To make things quite clear, attending Foothill Horizons as a counselor is a completely and indisputably different experience then attending as a sixth grader. I was personally responsible for thirteen kids for four days, with only an hour break each day. On the first day, the staff stressed the importance of being strict with the kids during that night in order to attain order throughout the rest of the week. And personally, I found that laying down the law with them helped me gain their respect and allowed me a good-night’s sleep. During hikes, I found it absolutely necessary to walk in the lines with the students to help keep them quiet and focused.

  Outdoor Ed was not all stressful, though; it was actually a lot of fun. During the dance, the kids in my dorm dressed me up in a grandma dress with colorful, frilly bracelets, all while videotaping us counselors doing the chicken dance, which hopefully that won’t surface somewhere on Facebook anytime soon.

  When we went and explored the Moaning Caverns, several kids became anxious as they noticed the spiral staircase which descended down into what appeared to be a black abyss. We strolled through the Calaveras Big Trees, in which we encountered literally the biggest trees I have ever seen.

  As a counselor, I had the authority to make executive decisions,  and learn valuable leadership skills. I’d like to say that all of this is important to me, but it also looks excellent on college and job applications. On the last day, I spoke with my naturalist about the review she had written for me about my performance that week. This review is a great addition to any job or college application. Also, I was chosen for the Excellent Counselor Award, of which few were chosen for. 

  Overall, I was overjoyed with my stay at Foothill Horizons. It was a large test of responsibility and leadership for me and I feel that I learned a lot. I would definitely go back another time and be a counselor again.