Staff Selection

One of the features of camp that always impressed me was the quality of people who worked there. After a few years of working at Sewataro, I was attending Oberlin College. For a Winter Term Project, I thought I’d help out interviewing staff for summer camp. Alba kindly obliged my request.

Over the course of one week or so, many candidates came to camp to interview. Alba interviewed them all, with Bill and the Taylors weighing in. I contributed my two cents worth. It was an interesting experience and I do remember one candidate. She said she had attended Camp Sewataro. I asked her what she remembered about camp. She remembered that it was a lot of fun in general but specifically all she remembered was a goofy guy in a green hat leading songs.

Alba was very perceptive in interviewing people. I was always amazed at how she could remember so many names and faces of staff members. During staff orientation she made a point of saying how good the staff was. This would shore up the confidence of leery newbies who would soon be swallowed up by a sea of campers, many who already “knew the ropes”. She said, “I know you’re all good because I hired you.”

Alba and I had different recollections of my camp interview. My basketball coach had worked at Sewataro and recommended me. Alba said I was very quiet in the interview and didn’t display any enthusiasm. It was late in the hiring process and there weren’t really any openings. My coach assured her I was good with kids and emphasized she’d be missing the boat if she didn’t hire me. So Alba reluctantly hired me as “Campcraft Assistant”. (This position was later known affectionately as “s’more boy” or “s’more girl”)

Part of my job as Campcraft Assistant was to build the fire for the Girls’ Overnight. I didn’t have to stay to work the event, so I built the fire, lit it, and then asked permission to sing one song before I left. I sang “Flea Fly” and the camp went ballistic! The next day I was asked to help lead the singing for Closing Exercises. This songleading continued for 24 more summers. The goofy guy with the green hat who sang songs was off and running.

Posted By: The Rogue

Bio: The Rogue worked 25 summers at Camp Sewataro where he taught Campcraft, Adventure, Imagineering, Magic and Juggling, and led singing. He currently lives in Wisconsin with his wife Karin, a Philosophy Professor, and his son, William. He is a member of the Order of Merlin of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.