Camp War Eagle is an immersive experience allowing future students to tour the campus, learn about Auburn's history, and create long-lasting friendships and connections before they ever have to take a class.
The staff and counselors who lead the sessions for both students and their parents have the demanding task of making sure each camper leaves camp excited for his or her future at Auburn.
"When I came through Camp War Eagle, I had a great counselor, and I enjoyed camp a lot," said camp counselor Collier Pressnell. "I saw camp in a different light, and I left knowing I wanted to be a counselor."
Applications for Camp War Eagle come out in the fall, and counselors are chosen in October. For Pressnell, the first application process didn't earn him the opportunity to be a counselor.
"I applied as a freshman and didn't get it. I had people encourage me, and I didn't know coming into this past year, but I was hopeful," Pressnell said. "I thought I was better prepared for the job this time around, and I was excited when I got it."
The counselors who are chosen often come from a variety of different backgrounds.
"I was expectant when I applied," said parent counselor Leah Seay. "The thing about Camp War Eagle, though, is that they pick such a great diversity of people that you can only apply and cross your fingers."
When the chosen counselors come back from winter break, training sessions begin almost immediately.
"We had training every Tuesday from 2-5 p.m.," said Joshua Huggins, head camp counselor. "Those training sessions included skit practices, weekly tests and knowledge tests about Auburn."
According to Pressnell, the tests began with Auburn history and became more specific as the summer came closer. The history and knowledge weren't the only things the counselors had to learn.
"We had a practical test as well," Seay said. "The practical test really taught us how to use the history and knowledge and apply it usefully during our sessions."
Some returning counselors, such as Huggins and Brett Findley, come back to be head counselors for either students or parents.
"They choose some previous counselors and ask if they want to come back in a bigger role," Findley said.
According to Huggins, the staff is always watching to ensure good experiences and identify who would make good head counselors.
So far, Camp War Eagle has completed six sessions. Seay and Pressnell, first-time camp counselors, said those six sessions have been learning experiences.
"It's been a learning process, but now that we're finished with six sessions, I'm getting more comfortable," Pressnell said. "I can address their issues better each time, and I get more familiar with my role."
Seay said she agreed, but working with parents has presented slightly different challenges.
"It's been great. As the sessions go on, I've learned to better put myself in the role of the parents," Seay said. "Some of them are sending off their first child, so they have some anxiety, but learning to stay cool and relaxed helps ease the parents' concerns."
The counselors understand although they will be doing sessions throughout the summer, each group only comes through once.
"Every session is different," Findley said. "While it's our seventh session, it's their first."
Huggins echoed Findley's thoughts.
"We may have done this before, but they have no idea what to expect, and we have to make the experience as good as possible for them," Huggins said.
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