Camp Administration 101: The Battle Of The Bully

Nov 9

What to look for and how to stop it

By Jason Schaitz

Bullying can happen anywhere, and the dynamics can be complex. To put preventative measures in place to tackle incidents of bullying effectively, it is important to know what to look for as the clear signs that bullying may be occurring. Bullying can occur in many forms:

Verbal, such as name-calling and harassment

Physical, such as hitting or pushing
Rumors and exclusion, even within relationships.

Some incidents may not reach the level of bullying in the beginning, but if they are not addressed and resolved, they can quickly become more harmful to a child, so pay attention, especially if the behavior persists. When bullying is detected, it is important to act immediately and take the following steps:

Separate the campers so the bullying stops.
Remove them from the rest of the group.
Respond firmly and appropriately.
Make sure everyone is safe and calm.
Reaffirm that the behavior will not be tolerated.
Assist students separately to work toward a resolution.
Give praise and show appreciation for better behavior.
Report the incident to parents, and provide discipline if the bullying continues.
Follow up and check in.

Avoid doing the following:

Being aggressive
Giving a lecture
Ignoring the incident
Asking individuals to work it out themselves
Handling the situation in a group setting.

Before an incident occurs, take preventative measures:

Discuss bullying with campers at the beginning of each week, especially if there are continuing issues or new campers are arriving.
Have rules and policies in place, and confirm that parents and kids know bullying will not be tolerated.
Have a reporting process in place for campers and parents.
Use social and emotional learning activities to keep campers engaged with each other.
Incorporate teambuilding activities into each group.
Establish a culture of inclusion for all campers.
Communicate with parents about any incidents and any action taken.
Train staff members on how to handle bullying, and educate them on the role they play as youth mentors.

Bullying must be taken seriously as severe incidents can have long-term effects for a child. Creating an inclusive camp environment, educating staff members and parents, communicating properly, and being quick to respond to incidents will greatly reduce bullying and secure an incident-free camp.

Jason Schaitz is a Parks and Recreation Director with 15 years’ experience managing camps and recreation programs. He also created and manages www.thesummercampsource.com with the goal of providing free resources for any type of camp, afterschool, or childcare program. Take your camp to the next level by visiting The Summer Camp Source and check out the Camp App, Camp Resources, Camp News, and Camp Administration 101 educational series.