How much to tip camp counselors?

[Anonymous]

DD has been in camp for 6 weeks. She has a division head, counselors and CITs. Any suggestions on tip amounts?

[Anonymous]

I am a camp director. Our counselors are not allowed to accept tips. I would check the camp policy first.

[Anonymous]

Counselors are definitely allowed to accept tips here. Its a small religious organization that runs the camp and I know they pay the counselors very little, expecting the tips to supplement the salaries.

[Anonymous]

It never occurred me to tip a camp counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are definitely allowed to accept tips here. Its a small religious organization that runs the camp and I know they pay the counselors very little, expecting the tips to supplement the salaries.

No, no, no. The way it works is, I tip you for exceptional service, not because you don't make much. Why should I tip you?

[Anonymous]

Wow, never occurred to me.

[Anonymous]

I always thought it was pretty customary - just never thought about the amounts.

Camp cost approx $200 a week, if that matters.

CITs are basically 11-13 y.o.s working for free (I think they make like $50 a week) but they know it will be supplemented with tips. Counselors are all high school kids and division heads are in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are definitely allowed to accept tips here. Its a small religious organization that runs the camp and I know they pay the counselors very little, expecting the tips to supplement the salaries.

No, no, no. The way it works is, I tip you for exceptional service, not because you don't make much. Why should I tip you?

Well, they have given exceptional service. We were incredibly happy with them.

[Anonymous]

These are just teenagers/young adults who are more than likely still dependents building their resumes. They're not in it for the money. If they were, they'd be waiting tables at Applebees.

[Anonymous]

We are not required and expected to tip them.

[Anonymous]

I would tip for sleepaway camp but not for day camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would tip for sleepaway camp but not for day camp.

Why the difference?

[Anonymous]

Do not tip. I was a CIT years ago. They are basically just older kids who are too old for day camps but their parents want something to keep them busy. I might let my kid pick something cheap out like flowers or draw a picture for a really special CIT. The regular counselors are getting paid. You don't have to tip everybody. This is getting crazy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the hints about not tipping but I would like to tip - am just not sure about an appropriate amount.

Does $10-20 per counselor sound right?

[Anonymous]

Most of the day camps require the parents to pay for their child to be a CIT. It's just camp for older kids who can't or don't want to stay home all day by themselves.
It's crazy to think of tipping them.

For the other counselors, wow, that's just weird going up to them at the end and chatting with them and then trying to casually push money into their hands. Awkward.