summer camp staff training resources

Some of us are named after another member of our family, or perhaps even someone famous. Not only can our services save you precious time, money and effort but they also offer peace of mind by knowing that your staff Summer Camp Staff Training Dates: January 14, 2023 @ Camp Oklawha - Staff Try-out Day February 18, 2023 @ ME Rinker Scout Shop - Staff Training #1 How do I streamline the summer camp staff training process with camp management software? Conduct role-playing activities with your staff that prepare them to engage with the campers. Whatever it takes to keep the connection. Then every member of your staff will hear and learn how everyone else would like to be addressed. Extra downtime? Money is tight, resources are slim and there never seems to be enough time. Creating lasting relationships when camp is in-session comes naturally. When I was a young, first-year staff member at camp, two orientation speakers left me with distinct lessons that have carried me through forty more years in camping. Once your staff completes their training, they should feel ready to tackle the first week of camp with confidence. Essential Staff Training Activities by Jim Cain, Clare Marie Hannon and Dave Knobbe, can be ordered from the ACA Bookstore (www.ACAbookstore.org) and Kendall/Hunt Publishers. As a former YMCA Camp Director, Drew Demery (That Summer Camp Guy) knows the challenges that come with organizing and leading a top notch camp staff training. We do not endorse any of these, we are simply listing here as a reference for you. Below are a collection of free and paid resources designed to help you be a happier more effective camp pro. The Free Stuff is here. Pinterest 2023 American Camp Association, Inc. Nowadays, most hiring happens online. Our job is to help. With combined experience of over 70 years in non-profit and camp work, we provide supportive consulting, coaching, planning and guidance to organizations like yours to grow in your unique mission and goals. When hiring camp counselors, not everyone will cut for the next year. Camp counselor training | Agenda, activities, ideas, & more Changing the culture of a camp starts in small steps. What is worse than spending a ton of money on training your staff? Ready, Set, Summer! It takes a village. #1 Hiring Summer Camp Staff: Strategies That Work It takes a village. Allow three guesses and then have the staffer reveal themselves. And this not only works with your camp staff but with campers as well. Training Summer Camp Staff Online: Four Tips - Campminder Your staff should be able to easily access and manage camper information at any point during the summer. Getting to know your staff and forming lasting relationships with them is the best way to ensure the success of your camp and the return of your staffers year after year. For this activity, you should ask all of your staffers to send you a unique, obscure fact that they find absolutely fascinating. Take the time to sort out what needs to be said and understood versus read and understood. We know you probably arent going to bribe your counselors, doesnt have to be monetary! Whether you are running a day camp or a sleepaway camp, proper camp counselor training is essential to ensuring your campers are having fun while staying safe. Joanna has earned a reputation for a pragmatic business style and ethical management. Just streamline the operational process by providing all staffers the resources they need to perform each task effectively and efficiently. This page is meant to have a place for directors of local council camps to access a variety of resources that may help your camp operation. Playworks is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit respected for our evidence-informed services and strategic approach to scale. Since Oct. 30, 2010, the Summer Camp Culture blog has collected pop cultural artifacts depicting and celebrating the life and culture of the summer camp, Camp Administration 101: Camper Supervision, Camp Administration 101: Coordinating Activities Part 2, Camp Administration 101: Camp Activities Part 1, Camp Administration 101: Parent Complaints, Camp Administration 101: Staff Training and Education, Camp Administration 101: Swimming at Camp, Camp Administration 101: Staying Organized at Camp, Camp Administration 101: Rewards and Recognition, Camp Administration 101: Survey and Evaluate, National Recreation and Parks Association, Wallace Foundation Summer Learning Tool Kit, Boy Scouts of America Camp Resources Page, CDC Summer Camp Readiness and Planning Tool, Youth Development Pro Training and Consulting. Your camp is already contributing to the broader community and surroundings. At Sawyer, our goal is make administrative tasks easier for childrens camps and activity businesses so that they can spend more time doing what matters: working with children and sharing their love of learning. How to Apply Submit a Staff Application Required Camp Staff Paperwork For Both Camps Required Pre-Camp BSA Training The following online training must be completed prior to arriving at camp. A supervisor's communication style impedes belonging. The Summer Way - Kidventure : Best Kids Summer Camps In Texas If you dont have a set curriculum or training program that you use to develop all of your summer camp staff, youll spend all your time in ad hoc problem solving, and will face the same challenge every summer. Contact us at [email protected] or (844) 871-2966 for more information. A 501(c)(3) Organization. communities. Also, if youve ever tried to restart a fire, you know, its a lot of work (and smoky). Additionally, facilitation exercises help campers develop a sense of belonging. Equipped with the right tools and knowledge, your staff will be prepared to overcome any camp challenge. You decide, make sure to make it worth their while. After all, that connectedness is one small part of what summer camp is all about. Somethings wrong. Many summer camps hire staff with lots of enthusiasm, but limited work history. Without them, your camp simply could not function. When you get more done with less stress, you can focus on what matters, which is making camp better and getting more kids to camp. Grundfast - Tuesday, March 14 at 2:30-1:30 PM - Room 402. PDF Evidence-Informed Guidance for Summer Camp Staff Training 8 Videos to Add to Your Staff Training May 5, 2019 Recently I ran a round table and one of the questions was, "What videos do you like to incorporate into your staff training?" Here is a list of videos that were suggested by other camp professionals to show during staff training. Camp Staff Training Ideas | Rockbrook Summer Camp Staff Change Lives Additionally, you should be very clear with camp policies. The final part of building a strong summer camp staff is getting them to return the next year. For this activity, you will need a piece of string that is roughly 3 feet long. You may want to repeatedly emphasize the Rule of Three. You can accomplish this through a comprehensive manual that outlines all of the camp information. Specify the dates of each camping session as well as the incremental breakdown of each day within the session. We strongly recommend using Edge, Chrome 70+, Safari 5.x+ and Firefox 5.x+. Then we posted it again in 2021, because many summer camps opened back up after being closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. You'll need sixty to ninety seconds per person, so plan accordingly. Their summer camp is unique. Reach out if we can help in any way. 4. Public speaking is a real fear for a lot of people, and this activity attempts to make the staffer more comfortable as they speak. Summer Camp Staff - Pennsylvania Dutch Council BSA Those things that link us together, bring us a bit closer together as well!". Although hiring friends and family of current workers might be risky in some industries, this can be a successful strategy when it comes to building a strong summer camp team. We know you provide the games, songs, play spaces and programs that allow your community to re-connect with nature, connect with old friends, make new friends and find balance. Summer Camp Online Training Available now! Like current staff members, parents are good suppliers of referrals. Maybe they get first dibs on the best housing? This is absolutely one of my favorite camp challenges and energizers. Joanna has collaborated with day, resident, not-for-profit and private camps. American Camp Association When a challenger beats a player with many members of their cheering section attached, they ALL become the cheering section for the new champion. Facilitation, sometimes called processing, helps create an atmosphere where campers are encouraged to process feelings and behavior; resolve conflict; and gain both confidence and skill in decision making. 5000 State Road 67 North When parents send their children to summer camp, they are entrusting the staff with the health and safety of their children. What do we know about summer camp staff training? 2023 Staff Training Issue of Camping Magazine Mon, 02/20/2023 - 15:12 Staff Training Webinar Series for Summer Camp - Kids Included Together How do I successfully conduct summer camp staff training? Go Camp Pro is a community of camp professionals & a collection of resources for Camp Mavericks. Put parents at ease with a software tool designed to manage the camper's health. A lot of people charge a lot of money for this stuff. However, it will take more than catchy sayings and Hi, my name is _____ games to get your camp leaders to become one. There are 5 middle school sessions and 2 high school sessions. Just make sure to give positive feedback and ways they can improve for their next position. Summer Camp Staff - Atlanta Area Council Here are some recruitment strategies to consider: If youve found great talent through specific channels in the past, definitely use those as your foundation and build from there. TK Summer Camp Staff Application - Gulf Stream Council, BSA The winner is allowed to re-affix the tape to his or her nose between rounds. You should be able to utilize the software during the training process to: However, your staff will need to be familiar with the software as well because they will be primarily using it throughout the camp. . This will include ensuring payment and tax information is completed as well as any signing required forms. The bottom of the page has tons of free staff training resources I think you will love. NSLA uses the power of research, advocacy, training, and policy to transform Americas neighborhoods and communities, one child at a time. Programming accommodates new practitioners and highly experienced and proficient students. How to foster diversity and inclusion in the classroom, Why teaching kid's classes outside could be a game-changer, 4 ways to personalize your digital classroom, After school program activities (with editable lesson plan), ultimate guide to starting and running a kids camp. Give staffers an outline that is divided into 15-30 minute increments for maximum effectiveness. What do I highlight in my summer camp staff training manual? Make sure to discuss the staffers situation responses to ensure they are aware of their engagement strengths and where they have room for improvement. Responsible problem solvers, expert communicators, team players, and those who are energetic and flexiblehow do you find them and how do you train them effectively? Patchwork is an online marketplace where camp and recreation professionals Then, you should randomize the facts and send them to every staffer. Summer camp staff training can be tricky, but it has the power to make or break your camp. They will need access to: You must put power into the hands of your staffers by equipping them with the right software tools. Facilitation, sometimes called processing, helps create an atmosphere where campers are encouraged to process feelings and behavior; resolve conflict; and gain both confidence and skill in decision making. Here are some. Camp Director Resource Page | Boy Scouts of America If you are ready to spend less time on admin and more time doing what you love, see how Sawyer can help with a free trial or demo. Do everything in your power to encourage a healthy staff community, including getting custom t-shirts to bring your team together. The goal is for this person to continue talking until the webbing is completely wrapped around their finger. If you can put yourself in the shoes of the children and families you are asked to care for, you will show the ability to change lives. Get creative here! It can be difficult to gauge the outcome of your staff training if you do not know what to look for. Make the most of both, and youll have more time for group interaction using methods that build skills and capitalize on the talents your staff bring to the job. Through your training process, your staff-in-training should not only become aware of staff expectations and responsibilities but also fully understand the underlying mission of your camp. When you come together for a team meeting, you can read each fact aloud and listen as people try to match a staffer with the fact they sent in. The password will appear after you enter your email, The password for all the free TSCS stuff is GRATITUDE. Everyones name has a story behind it. This person can be another camper or another staffer. Doing the Work: How your Frontline Staff Feel about DEI at your Camp - Simone Gamble, Liz Ramirez, Ilyssa Lapp, and Marisa Gershwin - Tuesday, March 14 at 2:00-3:00 PM - Room 415. custom t-shirts to bring your team together. The same principles apply to training camp staff. Spending a ton of money training staff that leave and dont come back. PE Games is dedicated to keeping kids active and engaged during physical activity, whether it is in the gym, outside or in the classroom. Already signed up? With 10 Escape Rooms to choose from, youll never run out of adventures as they race against the clock and each other. Staff Handbook before arriving at camp, you are required to fully read and understand all the rules and expectations found in this MDSC Staff Handbook. There are a variety of ways to approach summer camp staff training. All sessions will be held on ZOOM. Youll be keeping that sense of community alive and well, and helping to create deeper bonds with campers and staff. Check out this video to learn more details about the course. BC Recreation and Parks Association - Courses - Summer Camp Online Training During this time off, it is essential to stay in touch with your leadership team. Summer Camp Con (SCampCon) is a virtual conference for summer camp professionals. Encourage a safe camp experience for the campers. summer camp staff, training, summer programs, McCambridge Park We provide values-based programs to more than 1,500 young men and women in the Glendale, Burbank, Sun Valley, Sunland, Tujunga, La Crescenta, Montrose, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park communities of Los Angeles County. Over the years, I've created, collected, and shared hundreds of activities that I think make a significant difference in the unity, community, connection, and culture of a camp. These positions could include: Regardless of what position each person holds, they should be able to see the list of responsibilities and expectations for each position. You can find even more information for creating unity, community, connection, and teamwork at your camp, by visiting:www.teamworkandteamplay.comor by calling the author at 585-637-0328. It will also help staffers understand how everyone must work together to facilitate an amazing camp experience for the campers. Summer Camp programming ideas, resources, podcast, blog, and more! She is regarded as a practical problem solver who seeks mission-supporting solutions that respect the individuals involved. Read this post to find out the must-have features. For more than three decades, I've been assisting camps, outdoor education centers, youth development agencies, and park and recreation organizations with their summer camp staff trainings. Summer Camp Staff Training: A Complete Guide - COUNSELOR TRAINING ADA Camp - American Diabetes Association | Research, Education, Advocacy Off Campus enrichment opportunities: 4th Grade Sacramento Field Trip and 6th Grade Outdoor Education Camp. Your staff is such an important part of your summer camp. . Be sure to specify a deadline for all submissions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Everything You Need, to Do Anything You Can Imagine. The first session, Prepping for Success: Superior Camp Environments, is designed for leadership staff and will prepare you in guiding your team for a smooth and successful summer season. Summer Camp Staff Training: A Complete Guide / North Boroughs YMCA But training and role-playing can turn that enthusiasm into a high performing team. Make sure you explicitly what is expected of members in each role and how they work together to accomplish the camps goals. ACN developed the scope and standards of camp nursing practice, leads the way in camp health research and is proud to collaborate with other organizations as we help create healthy camp communities. Camp App users make sure to review our guides, tutorials, and FAQs to maximize your experience with the Camp App! Parents and caregivers trust you and your staff with the wellbeing of their children. 2020 Sessions. The. A 501(c)(3) Organization. Fill out this form and we'll reach out to schedule a one-to-one. The Join us for a TED Talk style webinar highlighting the Belonging in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIB). Check out these top 7 hiring strategies! Distribute the cards randomly and allow the staffers to read the facts on their card aloud to the group. We share your ideas, solutions and stories with the camp industry. . A suitable discussion then occurs reminding bigs that they cannot force or speed through the trust-building stage with littles. Summer jobs for students, coaches, teachers, counselors, seniors and retirees. Resources Running camp can be super hard. Scouts BSA - For Boys and Girls aged 11 (or have finished 5th grade) through age 17 Venturing - For Young Men and Women aged 14 (and have completed 8th grade) through age 20 For those already involved there are several programs available that help reinforce the teachings of the Boy Scouts of America. Camp Staff are seasonally employed by the Gulf Stream Council. Allison Krabill Executive Director Summer camp staff evaluation template and best practices - Sawyer As you start thinking about your camp counselor training process, researching best practices is a great way to start. Welcome to summer camp, potentially the most rewarding job youll ever have! LEAD empowers individuals with no-fluff mental health & diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIJB) education to proactively improve their wellbeing and build resilient workplace communities. Ensuring the safety of your campers requires work and preparation, but with the right support and research, you can make this summer fun and safe for everyone. This guide will walk you through all the best ways to navigate your summer camp staff training with ease. Want a KIT Education & Training Specialist to come to your camp and lead a workshop? However, a true statement when it comes to keeping summer camp thriving. Create an account and login to have access to our Camp App and much more FREE downloadable resources to include printable activity guides with 100's of camp activities, our Camp Tool Kit with sample forms and documents, and our Camp Administration 101 educational handouts. The attitude of your staffers will help set the tone for the rest of the camp so you should nurture healthy staff relationships and know the people you employ. At this point, there is an opportunity to say, ". "Summer 2020 Camp Curricula" Google Slides 3. An inclusive weekly fee of $180* covers . Activity Scheduling & Elective Scheduling. Your summer camp is unique. The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is a national, non-profit organization focused on the powerful impact of one achievable goal: investing in summer learning to help close the achievement gap. CLAREMONT SUMMER | Debate and Leadership/Professional Communication Your staffers should have access to every detail of your camps business in one comprehensive report. Make sure you are as clear and specific as possible to ensure the success of your camp. Being underpaid is a contributor. Invite your staffers to share the story behind their name. After using this activity, I believe it. For more than 16 years, Peake Media has been educating and empowering health and fitness professionals by providing best practice business resources. Students may attend one or more than one session. Write reference letters, recommend them for other positions, and help them advance their careers in ways that you can. Think about encouraging referrals with a bonus program and celebrating/recognizing team members that send you successful candidates. Long gone are the days where you had to hand pick every new-hire out of a stack of paper applications. MRPA is excited to offer this professional development opportunity to enhance your summer staff training. Think for a minute about how other companies that hire high volumes of seasonal staff do it. Instruct the staffer to never find themselves alone with a camper. Kids Included Together is the leader in disability inclusion training and behavior support and has decades of experience working with youth program providers just like you. Marketing these positions as an intern opportunity will help you get the hiring process rolling. Although being part of a summer camp leadership team is an extraordinary and rewarding role, it is usually a stepping stone more than a final destination. The training process starts the moment the staffer is hired. Feel free to print off and copy as needed. Where do your counselors salaries rank when compared to those of your competitors? Are there any former babysitters or counselors from different camps that stand out as exceptional? Many of these resources are on the public domain and are not affiliated with the BSA. Many of these resources are on the public domain and are not affiliated with the BSA. After leading The Story of Your Name with this summer camp staff, several members of the group were able to "re-create" themselves in a more positive light with their choice of staff names. Staff Training | American Camp Association Perhaps they want to use their talents to push campers to become stronger swimmers or better communicators. The final step of official training process should be a one-on-one meeting with the camp director or training specialist that covers the progress of the staffer and answers any questions the staffer may have as they head into the summer. Every hiring manager rejoices when they get referrals. The American Camp Association (ACA) has some great advice on developing that training program : Team-building activities are almost clich nowadays, but they are an essential part of a camp counselor training program. ACN is the leading voice in camp healthcare. Ask them to respond to specific situations that could arise with campers such as a camper getting sick in the middle of the night or a campers negative attitude affecting the rest of the campers. We do not endorse any [] For more information, contact [email protected]. This guarantees that no one will find themselves in a situation that could be compromising for themselves or the camp. The following tips can help make this happen: When the average person thinks of summer camp, images of children singing Kumbaya around a campfire and making friendship bracelets come to mind. This guide will walk you through all the best ways to navigate your summer camp staff training with ease. At Parks & Rec Business (PRB), we know some of life's best moments happen in a public park or recreation program. Throughout the season, did you focus more attention on the rewarding moments or the challenging ones? This activity also allows the staffers to work together to guess the correct answer. Throughout the training process, you should highlight the importance of camper safety and outline the steps that staffers can take to ensure the camp maintains a safe environment. NRPA advances this vision by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals as a catalyst for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. Our job is to help. How do I get to know my team with summer camp staff training activities? A place where the group who cooks the best outdoor meal wins a metal spoon that has been spray-painted gold (the golden spoon Each year, the May/June issue of Camping Magazine is devoted to staff training perfect for Staff Orientation! A leader begins by introducing herself, placing her hands on her hips (to create the first link of chain) and sharing what she enjoys most about camp, such as, "I like the morning polar bear swims, pizza for lunch in the dining hall, and the sounds of singing coming from the campfire circle." Please refresh and try again. In addition to my own ideas, I've been lucky enough to persuade David Knobbe and Clare Marie Hannon of the C5 Youth Foundation (formerly known as Camp Coca Cola) to join this project. Child Development Services - Brea-Olinda Unified School District American Camp Association We strongly recommend using Edge, Chrome 70+, Safari 5.x+ and Firefox 5.x+. Prepare interview questions ahead of time and fill in the answers during the interview for easy reference. Which chains stand out as having excellent customer service? Make sure to outline your rules for this in excruciating detail so there are no mix-ups. Here are three of our favorite summer camp orientation ideas to get the ball rolling. The focus in all activities is on safety, making friends, and positive memories. At Camp Business, we know some of life's best moments happen in a day camp or overnight children's camp. Camp provides the ideal setting for the kind of active . Questions can be directed to Barbara. No matter what, you will have learned more about the interests of your staffers and what random facts they think are awesome and youll learn a bunch of new trivia facts! Reach out if we can help in any way. Nowadays, most hiring happens online. Camp counselors in the area are likely to be more committed because they are working within their communities. is a series of 4 webinars and companion guides that you can use to: plan for inclusion. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry-the latest research in the field of youth development-critical management tools and innovative programming ideas. This is your first step after hiring. & Warner, R. P. (2021). Check out our ultimate guide to starting and running a kids camp. ACA has compiled a manual of evidence-based guidance of summer camp training. The challenge begins with two opponents facing each other. Paid or unpaid, provide quality training, experiences, and stellar references through time at your camp can be the jump-start needed for a young person to get their professional career going once summer is over. Setting the tone for staff members early is important to get everyone on the same page and acclimated to how camp operates and what is expected. Here are some guidelines to make staff members the best they can be: 1. Whether you were named for your grandparent, or a movie star, or your parents best friend, there is a reason why you have your name. Martinsville, IN 46151-7902Phone: 800-428-2267 Completely digitize the application process with customizable forms. with staffing functionality can automatically organize incoming submissions for you, post. The Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Rochester, New York, uses Masking Tape Jousting as a way to discuss comfort zones between bigs and littles in their programs. Have an orientation and training program to set expectations and review policies. Collect the notecards when they are finished. Similarly, the purpose of camp staff why you have A Time to Talk: Communicating with Campers, Embracing Differences: Forging Intentionally Inclusive and Diverse Communities, Developing Social-Emotional Learning Skills at Camp, Before You Quit: How to Get the Most Out of Your Summer at Camp, 2023 Staff Training Issue of Camping Magazine, Informed Staffing through "Form Follows Function" Program Assessment, Join us for a presentation on the benefits of celebrating differences in the camp bubble.

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