Stress
Yes, being a camp counselor is stressful. We can't sugarcoat this one. Still, it's not brain-surgeon level stressful. More like, get that millipede out of your nose stressful.
Kids use their intrepid, growing minds to spend every day devising new and creative ways to get into trouble. You'll come to camp every day thinking that you've seen it all, and then some kid will turn a pasta strainer into a weapon. You'll realize you ain't seen nothin'.
The stress is multiplied, because there are actual consequences. If you work in an electronics store and you lose some boxes, you might get fired. If you're on a hiking trip and you lose some kids, you've put real people in real danger.
So you've got to be on top of things, and safety must be a priority. You've got to break up fights if they start. You've got to be sensitive to the emotional needs of children. Then you've got to be not sensitive to the furious tirades of their parents—because parents get angry, and they'll take it out on you.
If you're a day-camp counselor, you leave the stress behind when you go home for the day. Although, let's face it, you'll still be replaying it in your head in the shower. If you're a sleepover camp counselor...well, the summer's got to end sometime, right?
While this may sound like more than you want to deal with, keep in mind that the stress levels decrease as you gain more experience. How come the camp director seems so calm and under control? They've been doing it for years, and know when and how to exert authority. You'll figure it out, too, but it'll take some time.