Welcome Junior Camp Counselors The Fun Begins today!

What is Camp? Camp is a Place –hiking trails, climbing tower, campfire, cabins Camp is a Program –citizenship, appreciating nature, teamwork Camp is an Experience –memories, close living, new skills, friendships Camp is You, the Counselor –your attitude, your leadership, your helping

The Four Needs of Youth B Belonging : Feeling a sense of connection to others M Mastery: Trying and Learning new things I Independence: Making decisions and a chance to lead G Generosity: Caring about others and how I can help

Success of a Camping Experience Begins with you as Counselor –Ideal Camp Counselor Activity Draw on newsprint a picture of a Super Successful Junior Camp Counselor….and what skills they need to carry around in their backpack of camp skills

The 3 Rs of Camp Counseling Roles of the Camp Counselor –Leader, Participant, Friend, Analyzer, Cabin Leader, Activity Helper, Resource Person, Good Listener, Teacher, Organizer Counselors have the responsibility to help each camper to gain the most that is possible from their camping experience….

The 3 Rs of Camp Counseling Responsibilities of the Camp Counselor –Keep Campers Safe, Keep Campers involved, Provide Leadership, Work as a Team Member Relationships of the Camp Counselor –Develop Good Relationships with Campers, Other Counselors, Camp Directors, Camp Staff and with Parents

A few Extras…. Language Issue –no profanity tolerated by Directors and Staff –no profanity tolerated by Counselors –How to Handle? You are there for the campers--make good friends of all in your care Act as someone your campers will want to look up to You need to help each other

Success of a Camping Experience Continues with understanding your Campers –Ages & Stages for Junior Campers Activity Pair up and on newsprint, draw a Junior Camper and list things you know about them at this stage in their life….interests, likes and dislikes, relationships

A Junior Camper is... Very active and likes movement needs opportunities to share their thoughts and reactions enjoys making and doing things relates best when they can do or experience with their senses when learning someone who still looks for adult or older teen approval often surprised at what they can accomplish someone who has very little middle ground in their attitude… things are fun or boring, right or wrong, fabulous or disgusting

A Junior Camper is... Someone who identifies with peers but still looks to adults for guidance someone who likes to be in groups of others that are similar to them someone who prefers sex segregated groups but starts showing short-duration interest in opposite sex---often a group of guys showing or goofing off for a couple of cute girls someone whose success or failure is still very self-centered so comparison to others may not be preferred

Special Situations Homesickness –Let the us know right away if you find a camper that is struggling with this—especially the first night –Be careful not to make any promises –We will try to connect them with someone else at camp that they know –Many times they just need some assurances and reminded that they will be home in a short time

Special Situations Fighting among cabin mates or in activity groups –Again let us know as soon as you find it is a problem –We will try to work with individuals first to resolve issues –We will mediate between those that are struggling and at last resort call parents

Special Situations Bullying –What is Bullying? Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional or sexual in nature. For example: Physical bullying includes punching, poking, strangling, hair pulling, beating, biting and excessive tickling.

Bullying Emotional bullying includes rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, humiliating, blackmailing, rating/ranking of personal characteristics such as race, disability, ethnicity, or perceived sexual orientation, manipulating friendships, isolating, ostracizing and peer pressure.

Bullying Verbal bullying includes such acts as hurtful name-calling, teasing and gossip. So What Can we Do….. –Post and make sure you cover clear behavior in some ground rules on poster board including rules against bullying. –With any observation of a youth teasing or using name calling that does not respect another youth, do not tolerate it.

Bullying –Remember to be careful that you can get to the bottom of what is going on between two youth. –It is best to pull a child aside to stop a behavior and not to try to draw attention to the child’s behavior in front of the group. –It is great to encourage specific good behavior praising youth for positive actions and catching kids doing good.

Bullying –One of the best preventions is to have good supervision for all youth throughout the camp –You may need to take preventive action if you notice a child not fitting in right away to help them make friends and connect to others in the group as a strong prevention against bullying. –If a youth is not able to change their bullying behavior and it becomes a consistent problem, you may need to share the problem with a parent.

Bullying –Bullying behavior being tolerated in camp can have very negative consequences when a parent approaches you and shares how their youth was harmed and not inspired by their participation in your program. We want all youth to feel safe in our care.

Any other Special Situations? Do you have any other situations that you think we should discuss?

Quick Review The Three R’s…. Four things that Camp is…. Three skills of a Great Counselor…. Three traits of a Junior Age Camper…. What is B M I G ….