Teen Time: We Interned at Woodward Copper

Have you ever had so much fun that you just don’t really want to stop doing what it is that is allowing you to have that much fun? Well that’s what its like being at Woodward Copper Summer Camp. Having the opportunity to be a Junior Counselor for 6 six weeks this past summer, was definitely one of the best times of our lives. Whether working with amazing people or riding on real snow for 30 days this summer, our camp experience was awesome.

What’s the over under these two will return to Woodward Copper next summer? P: Travis Hoffarth

The junior counselor program at Woodard is where kids ages 16 and up work for the camp doing miscellaneous jobs and in exchange for that work they get to stay at and use the facilities. Being a JC (junior counselor) means having a normal camper experience during the day and then doing work in the evening. Typical tasks included cleaning the cafeteria room, scrubbing dishes every night, to then skating over to the barn and mopping down the skate features. While doing these jobs the staff members would sometimes come in and help or at least supervise. One time while washing dishes one of the staff members who shall remain nameless came into the kitchen, grabbed the hose, and proceeded to spray us all down. While he was laughing at his antics we all had a smile on our face.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of days where we had to clean toilets and one night we even had to go through the compost bin plucking out articles of trash that weren’t compostable because some of the kids didn’t bother paying attention to the directions. But even during those episodes we were all laughing and having a memorable time.

That first year my mom made me take a picture with Bruce on the last night of camp. Bruce has been at Woodward ever since that first year, and every year since Bruce and I have taken a picture just like the original one. P: Travis Hoffarth and Bruce Sandstrom

The staff members at Woodward are some of the raddest people you will ever meet. Some of them have even influenced me so much that I see myself doing some of the things that they would always do. Everyone always has a smile on their face and wants to help you with whatever you need. While I was there for a month I made hundreds of new friends which might be one of my favorite parts about the camp environment. If you’re like me, a people person, then you’ll fit right in at this camp. By the end you’ll have friends from all over the U.S. maybe even the world.

Aidan brown nosing head counselor and oldest living Woodward employee Bruce Sandstrom

Some of the experiences that happened to us at Woodward at Copper, we would have never guessed in years that they would ever happen! They have a great park crew who make the parks just unbelievably good for the conditions they have. Typically they change the setup on the hill every week so if you’re staying multiple weeks you won’t get bored with hitting the same features. This year they had a tow lift which ended up in lots of people falling and waiting in the lift line till it finally broke for the rest of the summer. We also got to meet various pros like Frank April or Louif Paradis to becoming friends with legends like Chad Otterstrom. One year I got to meet Forest Bailey during the GNU snowboards week at Woodward, then that winter he won the gold medal in street snowboarding at the X-games.

Sure there are a few things that could be fixed at Woodward like the eggs, man the eggs are kind of gross. Or that weird musk the EDGE (staff/camper housing) has, but I attribute that to stinky boots and kids and maybe some staff not showering regularly. If you get the opportunity to become a Junior Counselor do it. You won’t regret it. Honestly being a JC was more of a privilege to us than just another summer job. Seriously, if you are thinking of wanting to work in the snowsports industry working for a camp like Woodward Copper is a great way to get your foot in the door.