Seen And Heard
The University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development offers a variety of residential camping experiences through the Minnesota 4-H Camping Program. 4-H camps, typically for 3rd to 8th graders, provide guided outdoor-learning opportunities and traditional experiences.
Begin With The Right Tools
Working as a camp counselor is one of the most challenging and rigorous jobs a young person can have. At first glance, it may be viewed as a fun job to run around, teach activities, and make friends, but employees very quickly understand the immense responsibility of caring for other people’s children.
Appreciative Staff Training
Many campers credit a lifelong friendship that began with a new friend at camp. The strongest bonds can develop while spending lots of time together negotiating the challenges of communal living with a dozen new people, overcoming homesickness, or even feeling the support from another camper during a first horseback-riding lesson.
Qualified For Anything
The longer I work in the camp and recreation industry, the more I find myself dealing with situations I never expected. I can now say that my background legitimately encompasses marketing, sales, and budget management, while also plunging toilets, mopping the dining hall, having professional conversations with parents about their child’s safety and well-being while at camp, and of course—managing and recruiting staff members.
What’s The Problem Now?
Relationships form the heart of the camp experience. Dynamic programs, beautiful settings and lofty missions have little value without sterling leadership (staff/camper relationships) and
Scouting For Counselors
Remember the last camp counselor you saw--a 16-year-old high-school student with a death glare that made you shiver, an iPod super-glued to his ears and a general ignorance of the
50 Games Every Camp Counselor Should Know
Each person on a team throws a Frisbee, one at a time, to knock over all eight cones in a pyramid formation. The next person in line cannot throw until the previous Frisbee is retrieved.
A Present From The Past
“Jon?” The big guy standing in front of me, with baggy pants, duct-taped gloves, a helmet and goggles, looked like he was born on a snowboard.
Strive For Success
By the time I was 14 and had finished my first summer as a camp leader in training, I knew I wanted to be a camp director. It became one of my major life ambitions. As I worked my way from counselor
For Juniors’ Sake
First, the good news: Your youngest staff members possess a brand of exuberance, creativity, and playfulness that older employees do not. That positive energy is a tremendous asset to the camp.
So Far, So Good
If I had been invited to facilitate a virtual event just a few months ago, I probably would have referred the client to someone more experienced or passed on the opportunity completely. To be perfectly honest, I was neither ready nor competent in such an enterprise.
Fostering Relationships
As I turn on my computer and check my e-mail, I realize how my summer as a camp counselor was not just another summer job. It was more than that. I was a role model and a friend.
Teaching Teachers
During summer vacation last year, I was walking along the beach and observed some counselors and campers from a nearby day camp.
The Right Foot
I can remember that day when I got up early, packed my car with clothes, sandals, books, a few pictures, and said my good-byes for the summer.
Adventures in Oz
I've met hundreds of camp counselors, yet one young woman stands out as the best counselor I've ever known. You may know her, too. In fact, she stars in the best camp staff training video ever made: The
Fitting In
When campers start thinking about going to camp, there are probably several thoughts that go through their heads. They could be thinking about the new friends they will make, or the old friendships that they
From the Counselor
Wiping the sweat from my brow after a long hard day, I looked at the smile on my camper's face and knew this was going to be one of the best summers of my life. In fact, it was the best summer of my life!
“Look at Me!”
There are many reasons we become camp counselors, program directors and camp directors. For many, the rush we get from “performing” in front of a group is a big one. Whether we have
Designing A Camp Program
This past summer I sent out a new curriculum for camps to consider. It included activities for counselors to help campers learn and practice the skills required to make friends. The concepts
Parents: You May Never "Get It"
Parents may think they know what their children are getting out of their summer camp experience. Mom and Dad may never really understand all those summer camp inside jokes and special memories.After