How much to tip camp counselors?

[Anonymous]

i was wondering this too - our camp is at the kids' preschool and the 'counselors' are professional teachers there during the school year.
We have two kids in the class - they were only there a month but was wondering if doing a starbucks cards for each of the two real teachers - thought they did a great job. Does $10 each seem like it's cheap therefore not worth the gesture? Or could do $20 each? Or am i being ridiculous.

(just to note, the kids have aged out of the school so not trying to get brownie points in anyway)

[Anonymous]

I've been to a number of camps and I've sent our three kids to many different camps over the years. In my experience only, Jewish camps have counselor tipping as part of the culture. Many other camps expressly prohibit tipping at all. I'm not sure why the difference. I'm half-Jewish BTW, so not making any racist assumptions, just sharing what I've noticed.

[Anonymous]

I was a day camp counselor and about half of the parents tipped. It was an awesome bonus at the end of the summer that helped cover books and other college expenses. From the parents that tipped, I probably got $20 on average. That was almost 20 years ago too. But $20-40 still seems about right.

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish and have never heard of this. Tipping has gotten out of hand. When DD finished her dance program, she made a special drawing for her teacher, who was very appreciative. It never occurred to me to try and slip her $10 for being a friendly, caring teacher - her job. Same with counselors. How crass. And I say this as a former teacher and waitress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and have never heard of this. Tipping has gotten out of hand. When DD finished her dance program, she made a special drawing for her teacher, who was very appreciative. It never occurred to me to try and slip her $10 for being a friendly, caring teacher - her job. Same with counselors. How crass. And I say this as a former teacher and waitress.

Waiting tables is someone's job, also, as I used to do it. It's low wage also, if they want to make more, their restaurant should pay more, not 2 bucks in a hour, right?

Wrong. We tip, we know what they make, and it's cultural, tip counselors that don't make much is also the right thing to do

[Anonymous]

Zero.

[Anonymous]

OP here

Its just a thank you for a job well done.

This camp does happen to be cheaper than a lot of other camps so if I take the extra $40-50 per week I would have spent elsewhere and give it to the counselors, I am happy to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been a camper/counselor at 5 different camps in my life and tipping counselors has been customary at all of them. And thank goodness, as I relied on that $$ for buying whatever new dorm/house stuff I needed for the year. (My parents paid for the basics but these was always some extras that they didn't think were necessary.) It was really nice to have the $$, and nice to feel appreciated.

To answer OP's actual question, I think $20 is fine. Our kids' day camp says tipping is not expected but if you want to they suggest $5-20 per counselor.

What state was this?

Current camp is in Virginia. Previously, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and have never heard of this. Tipping has gotten out of hand. When DD finished her dance program, she made a special drawing for her teacher, who was very appreciative. It never occurred to me to try and slip her $10 for being a friendly, caring teacher - her job. Same with counselors. How crass. And I say this as a former teacher and waitress.

It sounds like you're talking about a professional teacher, which is different from a teenaged camp counselor, so it's really apples and oranges. But if you are talking about a camp counselor, I can guarantee they wouldn't have been offended by your "crass" gesture.

[Anonymous]

DS just finished a 6 week camp program. We did tip. We wanted to thank the CIT's and counselors (teachers during the school year). It was his first time at an activity without a family member and I know they did a great job helping him learn to separate. I was a CIT and a counselor in middle and high school and really appreciated the tips I received since I barely made anything working at the camps, but could use the money (and working in a restaurant when you are 12 isn't really an option...)

We gave $5 per CIT and we got the 2 counselors (teachers) $25 gift cards to Barnes and Nobles. We felt a little awkward giving the teacher cash, but thought a gift card for a store where they could buy books for the classroom was a good compromise.

[Anonymous]

DD is finishing a 6 week day camp this week. I have $15 starbucks cards for the counselor who ran the bus program and the 2 drivers. They were there 5 days a week without fail and made it possible for me to send DD to camp as a working parent.

[Anonymous]

21:43 again. I forgot to say that we DS's bunk had 6 CIT's that that rotated in and out during the summer. If he had only 2-3 CIT's for the entire time we probably would have tipped $10 per person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here

Its just a thank you for a job well done.

This camp does happen to be cheaper than a lot of other camps so if I take the extra $40-50 per week I would have spent elsewhere and give it to the counselors, I am happy to do so.

You're my kind of person. I'm a former camp counselor. Thank you. You're awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It never occurred me to tip a camp counselor.

Me either. I haven't. And I won't. I never see them face to face. I put my kid on a bus each day.

[Anonymous]

This is so interesting - I tip generously at restaurants and at my kid's school - teachers including specials etc but it never once occurred to me to tip counselors at my children's camps.