Bullying can occur in many places - schools, activity groups, friend circles, camps and more. It is how we prepare our kids to handle the situations that arise.
More and more research has come out about bullying, zero tolerance policies, and protection acts. It is important for kids to know that though bullying is not a good act, it is one that most of us must endure at some point during out lives. Funny enough there is more research about bullying in kids lives, but little about bullying in the lives of adults. This is not just a childhood act but can continue long into adulthood if the issue is not solved.
Camp is one of the best ways to teach children about bullying, ways to spot it, prevent it and work towards independence and confidence. Many children attend camp between elementary and high school years when children are most at risk for bullying and being bullied. The complicated and unique social interactions of a camp environment make way for a perfect lesson time.
Children attending camp are susceptible to a number of potential bullying situations where it be in a new cabin, activities or in the dining hall. Bullying episodes may consist of exclusion by cabin mates, the creation of rumors about a fellow camper, taunting during a sports game, sexual harassment during shower time, or physical tormenting during periods such as “free time.” In our time of technology, it can occur even before camp begins or after camp has ended for the day or summer. Campers communicate by instant messaging, e-mail, social networking sites, and cell phone, discussing bunk or group selections and devising plans to create cliques or leave others out. Children may gossip about new campers, spread rumors about a campmate, or post inappropriate and hurtful content about a camper or counselor on the Internet.
This being said, a good camp is one that creates a positive and caring community, and one with staff who are trained to handle and work to prevent such situations from occurring. A successful camp community is one where the tone of staff emulates what we want from campers, positivity, encouragement and enthusiasm for new things, new relationships and diversity. Clear expectations and rules for behaviour, along with an anti-bully policy increases the chances of teaching kids to change their behaviour and engage in more positive interactions with others - this is the key to preventing bullying in any situation - especially camp.
At Camp Diamond, our staff are trained during a 10 day pre-camp to identify bullying and immediately work with the bully & victim(s) to enable them to solve issues at hand and improve their relationship. Not only do we train staff to identify these issues but others including homesickness, risk management and much more.
Staff meet weekly, at a minimum, with Senior Staff to report and discuss issues and solutions to problems that have arisen in the days previously. Pertinent or emergency situations are reported immediately.
Staff work with the campers in numerous ways to educate them on what they can do to solve problems or stick up for their fellow cabin mate. Leadership challenges and group dynamics are worked on in each cabin and throughout communal activities.
In the event, that a situation arises with a camper that cannot be solved, the bully is sent home but this is our last resort. It is important in our current days, that individuals are given training on how to handle themselves in these difficult situations. Counselors are not encouraged to solve a child's problem, but to work with them and to enable them to use skills to solve their own. Of course we are supportive but we are not saviors.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Risk Taking
I was sent an email this morning by a friend of mine that I thought was very interesting and is especially important to remember these days:
To all of you who were born between 1930-1980:
First, we survived being born to mothers
Who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,
Tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles,
Locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode
Our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children,
We would ride in cars with no car seats,
No booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day
Was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle..
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon.
We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.
And, we weren't overweight.
WHY?
Because we were
Always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day,
As long as we were back when the
Streetlights came on.
No one was able
To reach us all day. And, we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes.
There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's,
No cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth
And there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and,
Although we were told it would happen,
We did not put out very many eyes..
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just
Walked in and talked to them..
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
----
As a parent, I understand the need and desire to protect our children, but truly we are not doing them justice by protecting them from every little failure, or from getting dirty. A friend of mine teaches kindergarten art class, and tells me daily about the kids that won't get messy. She tells me that her students say "Mommy says messy is bad." Why not let our kids get a little dirty? It washes off, we have water to wash clothes, faces, floors etc. Let them explore - they will be better kids for doing it!
To all of you who were born between 1930-1980:
First, we survived being born to mothers
Who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,
Tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles,
Locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode
Our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children,
We would ride in cars with no car seats,
No booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day
Was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle..
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon.
We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.
And, we weren't overweight.
WHY?
Because we were
Always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day,
As long as we were back when the
Streetlights came on.
No one was able
To reach us all day. And, we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes.
There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's,
No cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth
And there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and,
Although we were told it would happen,
We did not put out very many eyes..
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just
Walked in and talked to them..
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
----
As a parent, I understand the need and desire to protect our children, but truly we are not doing them justice by protecting them from every little failure, or from getting dirty. A friend of mine teaches kindergarten art class, and tells me daily about the kids that won't get messy. She tells me that her students say "Mommy says messy is bad." Why not let our kids get a little dirty? It washes off, we have water to wash clothes, faces, floors etc. Let them explore - they will be better kids for doing it!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
How to find the right camp
So many people say that their child attended summer camp once and did not like it so they will never return. But have you ever considered the fact that many kids do not attend the right camp for them? Ask many questions, when considering a program whether it be day camp, overnight or a family program.
Consider these:
1) How many kids are in camp at one time? If your child will be at camp for the first time, it's a great idea to choose a small camp and one that is geared for first timers. If your child wishes to attend camp alone, or does not have friends that can attend with him/her, a smaller camp will help with transition and allow them to get to know many around them.
2) What type of sports do they have? Is there something that interests or challenges your child? If the camp has activities that challenges or interests your child, the more likely they will be to stay active. If your child only likes computers, but does not enjoy sitting at a desk for long periods - computer camp is probably not for them. If your child likes the outdoors and has never seen the stars - perhaps a camp up north is where she would like to be. Sit down and chat with your son or daughter about what they enjoy the most!
3) Are the counselors trained in how to deal with homesickness? Homesickness is a guarantee if your child has never left your side. This is not a bad thing - actually something all of us have had at one time or another. As a camp professional, I have found that the younger the camper, the easy the transition because of re-direction. It is much more difficult to be 17 and leaving home for the first time to head off to college, then be 8 years old and heading to camp for a week. Ask the Director, if the staff are trained in homesickness management during orientation. He/she should be able to give you an idea of how they work with their staff and campers to work on managing it. Anyone who says that homesickness does not happen at camp, is dreaming.
4) Are campers permitted to call home? This can be a good or bad thing depending on your child. I have been to camps where it is forced, and everyday kids call home. For some it's a great reconnection, but for most it means that the counsellor will be up all night with a cabin full of crying kids. At Camp Diamond, we do not permit campers to call home, but parents are encouraged to keep in touch via email or letter mail. You can always call us in the office and we will report back on your camper. Some children find it very difficult to reconnect with parents while having fun on their own. Some feel guilty that they are having fun without you and others just miss their routine. Respect your child and know what they can or cannot handle.
5) Do you have visitor's day? For kids that are at camp for longer than 2 weeks, a visit in the middle of the session can be invigorating. For kids at camp for 2 weeks or less, not such a great idea. If your camp has a visitor's day, make sure you attend if at all possible. Kids can feel left out if all their cabin mates have their parents, family or friends and they do not. Consider this of utmost importance.
6) How much free time is there in a day? A few hours of free time is important to kids - 2 hours to 3 hours is encouraged but more than that can lead to mischief or feelings of loneliness.
7) Is swimming mandatory? What a big question this turns out to be especially for the child who is not a strong swimmer. Many camps have mandatory swimming whatever the weather. Make sure your child is happy with this arrangement. At Camp Diamond, we have free swim every day and swim instruction sign up but under no circumstances is swimming mandatory but it is encouraged.
Consider these:
1) How many kids are in camp at one time? If your child will be at camp for the first time, it's a great idea to choose a small camp and one that is geared for first timers. If your child wishes to attend camp alone, or does not have friends that can attend with him/her, a smaller camp will help with transition and allow them to get to know many around them.
2) What type of sports do they have? Is there something that interests or challenges your child? If the camp has activities that challenges or interests your child, the more likely they will be to stay active. If your child only likes computers, but does not enjoy sitting at a desk for long periods - computer camp is probably not for them. If your child likes the outdoors and has never seen the stars - perhaps a camp up north is where she would like to be. Sit down and chat with your son or daughter about what they enjoy the most!
3) Are the counselors trained in how to deal with homesickness? Homesickness is a guarantee if your child has never left your side. This is not a bad thing - actually something all of us have had at one time or another. As a camp professional, I have found that the younger the camper, the easy the transition because of re-direction. It is much more difficult to be 17 and leaving home for the first time to head off to college, then be 8 years old and heading to camp for a week. Ask the Director, if the staff are trained in homesickness management during orientation. He/she should be able to give you an idea of how they work with their staff and campers to work on managing it. Anyone who says that homesickness does not happen at camp, is dreaming.
4) Are campers permitted to call home? This can be a good or bad thing depending on your child. I have been to camps where it is forced, and everyday kids call home. For some it's a great reconnection, but for most it means that the counsellor will be up all night with a cabin full of crying kids. At Camp Diamond, we do not permit campers to call home, but parents are encouraged to keep in touch via email or letter mail. You can always call us in the office and we will report back on your camper. Some children find it very difficult to reconnect with parents while having fun on their own. Some feel guilty that they are having fun without you and others just miss their routine. Respect your child and know what they can or cannot handle.
5) Do you have visitor's day? For kids that are at camp for longer than 2 weeks, a visit in the middle of the session can be invigorating. For kids at camp for 2 weeks or less, not such a great idea. If your camp has a visitor's day, make sure you attend if at all possible. Kids can feel left out if all their cabin mates have their parents, family or friends and they do not. Consider this of utmost importance.
6) How much free time is there in a day? A few hours of free time is important to kids - 2 hours to 3 hours is encouraged but more than that can lead to mischief or feelings of loneliness.
7) Is swimming mandatory? What a big question this turns out to be especially for the child who is not a strong swimmer. Many camps have mandatory swimming whatever the weather. Make sure your child is happy with this arrangement. At Camp Diamond, we have free swim every day and swim instruction sign up but under no circumstances is swimming mandatory but it is encouraged.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Working at Camp?
I loved going to summer camp as a kid, but can I afford to go back as a counselor? This is a question that has been pondered by many individuals when they are looking for a summer job. As a teenager, I remember loving camp but never knew if I could afford to “play” all summer. However, when you take into account your expenses that comes with city job such as rent, food, entertainment, and transportation (bus/subway pass or the $1.00+/L gasoline), you realize that the camp job allows you to save money while having little to no expenses.
At summer camp your rent is paid, there is no need for daily transportation, meals/snacks are provided along with the majority of your entertainment. Except for a few trips (if you so choose) into town on your day off (which can be split with fellow counsellors), you have zero expenses.
Also consider the opportunity to explore another part of the country, province, or perhaps you wish to travel to an international camp, do you have this opportunity to travel when you are working at that desk job downtown? Probably not. Why not choose to spend your days outdoors, laughing, making memories and gaining valuable skills all the while seeing a different part of the land?
If you are applying for college/university, they look for your ability to interact with others and your motivation for new experiences. If you are applying for jobs associated with business, education, recreation and others, the skills that you obtain as a camp counsellor look fantastic on your resume. Think of the benefits when you can say that you supervised a group of adults/children, were responsible for their overall well-being including monitoring meals, conflict management, and teaching them new skills.
Not only are there skills and experience that you can show off on your resume, but you also have the ability to meet people from all over the country and internationally. Build your network, be a role model for your campers, make memories and experience the great outdoors. There is nothing better than sitting on the dock at night watching the shooting stars burst across the sky, or listening to the crickets chirp through the evening. Listening to the laughter of campers in their cabins, or performing a lip sync during evening program, these memories will stay with you forever.
I will never forget my first experience as a camp counsellor and the joy I had to know that I made a difference for my 10 campers ages 9 and 10. What a rush to know that gave them life skills and increased my confidence in just one summer. No wonder I went onto to several other camps, touching the lives of several youth and eventually becoming a camp director. There is no other place I’d rather be.
- Suzanne V. Slater –
- Director, Camp Diamond
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