1. Camp deals with the whole life of a child.
2. There is no other experience quite like the camping experience. The home comes closest.
3. The greatest need of a camper is their growth as a person.
4. Camp is an educational experience. It causes children to see right or wrong ways of dealing with themselves, or their peers’ environment.
5. The personal growth and safety of campers comes first in camp situation. They are placed ahead of programs, facilities, directors, counselors and skills.
6. Camp should provide campers with the opportunity to think, plan, choose, and make some of their own decisions.
7. Camp needs to provide for the campers’ freedom to exercise their own imitative. Freedom does not mean that good organization and definite scheduling of activities are not necessary.
Camp should provide the following:
A happy place A friendly place An opportunity for campers to form good habits
An opportunity to build self-confidence A chance to gain self-reliance Fun Safety
A chance to try and the opportunity to try again Goals or objectives that are within the reach of the camper, not the counselors or paid staff An opportunity to become acquainted with the great outdoors. A spirit of teamwork among counselors, and paid staff Acceptance by the counselors A chance to discover a sense of values of right and wrong
1. Help campers find their group, get settled and become acquainted.
2. Learn the names of the campers in your group as quickly as possible. Get to know all of them and their interests. Make sure the campers feel welcome and part of the group the moment they arrive at camp.
3. Be sure your campers know the location of the round-up area, where specialists meet, bathrooms, health center and camp boundary lines
4. Help campers, especially the quiet youngster, enjoy camp activities. Some campers will shy away from new experiences and will want to stay with a familiar routine.
5. Practice good risk management strategies. These strategies will help prevent reduce the likelihood of something happening that could cause physical, mental, or emotional harm to a camper. Remember, your goal is to provide a safe, positive, caring and nurturing environment. A camper will not have fun if they do not feel safe.
6. Check for illnesses and injury, but don’t make a big deal over minor scratches report all illnesses and injuries to the camp nurse.
7. Stay with your group at all times. Bathroom breaks are taken during specials.
Commitment
An application, reference form, registration, medical form, must be completed and on file for all staff.
Staff members must notify the Camp Director no later than 7:00 am (preferably night before) if an absence is required due to illness or family emergency. The staff member will make every effort to arrange for a qualified substitute if they must be absence from camp on short notice.
Staff must conduct themselves in a responsible and lawful manner at all times and adhere to Camp policies. Each staff member is expected to hold camp safety as the primary concern of each and every person on site. Counselors are personally responsible for the safety and well-being of their assigned campers.
Absolutely no alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed at camp at any time. All medications must be turned into the Camp Nurse in its original container. Camp is a non-smoking environment.
The New Jersey Institute of Nature (NJIN) does not assume responsibility for any lost or damaged equipment.
All vehicles are restricted to parking areas designated by the Camp Director. Campers are prohibited from riding in staff vehicles, before, during, and after camp unless a parent has granted written permission.
Health Form
Accident and medical insurance cover all staff. All staff must provide a health history form.
Evaluation
Staff will participate in an evaluation process at the end of each camp session.
Sometimes, people can be pretty hard to figure out. Why do our brothers and sisters, friends, or parents behave the way they do? What makes us do the things we do?
Almost anything a person does can be understood when we picture it as an attempt to meet one of five basic needs. These five fundamental human needs are present in every person. They vary in intensity and importance for each of us, and their importance may change from time to time. Still, every human being needs: (1) affection, (2) power, (3) security, (4) new experiences, and (5) recognition.
Affection: Our need for affection is more than just a need for love, although that’s part of it. Affection includes being accepted by a group, feeling that others care about us and understand us. Our need of affection involves seeking friendships and social relationships. We want to know we are needed by the group and missed when we are absent.
The camper who say, “I don’t want to go on their cookout because I don’t like them!” may be telling you something about their need for affection.
Power: The need for power sounds bad to most of us. We might picture a power-hungry general trying to take over the world. Power for most people, however, is simply the need to show control over oneself or things. We need to know we have the power or ability to master new things. We need to feel we can be successful in dong a certain task. The need for power is the need to fell competent, capable and a little invincible.
A camper who announces that they are not going to play volleyball because it’s a “dumb” game may be telling you something about their skills and their need for power.
Security: Every person wants to feel safe and secure in their surroundings and with their peer. We need physical security in the form of material things like food, shelter and clothing. We need emotional security in the form of acceptance and understanding from our families and friends. We need to feel we can have confidence in these people and they will support us.
New Experiences: To do something different, or try one’s wings, is the opposite of the need for security. We all need to be challenged to try new things. These challenges can be as simple as learning a new craft or as difficult as climbing mountain. New experiences allow us to explore our own abilities. The provide excitement and prevent boredom.
Camp is an excellent place for new experiences. Campers who are bored and restless are not being challenged by new experiences.
Recognition: Everyone has a desire to stand out as an individual, to do at least one thing better than everyone else. This is our need for recognition at work. We need approval and recognition from others that we have done something well. This recognition help build our self-confidence and self-esteem.
Most campers will seek recognition by pleasing you, the counselor. Remember, if their need for recognition can’t be met in a positive way, they may look for less acceptable ways to get recognition.
If a camper constantly disrupts the group by yelling, “Hey, look at me” they may be trying to tell you something.
In general,
• They will be action oriented
• Keep them busy and make it fun
• They have a limited attention span
• Encourage them to make things they can take home from camp
• Let them assist in deciding what is done by the group
• Praise them individually and as a group for the task completed
• Be sincerely interested in them as individuals at all times
• Get involved in their activities and they will be more likely to listen to you
• Children need to feel a sense of belonging
• Children need affection, recognition and success
The best way to handle most problems is to keep them from happening. The more you know about each camper, such as family situation, school background, abilities, disabilities, and general social adjustment, the easier it is to help the camper meet his or her needs without getting into trouble.
Yet despite your best efforts, sometimes there will be camper behaviors you must deal with. Here’s a simple outline for dealing with them:
• Define the behavior. How important is it? Must it be dealt with right now?
• Will it go away by itself?
• Determine possible causes or reasons for the behavior.
• Is it lack of recognition? Too much energy? Feelings of inferiority?
• How can I handle it? Should staff or Extension agents be involved
• What should I avoid? Disciplining in anger, public condemnation, derogatory terms, attacking, blaming approach, loss of community with camper, and driving the camper away from the group, should be avoided.
• How can I keep it from happening again? It depends on the behavior and circumstances. What did I learn from this that was important? Why is that of importance to me? As a result of this experience, what will I do differently in the future?
1. Reinforce desirable behavior. This should be done consistently from the very outset of camp. If staff members behave positively and encouragingly through smile, gestures, or brief words of support, campers will be motivated to maintain or even increase acceptable behavior.
2. Clearly state privileges as well as rules. Whenever possible, present rules and regulations in terms of what campers can do, rather than as a set of restrictions and “don’ts.” Let campers share in developing and discussing roles and regulations.
3. Tolerate some undesirable behavior. Recognize that some annoying or undesirable behavior may be typical of a given age level or falls within a reasonable range of acceptability, and do not confront the child with constant criticism and negative comments. Some patterns of negative behavior should be permitted to build up before being challenged, so that child can see the consequences of this or her behavior. This doe not apply to the direct infraction of rules or to serious or dangerous forms of misbehavior.
4. When correcting campers, use nonverbal cues. As a counselor develops a relationship with campers, it often is possible to use eye contact, accompanied by frowns, gestures, or other forms of body language, to indicate disapproval. This may help control a camper’s negative behavior without embarrassing the youngster in front of peers.
5. Consider redirecting children to different tasks or activities. Anti-social behavior some times stems from boredom or dissatisfaction with an activity, or from a feeling of frustrations at not being able to carry it out successfully. Frequently, counselors may intervene by having a child shift to another activity or group setting which may meet his or her psychological or social needs more directly, or which may provide a higher level of success and satisfaction.
6. Clarify consequences of unacceptable behavior. A camper should clearly understand the potential consequences of continued undesirable behavior, such as the anger or disapproval of other group members, withdrawal of privileges, or other forms of disciplinary action. The counselor should be specific about the action her or she will be forced to take if such behavior continues.
7. Clarify consequences of acceptable behavior. At the same time, the camper should understand what the benefits of changed or improved behavior will be. This will be most effective immediately after desirable e behavior is shown.
8. Use the ‘’temporary removal” procedure. If a camper is excessively disruptive and cannot be controlled on the spot, it may be necessary to remove him or her to another location where they can be calmed down. The camper should be allowed to return after a short period of time, contingent on willingness to behave properly.
9. If in doubt, seek help. This should be done whenever the counselor feels incapable of dealing with a particular situations or camper and wishes to confirm whether his or her responses and actions were appropriate. Counselors should know whom to consult for assistance with camper behavior problems. Seeking help is not a sign of defeat or inadequacy; no counselor, no matter how experienced, has all of the answers in dealing with behavior difficulties.
The parents and guardians of campers have entrusted you, the other counselors, and paid staff with the care of their child for the next few days of their lives. They expect you to provide a safe, positive, caring and nurturing environment for their child. Anything less is not acceptable to the parent.
As a counselor, you want to have a positive and safe experience for the next few days of your life. How can you balance and manage this heavy load of responsibility?
We know that there are risks in everything we do at camp. What we must do is manage those risks to prevent or reduce the possibility that a person could be harmed verbally, physically, mentally and sexually. At the same time, we should also take precautions to prevent or reduce the possibility that the camp property and its facilities be harmed or damaged in any way.
Listed below is some risk management strategies, which, you will want to use. Remember, it is for your protection as well as the protection of the child.
1. Avoid putting yourself in a one-on-one situation with a camper, out of sight of others. If a camper asks to tell you something in private, step away from the group so they cannot hear the conversation, but make sure they can see you and the camper.
2. If a camper need to be taken to the health center, ask another counselor to Watch over your group. Ask two other campers to accompany you and the sick or injured camper to the health center. The extra campers can help give positive reinforcement to the sick or injured camper. More importantly, this avoids putting you in a one-to-one situation with a child out of sight of others, on both trips to and from the health center.
3. Practice appropriate touching. The human touch is an important need for many people; it should be warm, sincere, and with consideration of the individual. There are three safe places to touch a child: on the hand, their shoulder, and their upper. Never touch a child against their will ALWAYS ASK THEIR PERMISSION (i.e., “you look like you could use a hug, may I give you one?”)
4. Control the “horseplay” that takes place in free time, or on the campgrounds.
This is when accidents are more likely to happen. If you do not control limit, or stop the horseplay and a child is harmed (physically or emotionally), you can be found to be negligent in performing your duties.
5. Avoid creating an environment where campers can play harmful tricks or jokes on one an other. Do not, under any circumstances, play a trick or joke on a camper that has potential harm. Remember that what is considered harmful to them may be considered playful and insignificant to you. Use extremely good judgment, and make wise decisions.
6. If you are certified in firs aid and/or CPR, do not give medical care beyond training and expertise. Call for the camp medical officer to handle those situations.
Before My Campers Arrive ....
________ Am I dressed appropriately? Do I look like a camp leader?
________ Do I know the names of each of my new campers?
________ Have I a supply of stories, songs and games to be use at appropriate times?
When My Campers Arrive ....
________ Am I wearing my name tag?
________ Have I greeted each new camper with a smile and a hearty handshake?
________ Have I greeted the parents and reassured them that their child is going to have a great camping experience?
________ Have I introduced each of the new campers?
________ Have I helped new campers get acquainted with the physical set-up of camp?
________ Have I talked with my camper about the upcoming events during their stay?
________ Have I discussed general camp policies regarding camp limits, and safety concerns?
________ Have I made each camper feel welcome, that I am glad to see them?
________ Have I asked my campers what they would like to accomplish during camp?
To become a distinguished camp counselor you will want to follow these guidelines ...
Consider yourself a positive role model for the campers. *Follow the rules created by the camp facility and camping group.
• Encourage all campers show no favoritism.
• Use appropriate language and touching.
• Guide campers in ceremonies and activities.
• Possess a positive, cheerful attitude.
• Be prompt for meetings and activities.
• Respect each other.
• Show interest in all activities.
• Put the happiness, needs, and pleasures of others above your own.
• Include all campers in your group in camp activities.
• Get to know the names of all campers.
• Relate to campers in topic of conversation and activities that interest them.
• Participate with campers in all activities.
• Discover the talents of each camper.
• Creatively keep campers entertained and busy.
• Enjoy the out-of -doors and relay this attitude to the campers.
• Show respect for and appreciation to the campers .
• Ask questions instead of telling campers what to do.
• Teach the campers to value their own opinions.
• Campers should know each other by name.
• Participate in group building activities.
• Give campers the freedom to select activities and to express opinions.
• Teach campers how to think, not what to think.
Staff must conduct themselves in a responsible, professional, and lawful manner at all times. Staff must adhere to all camp policies, Staff must recognize that safety is the primary concern of everyone on site.
1. Never place yourself in a position of being alone with a camper especially in a secluded area.
2. Welcome visitors, but restrict the site to people who have a relationship with the group. A one on one relationship between campers and other adults is not permitted.
3. Water fights, wrestling, jokes, and pranks must be limited. They must be pre-approved by the Camp Director.
4. No inappropriate touching of campers or staff
5. No hazing.
6. Do not use inappropriate or sexually suggestive/sensitive language.
7. If younger campers need help changing clothes, two staff will be present.
8. Romantic involvement of counselors is not to be shared or displayed at training sessions, any camp location, or at other related activities: whether or not campers are present.
9. Staff is not allowed to take a camper to their home during the camp session unless arrangements have been made with those campers’ parents in advance.
I0. Sexual harassment of campers or staff will not be tolerated
11. Respect the property and privacy of other staff and campers at all times.
12. Staff is to treat other staff with courtesy, respect, and kindness. Opinion differences are to be kept to you during camp session.
13. Camp session is a team effect; we expect your full compliance and teamwork.
14. At anytime these policies may be amended by the Camp Director.
I have read had the opportunity to ask questions and understand the Staff Behavior rules as listed above. I understand that I will be dismissed for inappropriate behavior even on the first offense, and no reminder of these rules shall be necessary.
Name ________________________________________________________________________
Date ________________
1. Attendance shall be taken first thing each day.
2. Absences are reported to the Camp Director
3. The director will contact the parent if notification of the absence has not been received.
1. Written notification must be received prior to explain when the schedule change will take place. In the case of leaving camp early, the written notice must include the name of the person picking up the child.
2. Procedure for camper arranging late.
a. Parents should bring the camper to the Camp Director station to check-in.
b. Camper will be escorted to the group.
parent seeking the group first shall direct them to the Camp Director.
3. Procedure for parent picking up child.
a. A note will be sent to the Camp Director
b. Parents will pick up child at Camp Director station.
To ensure safety and security of the campers, parents much check in with the Camp Director or Assist and Director to sign their child in. The Camp Director or Assistant Director is required to follow these procedures:
a. Maintain a file with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons authorized to pick up each camper. You may only release a child to a person for whom you have written consent by the custodial parent. Never honor a telephone authorization unless there is prior written consent by the custodial parent on file.
b. Contact the main office and or police department for advice on how to avoid releasing a child into an unsafe situation, such as to a parent who appears to be intoxicated (under the influence of drugs or alcohol).
Campers are prohibited from riding in staff vehicles during camp unless parent bas granted written permission.
To avoid injury, staff should carefully supervise campers getting into and out of vehicles.
All camps must have a drop-off and pick-up procedure in place.
1. Use the buddy system
2. No personal equipment
3. No perishable food from home
4. No horseplay
5. Camp rules and regulations specific to the location of the camp
6. Special guidelines and rules for field trips or special events such as swimming
Buddy System: When using the restroom at a public facility, it is best to check restroom before the children enter to assess the area and any individuals who may be present. The Buddy system wilt be used, and the Counselor is required wait outside until all children are finished. In the case of a public facility, the counselor may stand in the doorway of multi-stall restrooms to supervise. All campers will be allowed to use the restroom one at a time if they so request. When possible, staff members will use different restrooms than campers.
l. The Camp Director must approve all personal equipment. The Director is responsible for ensuring the equipment is safe and appropriate.
2. Proper safety rules will be reviewed prior to use.
3. Determination of camper ability will be made.
4. Staff is responsible for the care of camp supplies.
5. All equipment must be returned clean and in good condition.
Outdoor “Good Manners”
1. Pick up liter
2. Maintain trails
3. Practice conservation
4. Respect and follow regulations pertaining to on-site buildings
5. Respect the natural environment and keep it beautiful
Traditions, activities that are usually done every year, add a feeling of belonging and a sense of continuity to going to camp. They give a sense of security and contribute to the whole picture of what “camp” is. They are part of the memory that children hold onto long after camp is over. It’s these things that stay in the minds for year to come and often are part of the reason why kids come back to camp year after year.
Lines of Communication:
In the event of an emergency in or out of camp:
The Counselor will:
1. Send a Counselor, Junior Counselor or 2 campers ( depending on the circumstances) to head quarters to notify the Camp Director of the nature, location, severity, and type of aid needed at the emergency.
The Camp Director will:
1. Designate one person to go to the site of the emergency.
2. Designate one person to contact appropriate emergency services.
3. As soon as the emergency has been controlled the Camp Director will contact the Executive Director.
Procedures for contacting parents or guardians:
In the event of a MINOR injury or illness, the Camp Director or their designee Will notify the parent or guardian.
In the event of a MAJOR injury, illness, or emergency the Executive Director will Contact the parent or guardian.
Procedures for dealing with the media:
In the event of an emergency, camp staff will NOT communicate with the media. Do not say “no comment”, instead direct all inquiries by the media to the Camp Director. An on-site media spokesperson will be made available as soon as possible.
General: To be followed under any emergency
MOST IMPORTANT!!! Remain calm and do not panic.
Administer appropriate first aid
Take appropriate measures to control the emergency
Notify camp staff immediately. Provide the following information:
1. Location and nature of the emergency and the type of aid needed
2. A staff member must remain with campers.
3. Campers not involved in the emergency should be directed to a safe place away from the incident and provided with an activity.
4. The nurse or first-aider will take care of medical problems. Evacuation to hospital will depend on circumstances. If necessary, victim will be transported by a 911 aid vehicle.
5. In any emergency, the Camp office must be notified as soon as the situation occurs.
6. Statement should be limited to Camp Director and appropriate camp staff. Do not talk to any media representatives. Refer to Camp office personnel.
Ask those in the group if anyone knows where he/she is, when and where he/she was last seen, where he/she was needed, state of mind, and what he/she was last wearing.
1. One staff member will quickly and calmly search the immediate area, leaving other campers participating in regular program under the supervision of another staff member.
2. If still missing, report all of the above to the camp director.
3. Available persons will be gathered and assigned specific areas to search. Those individuals report back to the assigned place after the search.
4. If not found during camp search, the Camp Director will notify the authorities, the Executive Director and the parents. Invite the parents to site to help reassure them.
If the group had been on a hike or out of the main camp area, follow steps 1-3, another staff member will be sent to the group so you can show where you had been.
Fire: Site fire rules and safety procedures apply. Instructions for extinguisher use should be posted on or near the fire extinguishers. Make sure you know how to use a fire extinguisher. Filled water buckets must be located at every cooking or fire site.
Campers may not be near a barbecue, stove, or open flame, without the direct supervision of an adult. In the event of a person’s clothing catching fire, have them STOP, DROP, and ROLL, making sure their hands are covering their face. A blanket, towel, rug, etc. may be used to put over the person’s clothes to help smother the fire. Fireworks are not permitted at camp.
1. Clear campers from the immediate area. Do not leave campers unattended.
2. Send for help, 911 should be notified for any non-controlled fire.
3. If staff at the site can quickly control the fire, do so and report.
4. If fire cannot be controlled, remove group from area and report to the Camp Director with the following information: Fire location, size, cause and how fast the fire is burning.
5. Alarm will be sounded.
6. On hearing the alarm the following procedures shall be followed:
a. All staff and campers will meet in the designated area (Round-up)
b. Be sure all campers and staff are accounted for.
c. If need be, move to a safe location.
Some children at camp may need to take medications during camp. The Camp Nurse is responsible for giving medications and maintaining a health log. No campers will be medicated at camp without written permission from a parent or guardian. All camper medications must have the following:
1. The first and last names of the camper on the container
2. The original package or container
3. The date the prescription was filled
4. Expiration date
5. Specific instructions for giving medication
6. A childproof container
Parents that authorize the camp to give their child an over-the -counter medication must include the following:
1. The child’s first and last names
2. The current date
3. The expiration date
4. Name of the health care provider
The Camp Nurse will make entries in the health log with the child’s name, date, time, and dosage of medication given. All entries in the health log will be initialed.
All medications should have childproof caps and be stored in a locked container out of reach of the campers. Expired medications and medication without an expiration date will not be administered.
Medications that must be refrigerated will be given at the Camp Nurse’s discretion. Medications requiring refrigeration should be clearly marked and separated from food.
Errors: If a child is mistakenly given another child’s medication, the Nurse or Camp Director is to call the poison control center 1-800-222-1222 immediately and follow the advice given. The Camp Director will also contact the Executive Director, who in turn notify the parents.
Registration and health forms include emergency contact information, allergy and any special needs of the camper. These forms should be located in the Nurse’s station. In the event a camper needs to be transported, these forms should accompany the camper.
The Camp Nurse will administer all health care. In an emergency the Nurse will:
I. Quickly assess the child’s health
2. Call 911 or other appropriate emergency help as needed
3. Give first aid and CPR if necessary
4. Contact the Camp Director and Executive Director and the person listed on the camper’s emergency contact sheet
1. Stay calm
2. Check for life-threatening situations (choking, severe bleeding or shock) do not move a seriously injured child
3. Call 911 if the child is seriously hurt
4. Give CPR or first aid if necessary
5. Contact the parent/guardian emergency contact
6. Contact the Camp Director and Executive Director
7. Record all injuries on a standard form developed for that purpose.
8. List all witnesses to the injury.
1. Please ensure students are adequately hydrated. All campers need to be made to drink water at least every one hour.
2. Sunscreen needs to be applied before exposure to the sun, before and after swim.
3. If the outside environment is too hot, please keep them indoors or find shady areas in the property.
4. If campers have caps/hats please make sure they wear them before going to the playground or swim club
Please use the attendance record to monitor if the students have sunscreen on them, have had water, and if they are adequately protected from the sun.
1. First and foremost maintain the head count of each group at all times.
2. Make sure students are hydrated and have sun protection at all times.
3. There should be a counselor with the group at all times and no junior counselor should be left alone with the group.
4. All parents have to sign in and sign out.
5. Counselors have to know the whereabouts of all campers at all times.
6. Assist campers with lunch.
Infraction - counselors will be cited with an infraction if you are seen violating the above rules.
If any counselor feels they do not have an assigned group, please inform the camp director.
Incentive - counselors/junior counselors will receive bonus awards for being voted best on job on a weekly basis.
