Staff Training

[CAMPFRIEND]

How long is the training at you day camp? What kinds of things do they cover? I am looking for new ideas to add into my staff training! Any new ideas would be great.
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[Dave]

We have three training sessions. The first one is only for a couple hours. It's in May and it's held at the JCC center. The next two are held a couple days before (the third one being held the day before camp). Those are both at the camp, and they're the length of a camp day (10-4).

During the first one, we basically just find out what age group we're working with (if we didn't specify) and we get together with all the other counselors and division heads of our age group.

The second one we go to some various activities and the specialists tell us what to expect this summer. There's also some seminars at camp covering various topics.

The third session is for us to get prepared for the kids. For the first half of the day we meet with the counselors in our bunk and we come up with a bunk name. For example, last summer we were the D-5 Destroyers. (D-5 being our bunk.) Then we make a poster with that theme, and we include all of our names and our campers' names on it. The second half of the day is meet-the-counselors, when the campers and parents have a chance to meet us and ask questions, etc.

[Flukie]

When I worked at day camp, staff training was 4.5 days - the week before camp started. Ad-Staff went for 5 days - they met in the morning on Monday, the rest of the staff arrived at noon on Monday.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Do you feel that you camp gave you all the training that you needed or would you have liked a few more days?
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[Dave]

Do you feel that you camp gave you all the training that you needed or would you have liked a few more days?
I felt it was enough. Maybe for my first year I could have had some more training, but now, 3 days is plenty.

[CAMPFRIEND]

Do you think that it would be a good idea to spend more time on training with new staff?
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[Dave]

I think so. I think they should have an extra day for just new staff. They should explain the rules, what they're allowed to do, not allowed to do, and basically how things work. They could also get some other staff to attend and give the new staff little tips and hints they've learned over the years.

[Skater Bubbles]

At my camp we have a week long staff training that is right before the first week of summer camp. We go over all the rules and basics and do the cpr/first aide and all the child abuse and neglect stuff. We also get to know eachother really well. We do alot of bonding stuff. I think that it might be good to have an extra day or two for new staff. I really wished I could of had some of the returning staff give me some pointers and tips for my first summer at my resident camp.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I am going to look at these ideas for my training this summer. Thank you!
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[who_stole_my_loofa]

Man at my day camp we only had like a half day of staff training and that was only for CPR and First Aid. That director was wack- she didn't tell us anything. It was my first year ever working at any camp (this was in 2003) and when I started I was totally clueless and I just had to pick it up as I went (which was like after 1 day).

My residential camp that I work at though had a week long staff training session and it doesn't matter if you've been on staff before, you still go. I always feel very prepared for camp after that. The unit leaders have a week of training before the regular staff training too. So they have kind of like 2 weeks of training (whoa baby)!

Loofa

[CAMPFRIEND]

I think that in day camp part of the reason for less training is due to budget. I try to fit a lot into my day camp training as I can for my staff. I think they learn as much as we can teach them in a short time.
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[Fleur]

We have 4 days of full staff training, and one day of bus counsellor training. During full staff training, the day is a mix of team building type games involving the whole camp, and times when you're specifically working within your unit. Counsellors use the time to learn about strategies to deal with their camper age group, and also go around to meet some of the specialists so they know what is expected at each area. Specialists mainly use the time to set up their program areas. For bus counsellor training, half the day you are learning about what is expected of you, and how to deal with problems. The other half of the day you're out with your bus driver to do a trial run of your route and meeting with the families/kids on your bus.

[rockinsmiles]

Though i work at an overnight camp we also have a day camp there. the day camp staff trained right beside us which is 2 weeks long. however we have a pretty small day camp staff (4 counselors i think not including LIT which are their version of CITs) and everyone besides one of them lived on grounds. During training we cover stuff like conflict resolution, games to play, a dry run of camp, CPR/First Aid training, diverisity, child abuse, and more. i know the day camp staff also had some of there own training periods but since i wasnt there im not sure what all they did. Anyways it might work to spend some extra time with the new staff but it might alienate them. i dunno just something to make sure doesnt happen.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I wish that i could have two weeks with my day camp staff..

[runrachrunn]

Our camp does 2 1/2 days (if I remember correctly). The first day is really just an evening. There's a site tour, dinner, ice breakers and intros of all the head staff, etc.

The two full days are used for emergency procedures, meeting with the different activity heads, going through the different transportation procedures for the beginning and end of the day, lunch room policies, learning games/songs etc, setting up cabin areas, etc. the last thing that we do is a "meet and greet" for the campers that are starting the following week.

It's a jam packed couple of days - but that just gets us revved up for camp.

[speedx5xracer]

we do 1 week mandatory for general (bunk counclers) and up to 2 weeks more for specialists for CPR/LG and other certifications.