Survival Guide for new Instructors

The month of March brings several things to Eastern North Carolina, more specifically, the Eastern 4-H Center. Along with the green leaves, blooming flowers, and camp registrations comes a fresh crop of Program Instructors. Program Instructors are generally recent college graduates who love: children, teaching, the outdoors, and living away from the city. They are usually an interesting breed of humans - overly dedicated, yet as relaxed as a banana peel - I consider myself to fall into this category, too.

Our program instructors teach and lead activities that range from target sport skills and rock climbing to Geographical Information Systems and pocosin ecology. Finding success at the Eastern 4-H Center is not difficult - with all of the teaching tools needed to lead good programs, there are only several things that new staff members must overcome, and of course I have diagramed them below...

Yellow flies - This winged creatures have a fancy for finding their way into your face and hair when you do not expect it. But don't worry potential staff members, you recognize their presence soon. Yellow flies enjoy the taste of human flesh, and they look to the forehead region of the human body as a buffet of sorts. The best defense for these guys is to skimp on the "eau de toilette" and run like the wind. Running will create a vortex behind you...so don't run faster than your friends, unless you enjoy seeing them become overwhelmed with yellow flies.

Temperature variations - This occurrence is most common in the spring...a wind shift from north to south can occur in an hour and alter temperatures by up to 30 degrees... clothing layers are important. The summer sees little variation in temps - once temperatures reach 90 degrees, they seem to be perfectly content with staying there.

Mosquitoes - The Tyrrell County bird - as I like to call it "migrates" here every summer. Sometimes in swarms and sometimes by two's, the pesky phlebotomists appear early in the morning and at dusk. Mosquitoes are attracted to the Carbon Dioxide that is exchanged when you exhale...so if you can avoid breathing, you can also avoid mosquitoes.

The Country Life - To many, this is the lure of living and working at a full service camp and conference center. But being a day trip to the nearest shopping center does have it's disadvantages. The only Target we have nearby is located at the archery range here on site.

Bears - Generally these things are little bother...contrary to popular belief, they do not prefer to hunt humans, mainly because around here, humans hunt bears. Bears are opportunistis and prefer to eat farmers' crops and leftover animal carcasses that they didn't kill. Their favorite treat is a honeybun - but who can fault that - with their pillowy sweetness and sumptious icing, but I digress. However, from my own personal experience, if a bear does get too close to you, offer the beast some type of breath mint...they will happily partake...and their breath smells like microwaved garbage scrapings...so you'll both be happy and on your seperate ways.

The Staff House - the comfortable confines of our staffing complex are truly a reward to most staff members accustomed to the other drafty cabins or dorm rooms from which they have previously lived. The only drawback is it's immense size. The immense size makes it tough to keep spotless. The maintenance staff is insistent that it be spotless. Terri, Bud, and Charles are always willing to help change a lightbulb, clean the floors, and remind you how lucky you are to have such a place to call home (if it can be kept clean).

These items, once conqured, can make the life here a good one. There is nothing more rewarding than a walk to work through old-growth forests filled with yellow flies, mosquitoes, and bears. Knowing how to deal with them becomes second nature on the second day. Racing the sunrise to the front offices is a true reward. Seeing Ms. Mittie, our graceful receptionist, is your next reward. Other things that have inspired program instructors to get to work early include: arriving before Terri, being the first to see the often vivid colors of our fearless leader's daily outfit, and seeing the flocks of Canada Geese tip from the horizon and cup their wings near our dock. A term of employment here is more than a job - it's a lifestyle that is both honored and unglorious, yet the most unique reward in our profession. Spring Staff of 2009 - welcome - and I'll race you to the front offices =)!

Chase