We give a $20 gift card to the lead counselor and $10 for each of the assistants. Not a tip, but a way of expressing our thanks.

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?

Oh sweet Jesus one of those.

Anonymous wrote:

It's not a widely-accepted cultural practice to tip camp counselors like it is to tip servers. They aren't generally supporting a family or even themselves. This is a fun work experience to fill their summers. Kids who truly need the money seek out different jobs.

I agree. I was a camp counselor for many years, never got a tip, and it hever occurred to me that I might.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't tip either. The only way people are ever going to get paid fair wages is if everyone stops tipping everyone. I'm sorry but I will not tip every person I meet in my life. I want to pay fair prices but I want to know them up front and honest.

+1

I think tipping a camp counselor is almost as odd as tipping an L&D nurses at the hospital after I've given birth. I'm very grateful to the L&D nurses but I express my gratitude by leaving feedback with the hospital about how awesome a particular nurse is, and directly telling the person. Why can't we do the same with a camp counselor? A heartfelt verbal thank you, a drawing from the child sounds great or maybe some a small noncash gift sounds more appropriate to me.

And for those that says the counselors remember who tips and how much is exactly the reason why I dislike throwing this whole tipping issue into the mix. There are parents who don't have as much in camps. Is it fair to to have their children treated as slightly less important just because one of their caretakers felts they didnt get enough of a tip? And, if the counselor is there as a volunteer, isn't the primary reason they are there experience or something else non-financial? Isn't the very definition of a volunteer non-paid?

Anonymous wrote:I was a camp counselor two summers in a row at the JCC, and tipping was DEFINITELY customary there. I worked with this hilarious elderly lady who had the energy of a 5 yr old. She would run around the halls, asking what everyone got at the end of the summer, comparing "notes." It was fun, and I certainly appreciated the money.

FYI, anyone who says giving cash is "crass" has not known what it is like to be in need of money. Everyone appreciates the gesture, even if not everyone NEEDS the money.

I think it's crass and inappropriate and I have been in desperate need of money before. One summer I ate pasta with lemon salt for every meal because that's all I could afford. And tipping camp counselors is inappropriate. My DD is drawing pictures for hers, which I think is sweet. I've also been a teacher and can tell you I was more touched by personal notes and comments from the parents than by gift certificates.

Zero

I always tip camp counselors. They are paid so little and some at our camp are only volunteers, who don' t get paid until they are there a few years. I just went online for an idea as to how much to give, because I question myself from year to year. I'm astonished and disappointed that so many people don't think to tip. If my kid becomes a counselor when he is older, I'd be happy for him if he got tips. It's a thank you for a job well done. They do the same job regardless, but why not show some appreciation?

Anonymous wrote: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)

I'm wondering about this, too. Our child has gone to camp at his preschool all summer. One teacher is a professional at the school, the other is a professional at another school that does not do summer camp. I'm not sure if a gift is appropriate or not -- and if so, how much.

I wouldn't tip either. The only way people are ever going to get paid fair wages is if everyone stops tipping everyone. I'm sorry but I will not tip every person I meet in my life. I want to pay fair prices but I want to know them up front and honest.

I was a camp counselor two summers in a row at the JCC, and tipping was DEFINITELY customary there. I worked with this hilarious elderly lady who had the energy of a 5 yr old. She would run around the halls, asking what everyone got at the end of the summer, comparing "notes." It was fun, and I certainly appreciated the money.

FYI, anyone who says giving cash is "crass" has not known what it is like to be in need of money. Everyone appreciates the gesture, even if not everyone NEEDS the money.

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

same, same: and we had this exact same thread this time last year, and same replies.

zero. Don't tip them at all.

OP,
I think it's a nice gesture. $20 sounds right and is what I will be doing as well. Good Luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

It's not a widely-accepted cultural practice to tip camp counselors like it is to tip servers. They aren't generally supporting a family or even themselves. This is a fun work experience to fill their summers. Kids who truly need the money seek out different jobs.

Not true at all. I was a camp counselor bc I needed the money. It's not easy to get a job when you are 15-16.

Anonymous wrote:

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

It's not a widely-accepted cultural practice to tip camp counselors like it is to tip servers. They aren't generally supporting a family or even themselves. This is a fun work experience to fill their summers. Kids who truly need the money seek out different jobs.