Photo by Roderick Cooney, www.thecampphotographer.com
By Jack Schott
Simple tips for counselors to make your job a little easier and make sure the kids have an even better time this summer. When you are at your best the campers are having a great time, learning, connecting, and ready to take on the world. You are the unfair advantage summer camp has to make more impact this summer.
1) USE KIDS’ NAMES 3 TIMES
2) HAVE A CATCH PHRASE OR REPEATING JOKE
3) TELL KIDS YOUR ROLE
4) GET ON THEIR LEVEL
5) HAVE A GOOODIE BAG
6) SMILE AND BOUNCE
7) TELL KIDS WHERE YOU LEARNED THINGS
8) 5 FINGERS (STAY POSITIVE, DON’T POINT FINGERS, RESPECT, COMMITMENT, DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE GUY)
9) GO FOR A WALK TO DE-ESCALATE CONFLICT
10) PULL OUT YOUR BALLOON
11) TALK WITH THE SUN AT CAMPERS’ BACKS
12) 1 ON 1 EVERY DAY
13) ANYTHING CAN BE AWESOME
14) HAVE A PLAN FOR WHEN KIDS ARRIVE
15) GIVE KIDS THE SCHEDULE
16) ASK CAMPERS FOR HELP
17) TAKE OFF YOUR SUNGLASSES
18) EVERYONE HAS A THING
19) PICTIONARY TELEPHONE
20) HAVE A PLAN FOR DOWN TIME
21) MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ONE GO TO SONG - OH A MILKSHAKE
22) AND SKIT -DIRECTORS SKIT
23) AND NO PROP GAME -YEE HAW
24)AND NEVER TELL -GREEN GLASS DOOR
25) ALWAYS HAVE A WATCH AND A WATER BOTTLE
