Working for Earl

I have hired a lot of kids in my days; over a 100 kids each summer for over 20 years; I have been around long enough to see how they have turned out! Some have surprised me, others have disappointed me, while others turned out just as I had expected.

Kids come to camp with little or no work experience; mowing grass or a paper route or babysitting is all they can list on their meager resumes. That's o.k. I would rather be the first one to work with them. I want to be the one to instill a work ethic that will follow them along all the rest of their days.

Some say I yell alot. Some say I am a little bit mean. Others would say I am pushy and demanding of the kids who work for me. I would say all of the above. I have heard through the grape vine that their is a group on face book or myspace called "I was almost fired by Earl". I will wear that badge proudly; not because I want to make a kid's life miserable, but I am glad they understand they are under our authority at the camp and are accountable to me or other staff. I don't mind if there is some honest fear; I want them to know that I would be disappointed if they don't follow instructions or if and when they have a lapse in judgement creating a sticky situation between the camp and a parent.

I received a nice note the other day from a former counselor/intern. She is now nearly 30 years old, married and a mother. Let me share what Stephanie wrote:

Hey Earl! I was just reading one of your blogs from March in which you commented on growing the summer staff in their work habits and it prompted a flashback in my mind...

Two lessons I learned working at camp: 1. Never say "that's not my job." and 2. Get in there and take care of it.To elaborate a bit...1. I recall, "Never say 'that's not my job,'" being one of your mantras and I think it greatly affected my work ethic. I often quote you when people to this day comment on my willingness to pitch in and do whatever is needed - regardless of whether or not it's part of my "job."2. My first day interning, I headed out to clean the bathrooms in the girls' cabin area and the cottages. I found 2 dead mice in a cottage toilet. It was surprising and gross, but I got them out no problem and moved on. When I looked in the first stall of the bathrooms in the girls' cabin area I discovered a large, bloated, squirrel deep in the toilet. I really hesitated for awhile about whether I could stomach it or if I should go get Greg or one his rookies working under him to take care of it for me. I went outside for a breath of fresh air and grabbed two sticks. I pulled that dead critter out with the sticks and moved on with the work day. When asked in my interview for my first teaching job to describe a difficult work experience that I overcame, this is the experience I described. They were impressed with me and hired me. One of the administrators commented on my relaying of that story a couple of years later and how impressed she was with my "can do" spirit that revealed. I'm still not sure whether they were impressed with my perceived ability to teach or just wanted to keep me on hand in case any other rodents showed up in a toilet. I taught middle schoolers... it was possible.

Stephanie Haila



If you are a parent sending your child off to work for us at Hidden Acres; relax! We will take care of your child. We will view him/her differently than you; we have very little history in your child's past. In our minds, they will have a clean slate to start their work history with us. What they do while at camp will depend on their character and their ambition. I always tell the kid, if you are lazy at camp, you will be lazy as an adult; so when calls come from future employers, I have a long memory and will be brutally honest about the former staff member.

It pleases me most when I can say, "Hire her!! Absolutely a great kid!" And more often than not, I do get to say that. But occasionally, I have to say, "Bad attitude in general. Lazy or sloppy in habits and character." It is crucial that each summer staff understands their role in making the camp successful. It is crucial that summer staff realizes that what they do now and the decisions they make during a summer has potential to influence future earnings.

For you parents that will be giving up your child for the summer: thanks! Thanks for letting us put them under our umbrellas of authority; and thanks for reinforcing what we say. You will hear from your child, "They expect us to work so hard. They get in our face when we miss up. They sometimes even discipline us." Be like my dad who said, "Son if you are sent to the principles office for discipline while in school, you get the same from me or worse when you get home!" Meaning: I got two spankings in one day. I used to tell my children, "Suck it up and get back in there and do even a better job next week!"

I trust you see my heart. I really ain't a meanie. I really don't enjoy yelling and reprimanding a kid; my blood pressure doesn't need spiked. I do what I do in order to train and mold these kids in future great employees. I don't always see the potential from every staff members; several of our former counselors are now doctors, lawyers, business owners, and pastors/missionaries. There were a few youngsters that I thought would not amount to much; boy did they prove me wrong. There were others that showed all kinds of personality and potential, who have gone on and done nothing with their lives... some even abandoning their faith and moral values and chosen life styles that are contrary to Scripture... those break my heart.

Hidden Acres is in the business to train young people to return home and re-connect with their local church as effective leaders and teachers and mentors. I trust you have seen this happen.