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Ranney Alums Come Back to Campus as Summer Counselors

Every summer, teenagers and young adults come to Ranney School’s campus in Tinton Falls to work as Camp Counselors. With 320 day campers, from Preschool age all the way through High School, Ranney has approximately 55 counselors, in addition to counselors-in-training and staff members, to lead groups and activities and to ensure that campers have a safe, fun and memorable summer. What makes Ranney’s counselors unique is that many of them are former students at the school. In fact, 14 of this summer’s counselors are alums.

Samantha Marc, who graduated in 2010, has spent her last seven summers working as a Ranney camp counselor, moving her way up from a junior counselor to a senior counselor to a specialist. Specialist counselors are selected to lead activities and electives—such as kooky science, storytime or sports—for all campers, who rotate into various activities throughout their day.

“I secretly love this job,” says Samantha, who is about to start her senior year at Barnard College where she is majoring in politics. “I love working with kids, and this is a great way to do it.”

Samantha, like many of the camp counselors who come back year after year, says she’s formed many bonds with the children. “Having been here so long, I’ve gotten to know a lot of the kids, especially the little ones, and that’s the best part of my experience here.”

Chris Schwake, a 2012 graduate and Ranney “lifer” (meaning he attended Ranney for 10 or more years), is studying biochemistry at Bucknell University. He too has been a counselor for several summers, with this one being his sixth. His mother, Valerie Schwake, teaches science in Ranney’s Upper School.
“I get to work with teachers and faculty members who I’ve had a strong relationship with over the years,” he said. “In many ways, I feel like I never really left!” Chris works in the Camp Office, where he helps to handle the phones, transportation and parent communications. He also fills in for counselors when needed and helps to escort campers from one activity to another. “Overall, I try to make lives easier for counselors and I help to make camp run smoothly,” he says.

Anike Oladeji works as a lifeguard and swim instructor for Ranney’s Summer Camp. Also a 2012 graduate, Anike is a champion track and cross-country runner; during her tenure at Ranney, she set records locally in New Jersey and for the school. She’s now pursuing her running career at American University, a Division-I school, where she’s planning to major in psychology.

Anike starting working as a counselor at Ranney’s summer camp after her freshman year of high school and soon decided she wanted to be a lifeguard. She made time to get certified and by her third summer on the job, got the opportunity to take hold of the lifeguard chair.

Having attended Ranney since she was four years old, also a proven “lifer,” Anike says, “Ranney is like a home for me. I’ve been going here since the track was asphalt and there was a playground in middle of campus.”

Each summer, Anike says students ask whether she’s going to come back the following year. “They always reel me in, but truly it’s the best job. At many places, you just lifeguard, but here, I can lifeguard and teach the kids, plus I get free lunch.”

When asked what skills and personality traits counselors must have, all three alums put “patience” first on the list. Other notable qualities include responsibility, being able to deal with everyday challenges and strong work ethic. Added Samantha, “You also need to keep in mind that every activity, even if may seem boring at first, can be fun and that every child here is special.”

Overall, there are several reasons why Ranney alums—as well as current students—decide to remain on campus during their summers. Explains Chris, “It’s a unique place. The facilities are some of the best –from the pool and track and field to the dining options, and there are lots of opportunities for the campers. We have some really good staff members, specialists and camp counselors, and they make sure they kids are safe and have fun.”
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.