Exchange Student’s experience at Science Camp: My Week at SCICON as a Counselor

In November of 2025, I, along with several other students from Redwood High School, attended SCICON.

By: Ali Sharifzade

I didn’t know what to expect when I boarded the bus to SCICON. As an exchange student in the United States, everything already felt new and different.

Spending several days at a science camp in nature sounded exciting, but also very overwhelming.

Would I fit in? Would I be able to help 6th graders have a great experience?

By the end of the trip, however, SCICON became more than just a week of camp, it became one of the most memorable experiences of my exchange year.

As the youngest child among my siblings, I wanted to try something new that would give me an experience similar to having a younger sibling.

Because of this, I applied to attend SCICON as a counselor, where I would be responsible for guiding and supporting younger students.

When we arrived at SCICON, my co-counselor and I were assigned to supervise ten sixth graders.

The camp schedule was demanding, waking up early mornings and being busy full days that left almost no free time.

One of the challenges I faced was taking care of a child in my cabin who had asthma, which required me to be more attentive towards him.

Every counselor should be ready to report the issues related to behavior and any other problems in their cabins.

Although my relations with most of the kids in my cabin were good, I faced a few challenges involving two kids, which required the staff to send the sixth grader home early.

One of the best memories from that week was gathering the kids in a circle and creating our cabin cheer for the end of the week celebration. Bringing everyone together in that way helped create a sense of unity and made it easier to regain control in moments when things felt overwhelming

The SCICON staff were experienced and always ready to help when needed, so I encourage counselors to always ask questions when they are unsure

SCICON is an excellent opportunity for students who are responsible, patient, and interested in leadership. Although sometimes it may be demanding, the experience builds valuable personal growth and strengthens college applications.

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