for the tips at the end of the summer.. if you do the math.... at 1500 a summer, thats about $37.50 a day... for an 8 hour day... even with the average tip back then, it would still end up less than minimum wage... I then went on to become a supervisor... and at that point... working those hours was worth it... (of course at that point, i worked 10 hour days... and had no weekends from may-june) so.... yes... tips do add up, but unless camps can figure out a way to do away with them, the staff members who are taking care of your children will be looking for them at the end of the summer....
I must add.. I did move to a different camp the last 5 years of working summers that did not accept tips... it gave their staff bonuses for their hard work twice throughout the summer.. based on their performance... they were evaluated, and given bonuses depending on how well they were with the kids and at camp... this would end up totaling 500 bucks for the highest level bonus... basically for the best counselors... which I think is a much easier way to do it.... The no tip policy was one of the selling points i think... and i also believe it made the staff work much harder... so they can get that bonus
Did you work at North Shore Day Camp? I worked there for 4 summers and that's exactly what they did- it worked great!
when did you work there.. I worked there too for 3 summers
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| Posted 8/20/09 6:34 PM |
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hazeleyes33
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 13060 total posts
Name:
Ginger
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by Jillysmom
Posted by lovemy2boys
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks!
I live in westchester and my DD camp was a little less. it actually only comes out to la little more than $150 a day and for my sanity it is totally worth it and she loves it
as for tipping we do not get letters home i gave what i could give to her 4 main counselors...
Wow. I guess I should thank my lucky stars as I paid $107.50/WEEK each child. 8 weeks cost me $1,720 for both kids.
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| Posted 8/20/09 7:34 PM |
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JRD2008
CT. here we come!!
Member since 5/08 2944 total posts
Name:
Kathleen
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by Jillysmom
Posted by JRD2008
Posted by staceyd
I worked at camp for at least 10 years and just stopped recently... I did it because I enjoyed it, and because I could use the extra money over the summer... I will tell you when I was in high school and going to college I was making probably about $1,000-1,500 for 8 weeks, working from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.... and yes... I looked for the tips at the end of the summer.. if you do the math.... at 1500 a summer, thats about $37.50 a day... for an 8 hour day... even with the average tip back then, it would still end up less than minimum wage... I then went on to become a supervisor... and at that point... working those hours was worth it... (of course at that point, i worked 10 hour days... and had no weekends from may-june) so.... yes... tips do add up, but unless camps can figure out a way to do away with them, the staff members who are taking care of your children will be looking for them at the end of the summer....
I must add.. I did move to a different camp the last 5 years of working summers that did not accept tips... it gave their staff bonuses for their hard work twice throughout the summer.. based on their performance... they were evaluated, and given bonuses depending on how well they were with the kids and at camp... this would end up totaling 500 bucks for the highest level bonus... basically for the best counselors... which I think is a much easier way to do it.... The no tip policy was one of the selling points i think... and i also believe it made the staff work much harder... so they can get that bonus
Did you work at North Shore Day Camp? I worked there for 4 summers and that's exactly what they did- it worked great!
when did you work there.. I worked there too for 3 summers
summers 2004-2007, with the stepping stones
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| Posted 8/20/09 8:02 PM |
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staceyd
LIF Adult
Member since 8/08 2052 total posts
Name:
stacey
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by JRD2008
Posted by Jillysmom
Posted by JRD2008
Posted by staceyd
I worked at camp for at least 10 years and just stopped recently... I did it because I enjoyed it, and because I could use the extra money over the summer... I will tell you when I was in high school and going to college I was making probably about $1,000-1,500 for 8 weeks, working from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.... and yes... I looked for the tips at the end of the summer.. if you do the math.... at 1500 a summer, thats about $37.50 a day... for an 8 hour day... even with the average tip back then, it would still end up less than minimum wage... I then went on to become a supervisor... and at that point... working those hours was worth it... (of course at that point, i worked 10 hour days... and had no weekends from may-june) so.... yes... tips do add up, but unless camps can figure out a way to do away with them, the staff members who are taking care of your children will be looking for them at the end of the summer....
I must add.. I did move to a different camp the last 5 years of working summers that did not accept tips... it gave their staff bonuses for their hard work twice throughout the summer.. based on their performance... they were evaluated, and given bonuses depending on how well they were with the kids and at camp... this would end up totaling 500 bucks for the highest level bonus... basically for the best counselors... which I think is a much easier way to do it.... The no tip policy was one of the selling points i think... and i also believe it made the staff work much harder... so they can get that bonus
Did you work at North Shore Day Camp? I worked there for 4 summers and that's exactly what they did- it worked great!
when did you work there.. I worked there too for 3 summers
summers 2004-2007, with the stepping stones
I was also there from 2001-2006.. what a small world!!! I was in upper camp.. and a white shirt from 2003-2006
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| Posted 8/20/09 9:37 PM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
Name:
baby fish mouth
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Re: Day camp tipping - wow, expensive!
Posted by hazeleyes33
Posted by Jillysmom
Posted by lovemy2boys
I still can't get over the fact that camp costs 5,000 bucks!
I live in westchester and my DD camp was a little less. it actually only comes out to la little more than $150 a day and for my sanity it is totally worth it and she loves it
as for tipping we do not get letters home i gave what i could give to her 4 main counselors...
Wow. I guess I should thank my lucky stars as I paid $107.50/WEEK each child. 8 weeks cost me $1,720 for both kids.
i guess you should... I could have chosen cheaper routes but my son loves this camp and has had a great experience with it... It was important for me to send him there.
depends on the kid... etc etc.
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| Posted 8/20/09 10:39 PM |
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