Role Play With A Twist
As most trainers in any industry know, role playing is a great way for new staff members to obtain hands-on experience before actually getting their hands on anything. Role plays are typically conducted in a controlled environment with other staff members, and each scenario usually ends with a positive conclusion.
Putting The Puzzle Together
Imagine a 500- or 1000-piece puzzle dumped on a table; some pieces are right-side up, while others are upside down. Each cardboard cutout represents one of the bits and pieces of staff training.
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.
Camp Administration 101: Staff Training And Education
Staff members are a camp’s most valuable assets, so invest in them by providing training, education, teambuilding, and networking opportunities, while empowering them to do great things! Here are some guidelines to make staff members the best they can be!
Combatting The Trauma Of These Times
A few years ago, camping psychologist Bob Ditter and I co-facilitated several conference workshops. Bob would share a critical element in the health-and-wellness realm of camp staff members, and I would share an activity that explored that topic.
Memory Makers
What is the magic of camp? What makes a camp different from another camp? So many camp directors approach this question by saying … traditions. True, traditions are created and
Staff Continuum
In 2006, 87 percent of YMCA Camp Ernst’s staff had once been campers themselves or were returning staff. According to the American Camping Association (ACA), the national average
Active, Involved And Interested
Familiarity breeds contempt--or, at the least, apathy--when it comes to training returning camp staff members who are so intimately familiar with the rules, regulations, policies and
The Well-Trained Staff
Welcome to the debut of Camp Business’s new column on staff training. Dr. Chris Thurber, one of the most sought-after camp consultants, responds to reader queries, and offers cutting-edge, turnkey content
Play The Part
“In theory, role-plays are supposed to teach by offering staff practice with key skills. But in practice, role-plays often flop. They either escalate into hyperbole or degenerate into
Take Time Out For The Team
We know that it is important for camp staff members to bond with each other. Not only does it create long-lasting relationships, but staff members are able to work more efficiently when
Competition Conundrum
"We try to emphasize safety and fun at Laney, even in competitive games and sports Although I’ve read some passionate arguments opposed to any form of competition, campers seem to
Leadership By Example
“Chris, in my early years as a camp director, I never worried about the off-season behavior of my staff. Now that staff members photograph and post most of their social lives online, I’m
A Focused Group
Camps have the ability to shape the youth of the country through leading by example. Staff training at camps is a critical component in a solid program.
Seven Steps To Success
Each summer at camp is preceded by training staff members so they can actively engage with campers in a competent and professional manner. And every year it seems there is more
Creating An A-Team
Some of a camper’s fondest memories might be at the art shack with friends, playing a game of Four Square with pals, or being immersed in nature while looking for salamanders in the creek. Another memory may be of a favorite summer staffer.
Reacting, Adapting, Creating
“We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century. During this period, we may be tempted to abandon some of the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven during the difficult times of past generations
Connection Before Content
In his 2008 book, Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter Block writes, “We must establish a personal connection with each other. Connection before content. Without relatedness, no work can occur.”
The Beauties Of Camp Duties
Promotional materials for most day- and resident camps tout a sense of community and increased self-reliance as outcomes. Naturally, the materials highlight the camp’s facilities and activities, but f
Get ‘Em On The Same Page
Cultivating cooperative, caring and compassionate staff members can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned camp director.