Get to Know Some of Our Counselors
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Photographer & Communications Assistant Will Ciardelli
Last week we introduced some of the amazing coaches that we have here at Smirkus Camp, but there are many other people who make our days magical.
Our counseling staff are the ones who wake the campers in the morning, put them to bed at night, remind them to wear closed-toed shoes and their aerial pants. But the counselors also spend much of their days following around the campers, watching them move through their rotations and assisting them in any way they can. Unlike most of our coaching staff, our counselors were not necessarily involved in Smirkus or the broader circus world before coming to camp!
For example, counselor Corey Curtis found Smirkus Camp while looking for a circus-related summer camp to work at during the summer, and has now learned how to juggle during their time here! During the year they work as a dog trainer, and has really enjoyed working at Smirkus Camp for the last two summers, mentioning how much they enjoy the accepting community, where kids can be who they are and express themselves!
Bergus Level, another of our counseling staff, came here this summer all the way from Zambia, Africa. Along with two other members of our staff from Zambia, they have been enjoying the cultural exchange, while working with the kids, teaching them what he knows and learning new things from the campers every day! Bergus was introduced to Circus Smirkus in 2016 through his friend and fellow employee, Patrick Chikoloma! This is now Bergus’ second summer working at camp. One of his favorite aspects of the experience is how much of the information and strategies we use here at camp will often carry into a person’s future career or other lifestyle choices. For example, working with different types of campers with different needs (age, skill level, personality), as well as experiencing various methodologies in teaching! Bergus often spends the time before we put the campers to bed, playing soccer with any campers who wish to join in for the fun!
Judy Epstein, another member of our wonderful counselor staff, was a Smirkus camper back in 2018 and has been a member of the Smirkus community ever since. During the year they go to Harvard and studies evolutionary brain science and dance. One of their favorite parts about the Smirkus environment is that camp can be the only place where some campers can truly be themselves. Smirkus Camp is a safe place, away from feeling constricted by the environments back at home or at school, and is very happy that they can play a role in facilitating and creating that safe space for anyone who is looking for it. Judy trains circus arts throughout the year, their specialties are in lyra, rope and contortion.