Starting My Summer Camp Research Project!

Last summer, all of my thirteen campers wanted to be wizards. Across an afternoon, they each went around our mountainous Colorado woods and found small sticks, bringing back to our camp’s craft center. Some campers whittled their sticks until they were smooth. Others kept some bark at the base for better grip. A few made samurai sword-looking handles out of bright pipe cleaners. By the time I’d caught up with all of them at dinner, thirteen wands sat next to forks and knives. The next day, the wands glistened as my campers found waterproofing lacquer, and the rest of the day was given to wizard fights in the camp pool. The best part of it all: my campers were fifteen- and sixteen-year-old boys.

I have tried hard to think of another place in America today where, as a teenage boy, its cool to rocket yourself out of the water and scream Harry Potter-like spells at your friends. But I can’t; it’s only at camp.

Those kinds of moments are the impetus behind this blog and the larger project that stands beside it. I am a rising senior studying politics at Pomona College and a veteran counselor at Geneva Glen Camp in Indian Hills, Colorado. In my ultimate year at college, I’ve decided to bring together my two biggest worlds and write a thesis about political education in American summer camps, the basic argument of which centers around the idea that camp addresses some of the fundamental anxieties surrounding modern childhood. That camp offers unique solutions to inherently political fears about finding children positive role models, giving them a solid moral foundation, and endowing them with a strong sense of community and tradition doesn’t come as a surprise to camp professionals, but explaining those lessons to people in the “real world”—especially in the academic world—is a behemoth task.   

Through Pomona, I’ve received a grant that will address this task by allowing me to use the beginning and end of my summer to visit camps around America in order to learn about their programs and to try to articulate the collective lessons summer camp teaches. I want to discover the reasons behind the uncanny ability, as a ‘camp person,’ to instantly identify someone else as a ‘camp person.’ In between those two trips, I’ll be returning to Geneva Glen as a counselor. My proceeding blog posts, then, will document my travels this summer and my thoughts about the camp generally. (As I prepare my trip, I would love to hear any and all advice/thoughts/observations about the formative power of camp).

I think about camp every day. And recently, I’ve thought every day about how profoundly lucky I am to have a (really) full summer of camp—of time to explore the magic of a place that can still ignite the imaginative flame of a sixteen-year-old camper wizard.  

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I (pictured in the upper left corner) happily admit that I was in on the wizarding. Here’s our staged battle that took place on the last day of the session. 

Keeping Kids at Summer Camp Safe

Child Protection & Safety Training at Summer Camp

The summer camp season is quickly approaching. As you work hard to finalize preparations for a busy and fun summer, it is also important to spend time focused on child protection safety training.

Training and educating camp staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes in contact with child campers about how to best safeguard these children is a key component to preparing for a safe and fun summer season. Child safeguarding includes a range of health and safety issues, from protecting children against overheating and dehydration to preventing abuse or physical harm of children while in your care. 

Here are four useful tips to share with your staff to help ensure your child campers remain safe. 

Employ a Structured Safety and Risk Management Program

The most effective safety training is accomplished through a series of orientations, training sessions and skills assessments for all staff and volunteers. If you don’t already have one, consider developing a written Safety and Risk Management Handbook, which includes procedures to follow during a critical situation or emergency as well as safety regulations, standards, and inspection information.

Ensure Medical Care Policies are Written and Shared Among All Staff

Your camp should have written health policies and protocols that have been reviewed and approved by a physician with specialized training in children's health, preferably a paediatrician or family physician. Be sure to inquire about the previous training and camp experience of the camp health care provider and all staff, so you can identify any knowledge gaps and plan for additional training before the busy season kicks off.

Also consider establishing relationships with local dentists, orthodontists and mental health professionals who are willing to treat emergencies if the need arises.

Communicate Zero Tolerance Policies Regarding Abuse

Clearly worded, written and published rules of conduct consistent with law and camping industry standards must be established. Campers and staff must be trained, supervised and evaluated on their performance and appropriately disciplined should a breach occur, including expulsion from camp or termination from employment. It’s wise to always employ “two deep counsellor supervision,” which means that no adult will be allowed to be alone with a camper in an isolated place.

Staff should be trained to recognize signs of abuse as well as misconduct and report these to their supervisor or manager.

Train Staff to be “Upstanders” to Prevent Bullying at Camp

Bullying is prevalent and has a high impact on emotional functioning, so it is vital that summer camps take steps to tackle the problem head on. An “upstander” is someone who recognizes, responds to, and reports bullying behaviour. Dedicated anti-bullying training for staff, and campers, will stop cycles of abuse before they even begin and ensure a positive camp experience for every camper.

About the Author

Keir McDonald MBE is founder and Director of EduCare, an online training solutions company that specializes in child protection, exploitation and online safety, and bullying and child neglect. EduCare is associated with both Kidscape and Family Lives and customers include over 4,000 schools and colleges and 12,000 pre-schools as well as councils, the NHS, charities and more.

What will YOU do because camp matters?

Membership site for Professional Summer Camp Leaders

You know that moment when you say something out loud and you get the shivers because it just feels so RIGHT?

That's everyday in Go Camp Pro for us.

Since I started the CampHacker Podcast (and everything that has followed: Camp Pros, more podcasts, keynote speaches, ACT Onsite visits) I have been working hard to have maximum impact on the camp industry.   It has been so amazing to meet so many like-minded people and get to work with leaders in our industry.

I've come to realize that my personal mission in life is to get the summer camp industry to such a high level that parents will feel like they've failed their children by not sending them to camp

One of my biggest dreams through this whole process has been to create a place where year-round camp staff and directors could share ideas, learn new skills and get great resources to make their lives easier.   

I'm so glad that its finally happened.   

Beth and I are so excited to partner with Laura & Jack from Camping Coast To Coast and James Davis from Summer Camp Revolution on Go Camp Pro.   

It's has the elements of a great camp conference... at half the cost.

Want to make your life as a camp leader easier and more fulfilling?  Go Camp Pro



 

 

Developing Relationships With Current and Prospective Clients - Joanna Warren Smith

High Tech Requires High Touch

Photo by IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock / Getty Images

A number of camps and year-round facilities have gone to all-electronic telephone answering or routing systems for more efficiency in the office. This may be necessary for huge operations and it can be effective if the messaging is updated regularly, the system is user-friendly, without flaw 100% of the time and calls are returned immediately.

On the other hand, what is more important in your office than developing relationships with current and prospective clients?  Especially during this time of the year when you are busy hiring staff, managing registrations and planning program, parents tell me that there is a tendency to be rushed to the point of being rude with callers.  If you are going to answer the phones, do it right!

Take Action Now!

  • Train ALL Staff.  Each individual can flavor the connections with his/her own personality, but the style should the same.

  • Be Succinct & Warm.  Parents do not want complicated and extended greetings.  'Camp Run-A-Muck, this is Joanna' encourages a caller to respond with 'Hi Joanna, this is Jamie and I want to know about camp for my son." The engagement that follows identifies the boy's name/age,  mom's expectations of camp and what the experience can do for her son.

  • Set the Stage for the Sale.  Secure the essential contact information and then explain that 'the summer camp decision is a critical one' and that you want to help them make the right choice.  If they are not ready to register at that moment, outline the next steps to enrollment.  Follow-up regularly and in an engaging, 'personal' way.

  • Monitor Calls & Mentor Performance.  Take the time to listen to conversations with parents and help staff to create authentic connections that will produce additional conversions.

Since most inquiries arrive via the net 'anonymously', leverage the opportunity to nurture relationships when parents actually call in.

Joanna

Need an objective perspective on any aspect of camp?  Give me a call at 310-451-1876 or email campconsulting@verizon.net

(Note from Travis:   We are so thrilled to be posting the always brilliant HINTS from camp consultant Joanna Warren Smith!  If you don't already you should sign up to receive theses HINTS in your email - in the right-hand column of Joanna's website: http://camp-consulting.com/)