View Full Version : Can't Get Your Campers Lined Up After an Activity? Here's a Solution
If you have trouble getting your campers to line up when getting ready to leave an activity, here's one solution. (This works best with younger kids.) I was taught this during a pre-camp seminar by an "expert" in camp counseling.
What you do is you tell the kids what's going to happen and what they should do. Tell them that when you say "All eagles to the flock" (the example he gave us), or something similar, they should all line up behind you. You're going to turn your back to them, count to 10, and give them time to line up. They'll all come running to line up before you get to 10. When you count to ten. You turn to the right and left, pretending to look for your campers (knowing they're all lined up behind you). You keep saying that you can't find them and you're wondering where they are. They'll probably start laughing. When they do, turn around fully so you're facing them. Then act surprised to see them all lined up.
I've never tested this method, but it sounds like a good one that might work. I'm going to try this next summer.
speedx5xracer
10-22-2005, 05:53 PM
this does sound like a good idea. one technique i used is (granted i only ran a few line ups) but I would get on the top of the picknic tabel in teh middle of the division and yell "All out (insert division name here)" as the campers all line up and the staff is counting them just constantly remind them that time is running out and if they dont line up they will miss an activity. I guess this might not work with smaller groups but its effective with larger groups.
Sounds like a good idea - I'll use it next time I'm working with the younger ones!
It'll work even better if you get the other counselors in your bunk in it as well. When you're "looking" for your campers, ask the other counselors if they see them. Hopefully they'll play along and say no as well. This'll really get the kids into it!
camper
10-23-2005, 09:56 PM
we do "group line ups" before and after pretty much every activity for every age group, even the oldest ones. when we're at an all-camp activity and each group has to be dismissed separately, my mom dismisses the younger ones (the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders) by doing this: she'll go, "sophs (3rd and 4th graders), you have 10 seconds to get into a perfect group line up!" and then she'll count down from 10 and the kids will get in their lines by bunk. it works perfectly. then she gives the 5th graders 7 seconds and the 6th graders 5. as the girls move up in camp, they love to get into group lineups with their new time. the soph grouphead also uses a point system to line the kids up...whichever bunk has the best line gets a point and the bunk at the end of the week w/the most points gets something special, like a sleepover in the soph playroom or going up to bbq first on thursday night.
rhiannond87
10-24-2005, 02:54 PM
I invented a similar thing for the 15 yr old girls in my bunk - we had different kids every week and they all loved it. It was an easy way of checking that we had everyone. Basically I started and went 'One Yee-haa!!' making a yehaa gesture, then each girl would have a number and say, two yehaa, three yehaa etc up untill 11 when my co would go 11 yehaa. Once we'd all done our numbers we'd make a lasoo gesture above our heads and all go 'YEAHAAAA!'
It was good fun, partiucalry useful on trips!
I invented a similar thing for the 15 yr old girls in my bunk - we had different kids every week and they all loved it. It was an easy way of checking that we had everyone. Basically I started and went 'One Yee-haa!!' making a yehaa gesture, then each girl would have a number and say, two yehaa, three yehaa etc up untill 11 when my co would go 11 yehaa. Once we'd all done our numbers we'd make a lasoo gesture above our heads and all go 'YEAHAAAA!'
It was good fun, partiucalry useful on trips!
We tried to do numbers in our bunk last summer. It didn't work out too well. The kids would fight over the numbers. It made more work than just getting everyone to line up. I guess 7-year-old boys aren't really the best kids to do this with. :P
camper
10-24-2005, 04:41 PM
our kids like to have countoffs...but sometimes they goof off and we end up counting them before they finish the countoff haha. my girls last summer tried to create a countoff for the whole age group but it lasted about a day and when we gathered them together to count them when there was no group lineup we went back to saying "bunk 17 raise your hands" then "bunk 18 raise your hands" etc. and counting them that way.
speedx5xracer
10-25-2005, 04:01 PM
We tried to do numbers in our bunk last summer. It didn't work out too well. The kids would fight over the numbers. It made more work than just getting everyone to line up. I guess 7-year-old boys aren't really the best kids to do this with. :P
The number system is good however it is discourgaged alot of the time at my camp as well as many others. The reason for that is it depersonalizes/dehumanizes the children into numbers. I can have a lasting effect on them even though its not intended to.
I guess we could also just call out their name, and if they're in line have them say their name back.
speedx5xracer
10-25-2005, 04:15 PM
the best method i have found over the years is just constantly keep counting your campers in line or out. And too get them to line I choose the tough love way, for every minute past the first it takes them to line up they will sit out of their activity. It works great cause if there are 1 or 2 problem children after 2 minutes of sitting out of a game the rest are playing they will never be late again
We always take swim time away from them. It's the one thing they all love doing. But that's a pain because it's really hot sitting with them until they can go in the pool. But since I don't swim too much I sit with them. I don't mind. Of course the whole time I try talking to them and I get the silent treatment. I feel bad but I can't allow them to go in until their time is up.
simdude
10-25-2005, 06:12 PM
those are some good ideas speedx5xracer and dave!
camper
10-25-2005, 07:12 PM
taking away time from activities is something we never do. if any counselor tried to do that, they would get in trouble with their groupleader or my mom. the kids are at camp to play their activities, not to be punished by not playing. it's just like in school...they are supposed to do work...if a kid does something bad they still have to do work, right? that also might make a child deliberately act out b/c then they might not have to do an activity that they don't like. we just have group lineups where the kids know that they aren't getting to whatever it is they're supposed to be doing, especially if they like it, until they are all there and listening.
taking away time from activities is something we never do. if any counselor tried to do that, they would get in trouble with their groupleader or my mom. the kids are at camp to play their activities, not to be punished by not playing. it's just like in school...they are supposed to do work...if a kid does something bad they still have to do work, right? that also might make a child deliberately act out b/c then they might not have to do an activity that they don't like. we just have group lineups where the kids know that they aren't getting to whatever it is they're supposed to be doing, especially if they like it, until they are all there and listening.
I guess I felt bad for a reason then. I knew deep down inside that it was wrong, but I still went along with it. :(
collissimon
10-27-2005, 06:23 PM
I usually play a little game with them, using active listening so that I know they're playing attention.
First, I put out my arm, so that they know I want a line up. Then, I'll do a couple of silly things that I want them to copy, be it rubbing your belly/tapping your head, hula dancing, dambusters that kind of thing.
This occupies the kids, but also shows you quite quickly who isn't listening. It also shows the kids, without shouting and screaming, what you want of them.
The main problems with line ups is they always want to be at the front. If two are pushing, they will get sent to the back. If it's really bad though, in the past other bunks have done 'bunk blobs' where a camper has to touch an item of counsellor clothing to show they're ready... I don't know if I would do that though!
First, I put out my arm, so that they know I want a line up. Then, I'll do a couple of silly things that I want them to copy, be it rubbing your belly/tapping your head, hula dancing, dambusters that kind of thing.
We do something similar in our camp when we want the attention of the kids (usually when we have more than one bunk). We say "If you can hear us clap once". If they hear us they clap. "If you can hear us clap twice". More kids will clap this time. "If you can hear us clap three times." By this point just about all the kids will be listening. It works really well.
The main problems with line ups is they always want to be at the front. If two are pushing, they will get sent to the back. If it's really bad though, in the past other bunks have done 'bunk blobs' where a camper has to touch an item of counsellor clothing to show they're ready... I don't know if I would do that though!
Last summer we had so many problems with kids being first in line. If a kid did really well at an activity, behaved really well, etc., we made them line leader to the next activity. Well the lines never stay straight from activity to activity and kids would run ahead and whatnot. The "line leader" would yell at the kids to get back because they weren't allowed in front of the line leader. Of course the kids didn't listen and then the line leader would start crying. So I'm going to avoid having line leaders next summer...
Flukie
10-29-2005, 10:24 AM
We use a couple different ways. With younger girls (4-6th grade), we use buddy lines (much easier to count!). Some of our staff taught other staff the buddy line song we made up as CITs a few years ago. They'll stand at the line up point and someone will holler out, "Buddy Line!" Then the whole staff begins to sing, "Buddy line, buddy line, get in a buddy line! Buddy line, buddy line, get in a buddy line, buddy line! Ba da da da da..." And they repeat a few more times. (This is to the tune of Lollipop by the Chordettes.) Once they girls have all arrived, staff either count them silently, or have them count off by twos. I don't personally like having each girl have a number for the week because they forget or they argue about the numbers... When we count off by twos, it doesn't matter what "number" you are - we just want to make sure we're all here. Sometimes the staff joins in the count-off too.
With a tough group, I've also used the "I'm a different counselor" approach. If I see staff having a really tough time with their group, I'll generally be like, "Hey guys! Are you headin out?" When the staff says yes, I ask the girls if they want a challenge. No one has turned me down yet. I then challenge them to make the "world's perfect buddy line!" I turn around, they organize themselves (without staff help) and tell me when they are ready. It always seems to work - partially cause I'm not their staff and partially cause younger girls love a challenge. :)
With older girls, we travel in buddy blobs (generally 9-11th grade, sometimes with the 7-8th graders - totally depends on teh vibe of the group). Each tent is responsible for making sure they are all here and the staff does a quick silent head count. Then they head off, one staff in the middle of the blob and one or two towards the back.
One of the biggest problems we had this year was staff letting their "line" get ahead of them - we strong suggest putting a staff at the front and back (especially in the larger groups of 20-25 girls) but some didn't listen. Of course, I also had a unit of 25 that insisted that walking in a single file line was the way to go - and then wondered by it took so long to get anywhere! They spent more time trying to count-off or stop arguments of who was where in the line. Lol. After that session, the staff went to buddy lines. :)
The buddy line is a really good idea. I never thought about doing something like that. I'm assuming the counselors have the girls choose a buddy and that's the person they have to line up next to all summer?
Also, we do spread our counselors out in line. One of us will be in front, a couple in the middle, and one in the back. I like being in the front because I don't like walking behind with the slow kids. It's much easier in the front, unless the kids run ahead. If that happens I just said "red light" and then stop. That usually works with my kids.
Sometimes we actually let them go ahead though. If they're arguing over who should be in the front of the line or something, we'll tell them to race to that pole or tree about 20 feet ahead. That takes their minds off of the line leader thing. It also makes walking from activity to activity a little more fun.
Flukie
10-29-2005, 12:19 PM
It can go a few ways. When I've had groups that are reallyl cliquey (they came together as friends or just have meshed a little too well), we have had them pick a popsicle stick each morning. Each stick has a number on it - their buddy for the day will have the same number. That way it is really random who they are with. If it isn't a problem, we just let them pair up. When I worked day camp we used the popsicle sticks everyday because our girls often all came from the same troop and were really good friends - and needed some gentle pushing to meet the other girls in their units.
Using popsicle sticks is a good idea. I never thought of that. Some kids might not following it though if they're not friendly with their partner. I remember last summer when we'd pair kids up they'd get mad because they didn't like who they were paired up with.
Skater Bubbles
10-29-2005, 06:20 PM
On the first day I teach my girls how I expect them to line up. At first I tell them that when I call out "cabin" their job is to yell out "5" as loud as they can. I yell "Cabin" a couple of times and they yell "5" till I get all of the girls attention and then they are nice and quiet and I yell "countoff" then they all line up and say their numbers that I gave them earlier. It works quite well. And I have never had an issue with it being an indentity thing. The numbers don't bug them and they are only used during the countoff.
I think I'm going to try the numbers technique next summer...
collissimon
11-01-2005, 06:55 AM
Was just re-reading over some of the posts, and Flukie's ideas were really good.
We do a mini camp: which is ten days after main camp has finished for younger kids to try it out for the first time, or for kids who's parents can't afford main session as this is a little cheaper I think. Anyway, usually because it's only 10 days, you don't have to deal with as many behaviours, because they are so excited to be there, and are in the 'honeymoon' period. The kids I was with this year were really well behaved, and we made it into this huge game that they could ge themselves into a line up before we got out of the dining room. They loved it! We even got the director to make an announcement to everyone at dinner one day: you've never seen them glow so much!
Those who push to the front in my bunk are sent to the bunk, or has to walk baby steps for the rest of the way there with the counsellor at the back.
Do you insist that they stay in line when going from A to B? Some people at camp do, but I'm not too fussed, just as long as they stay between the counsellor at the front and the one at the back. The only exception is when we're crossing the road we have running through our camp.
CAMPFRIEND
11-01-2005, 09:39 AM
We do not try to take away activities from the campers, but when our campers line up for role they know the faster you line up the faster you go. This works great in the morning and at lunch time!!! Other than that we don't need to line up much..
Those who push to the front in my bunk are sent to the bunk, or has to walk baby steps for the rest of the way there with the counsellor at the back.
That's what we do too. Any fighting over the order, they're sent to the back of the line.
Do you insist that they stay in line when going from A to B? Some people at camp do, but I'm not too fussed, just as long as they stay between the counsellor at the front and the one at the back. The only exception is when we're crossing the road we have running through our camp.
Even though we encourage them to stay in line, they never do. I mean, if they're walking next to their friends, but staying with the bunk, I really don't care. As long as they're not wandering off or not keeping up.
Skater Bubbles
11-02-2005, 06:06 PM
I try to keep my girls in a pretty nice straight line, but if they are a little blobish I don't freak out. Some counselors do though!! Some counselors at my camp want their kids walking in perfect straight lines and everything. I say, pick and choose your battles with your campers, and straight lines is not a battle worth fighting to me anyway!
I agree. I see no reason to get upset over your kids not staying in a straight line.
camper
11-02-2005, 10:52 PM
we get our kids into straight lines for the beginning of group lineups so we can see the distinction between each bunk and count the kids. after that as long as they're quiet it's ok if the lines aren't perfectly straight. then at lineup at the flagpole where it's the whole camp it's for the same reason as seeing the distinction between bunks also partly for tradition, and the kids love having "straightest line" competitions at group lineups too!
collissimon
11-06-2005, 10:50 AM
I agree, esp since the kids at my camp have social difficulties, so keeping them in line actually means making friends is a bit more difficult. I think you have to be careful, because it can also become an easy target for counsellors who are tired and ratty to take it out on the kids too...
camplover86
11-06-2005, 12:54 PM
At our camp, everyone uses "soundoffs" On the first day of camp i have my campers work together to create a word or sentence that has everyone say 1 thing in it. for example C A M P O A K L E D G E for a patrol of 12 girls, i had a patrol of 11 say G U M B O R O C K S. The soundoffs work really well. When we leave to go somewhere i say Gumbo's patrol sound off. The only challenge to this is at the begining of the session sometimes they forget their letter or word. and sometimes i'm like who is R? but then R comes running and im like oh Julie is R and i remember. All the patrols at our camp use this. I love it!
Flower
11-06-2005, 08:48 PM
Do you move all around camp in neat little lines then? That's so different from my camp. We only line up for flag raising and lowering. Campers have individual schedules and they are responsible for getting themselves to activities. If they are not there, we send a counselor or camper to the office to let them know who we're missing, or use a radio in the outlying activities.
About counting off though, I went on a trip to Quebec City with the 15 year olds. They came up with their own numbering system to use and would try to do it everytime we got ready to leave the hotel. They never could all remember their numbers. It was so funny. They wrote a song on the bus ride home to sing for the camp and they were going to count off in it. When they did it in the dining hall, they messed up the same way they always did on the trip. The kids at my table didn't get why I found that amusing.
Do you move all around camp in neat little lines then? That's so different from my camp. We only line up for flag raising and lowering. Campers have individual schedules and they are responsible for getting themselves to activities. If they are not there, we send a counselor or camper to the office to let them know who we're missing, or use a radio in the outlying activities.
At our camp, the oldest kids (10-13) get to make up their own schedules so I think they get to go to the activities on their own. But everyone else goes to the activities as bunks (except for two periods of the whole week which are free choice).
camper
11-06-2005, 10:04 PM
we line up in the morning to raise the flag and at night to lower it. then we have group lineups, where each age group has their own line up at a certain spot so the grouphead can count and make announcements and remind everyone where they're going. the lower camp has group lineups before every activity, and everyone has group lineups before swim and evening activities, even the oldest girls. our kids go to activities in teams within their age groups.
camplover86
11-07-2005, 12:06 AM
We don't walk around in neat lines. We pretty much walk in clumps! We also only line up for flag twice a day.
Skater Bubbles
11-07-2005, 10:17 PM
We have the campers line up for activities
who_stole_my_loofa
11-08-2005, 08:35 PM
We don't do line up after activity line ups or anything, but we do cabin lines for like swim or when we are on trips or whatever. When they call cabin lines one counselor stands the front(the other can go at the back) and all the campers sit down behind their counselor. The unit leader (or whoever) calls like Cabin 1 and then the counselor for that cabin says 10 for 10, or if someones not there then they'll say like 8 for 10, 1 health center, 1 horseback lesson. After that they'll continue to Cabin 2 and so on.
That was kind of a confusing explaination.
Loofa
CAMPFRIEND
11-09-2005, 10:41 AM
We meet after every activitie so that we make sure that we know where all of the campers are. We do have a lot of younger campers who tend to wonder off!
I hate it when my campers wander off. We'll be walking to an activity, and they'll be walking and talking with one of their friends (from our bunk, of course). I'll turn around and see them walking in a different direction. Ugh. It's annoying.
CAMPFRIEND
11-10-2005, 12:35 PM
I hate it when my campers wander off. We'll be walking to an activity, and they'll be walking and talking with one of their friends (from our bunk, of course). I'll turn around and see them walking in a different direction. Ugh. It's annoying.
It's a good thing that you see them. I know what you mean about it being annoting. It seems to be the same campers all the time! At least you know who to watch!
Yeah, either they're campers who wander off, or they're campers that latch on to you. Unfortunately there aren't a whole lot in between.
CAMPFRIEND
11-10-2005, 02:04 PM
Oh the joys of being a camp counselor!
gremlin_c
04-26-2006, 11:01 PM
One method I've used to get your kids together as a group is a game called "compass". It takes a little organizing on the first day but it works great. The leader stands in the center and all the kids form a circle around you. Whatever direction you are facing is north. When you yell compass, your kids must get in a circle around you in the same order they started in on day one. For example, the kid who is directly in front of you should always be directly in front of you.
Works well when your kids are everywhere and you need to talk to them as a group.
shortie5149
05-01-2006, 05:56 PM
as an alternative to the numbers, i've let the kids pick their favorite activity. i call out "Aztecs!! Sound off!" and i would get a list of activities. if there was more than one girl that wanted to call out swimming (for example) she would chose her favorite stroke or jump off the diving board i.e. "Backstroke" or "Cannon Ball" etc. as a counselor I would just keep a running total of how many activities I heard. this was also a good thing to get them to bond together because during cabin clean-up (right after breakfast) they would discuss which activity they wanted to pick each day.. Such fun
softballkid019
05-09-2006, 11:11 AM
we do a few things at our camp. we use the buddy system to start off with. but when we are trying to get there attention we usually do a call and answer sort of thing. like the leader will say camp and the kids say rocks. you do this untill they are all quiet then from there you can ask them or tell them what you need to. one of they ways you get them in a buddy line is to yell buddy countoff and then yell zero then then need to number them selves off. this usualy gets them to hurry up and get in line quick. it also is a way for you to know if you have all ur kids
Sparkes
05-09-2006, 02:50 PM
yeah, soundoff always works well
CAMPFRIEND
05-10-2006, 09:37 AM
I think that all of you have great ideas. The big thing to make sure that you are thinking about is the age of the campers that you are working with. I think for the younger campers the count off thing is great and works well, but if you are working with teen campers that will not work.
Just my thoughts!
Wawbeek5
02-25-2008, 10:38 AM
I work at a camp for people with disabilities but one week during the summer is a session for kids with asthma. Last summer, the group I was in had 4 counselors and 15 campers. We would make our kids line up before we went anywhere and we would give them 10-15 seconds. We would then make them count off and they would have to recount if someone would say their number in a smart-ass way. One morning, we even made them get up and run 1 or 2(can't remember exactly) laps around camp.
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