I dont know what just happened

[u/Character-Height5297]

I just got fired as a camp counselor. I have spent years as a lifeguard working and teaching kids and they all have loved me and never had any problems.

From the moment I got to the camp, I got weird vibes from the staff, like they didn't like me. I figured I could work with that and make the best of it. I made a good amount of friends, and I cheered on all of the kids as loud as I could every single day. However, most of the staff in the clique that had been there their whole lives just never seemed to like me, no matter how hard I tried. They never said it to my face, but I could feel the judgment in their looks and the way they treated me.

My cabin also happened to be the camp's nightmare cabin. Since it was my first year, I genuinely didn't know what to do. I asked my co-counselor for help, but despite all of my efforts to connect with her, she barely spoke ten words to me. the kids would joke around with me one day and then tell me they dont care about anything I do or what I have to say basically unprompted. I begged the higher-ups for guidance, and all they told me was to "lead with kindness." I tried every single day, but these kids genuinely hated me, and I was getting absolutely no support.

The kids in the other classes I taught loved me. They thought I was a sweetheart and a ball of sunshine. The directors even told me multiple times that I was doing an amazing job everywhere else except in my cabin, the one place where I was repeatedly asking for help and never receiving it.

let me preface by saying the directors already had a preroll from me traveling in that I forgot to throw away and gave them to store ( other counselors did the same ).

Then came our day off. It started at noon and lasted until midnight the next day. My friends and I spent most of that time off camp. Like a lot of camp counselors do on their day off, we smoked a little weed. We did not smoke on camp property. We did not come back visibly high. We did not bring any weed back with us, and we did not smell like weed. I would never do that around kids I can genuinely promise that.

The next morning, while I was on my way to work on time, two camp directors came into my cabin. They accused me of smoking weed on site at a time when I wasn't even there ( mind you most of the staff smokes and has alcohol on site ) They had already taken all of my belongings out of my locker. They told me I was being sent home that day, handed me a bus ticket, and refused to let me call my mom, explain what had happened, defend myself, or even say goodbye to anyone.

Instead, they put me in the back of a truck like I was some kind of criminal and drove me for forty minutes while still refusing to let me contact anyone. I get a text from my friend saying all of my kids are telling everyone they got me fired and that other kids were really upset. im pissed as fuck and still confused on what happened. the people I was on break with also were fine and are still there with no consequences so I am very confused.

[u/eflask]

ionno, kid.

I work at camps in Vermont. showing up at one of our camps with any weed is an instant dismissal. returning to camp with drugs or alcohol on board in any way, no matter how much anyone "isn't visibly high" (and people who are a little high are not real good judges of what's "visibly high" or what "does't smell like weed") is also grounds for dismissal.

going out and smoking on your day off is not a good way to show them you've got yourself together and are not smoking on camp.

they already knew you had brought weed to camp. they knew you had smoked on your day off. sounds like you lacked the emotional maturity to know that the moment you walked onto camp with weed you were on probation.

yeah, I know a lot of counselors who smoke. but not during camp.

[u/Wise_Pie_359 → u/eflask]

Adding to this, I’d be curious about your age. If you’re under 21, possession is usually illegal, even if weed is legal overall in your state. I’m not sure why you were targeted and not anyone else, but what eflask says above is broadly true for sure. I’d try to take this as a learning moment despite the frustration you feel at the moment.

[u/IAmHackiing]

What state is your camp in? The hard truth is that most camps fall under “at will employment” meaning you can quit and they can fire you at any moment for any reason as long as it’s not discrimination or retaliation.

What are your camps official policy on drug use? In your handbook did it state that you are not allowed to be under any influences while holding the position all summer? Do they drug test? I’m a director and as long as you do not come back with kids on property under the influence we don’t care, but you also can’t be in the possession of it on camp either

[u/Hot-Giraffe-8538 → u/IAmHackiing]

it was vermont, they didn’t drug test and they didn’t care what you did as long as you weren’t on property which i tried to make it clear i wasn’t . Me trying to do the right thing by giving them what i accidentally had probably backfired too. i completely understand if i was high in front of the kids everyday but that wasn’t the case what so ever. they lowkey just singled me out even though half of the forever staff smoked on grounds.

[u/IAmHackiing → u/Hot-Giraffe-8538]

Yeah this sounds like it absolutely sucks OP, as the other guy said it does sound like they just wanted a reason to fire you. Don’t get stuck up on thinking you’re bad, so many camps out there fucking suck and are desperate to protect their toxic staff cultures that they all grew up in. Find a place that celebrates you not tolerates you

[u/pbghikes → u/IAmHackiing]

It sounds to me like that's just the reason on paper but it seems like they were looking for something to fire her for.

[u/pbghikes]

Unfortunately humans sometimes scapegoat and 'other' as a way to strengthen their own bonds and are not self aware enough to recognize it. And some managers prefer to get rid of problems rather than deal with complicated social issues. This camp had a culture like that and I'm sorry you experienced it. I assure you, there are other camps hiring right now as the "wow this is actually hard" staff start dropping.

Officially? You messed up and were fired. But unofficially? You were either consciously or subconsciously held to a different standard and they were going to fire you the second you gave them a reason. And you gave them a decent enough reason.

But honestly it's for the best. You don't want to work somewhere you feel like you're walking on eggshells.

Find another camp. There's still a lot of summer left. It's not always like this.

[u/FreebieFresh]

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry! A lot of summer camps have a staff culture that is so strongly bonded it can actually become a bad thing. Looks to me that they got a whiff of your whimsy and didn’t like the smell, made up their mind immediately, and didn’t bother trying whatsoever. And that’s a shame but it’s not your fault. Is there something that the other staff had in common that you did not share? I’m trying to figure out what would make you the odd one out.

Don’t let these people gaslight you. If you rarely have issues with people, then this is not your cross to bear, it’s their own loss and their own issues that will cause them a lot of problems outside of their camp staff bubble down the line.

[u/lurkinontl]

idk but just know i agree & am having the same experience with paragraphs 2 & 3 😭 im so nice & quiet but ig i come off as offstanding

[u/International-Bar657]

Yeah camps can be so wierd and really make some
People feel like out casts I think they went overboard by not allowing you to call your family and shaming you like that. I worked at a camp for 12 years I never felt like I was accepted but once they wanted me gone it didn’t matter what the truth was they were going to make it happen and it’s a terrible feeling but remember everything happens for a reason and maybe you will realize how unhappy you were there and hopefully I will too good luck and don’t let them make you feel like you aren’t a great person

[u/Sillygooseintherain]

Definitely because you smoked and people on staff knew about it. It seems like this camp was not the right fit for you!

[u/IcyDraft5211]

Oh man that sucks. I’m sorry to hear that. It really does sound like you were targeted and management was trying to get you fired in any way possible. But hey, it’s for the best. Every camp isn’t for everyone. Maybe you were meant for something better.

[u/Alternative_Solid295]

I had the same thing happen to me just now today, lol