Camper Care
A camper says they miss home.
Question: What's the best response?
Answer: Validate feelings and help them engage in camp.
Two campers argue over whose turn it is in a game.
Question: Handle it or call admin?
Answer: I can handle it!
A camper won't stop talking during instructions.
Question: What's your first response?
Accepted Answers: Move closer, use proximity, redirect, and restate expectations.
You notice a camper running near the pool.
Question: What's your response?
Answer: Immediate safety intervention.
You feel frustrated by a camper's behavior.
Question: What should you do next?
Accepted Answers: Take care of yourself, take deep breaths, ask your lead or the Admin Team to relieve you for a short break.
We've all been there before and we're here for you!!
A camper is sitting alone at lunch.
Question: What can you do?
Answer: Facilitate connection by asking questions and finding common ground. Bring in other campers, but don't force friendship!
A parent asks about how their camper's day went.
Question: Handle it or call admin?
Answer: I can handle it! or I can handle it with the support of a lead (if the day was a bit rocky).
A camper refuses to participate in an activity.
Question: What's a supportive way to respond?
Accepted Answers: Offer choices, encourage participation, and explore the reason without forcing.
A camper says they don't feel well.
Question: What should you do?
Answer: Assess their symptoms and follow camp procedures. Get leads and admin involved if needed depending on severity.
You've given the same reminder to a camper five times.
Question: What are signs that your strategy isn't working and what would you do?
Accepted Answers: The behavior isn't changing (repeated reminders are not effective enough), consult with your team and try a different strategy!
A camper says, "Nobody likes me."
Question: What are the next steps you'd take?
Answer: Listen, gather information, and then reassure the camper.
A camper says another camper threatened them.
Question: Handle it or call admin?
Answer: Do some detective work to see what happened. Afterward, notify lead counselor and admin.
Bonus Question: How long should you wait to notify leads/admin?
A camper tells another camper, "You're not my friend anymore!"
Question: How should you respond?
Accepted Answers: Help them communicate respectfully and problem-solve rather than taking sides. (We don't need to force friendship).
Question: What are your next steps?
Answer: Get the camper tissues, have them tilt their head forward while pinching bridge of their nose, and call a lead or admin team.
Do NOT attempt to clean it up without PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Your co-counselor is having a hard day.
Question: What would you do to support them?
Accepted Answers: Notice their signs of being overwhelmed and offer help before things get too difficult, let them know/give them small breaks, help with campers (if one camper is really pushing buttons).
Take care of yourself too!
A camper is anxious about an upcoming activity.
Question: What would help this child the most?
Accepted Answers: Predictability, reassurance, and breaking it into steps.
Campers dare each other to sneak out of the activity area.
Question: Handle it or call admin?
Accepted Answers: If campers are caught before they try to escape, let lead counselor and admin know.
If campers successfully leave the group, call admin immediately.
When campers are misbehaving, what are really they trying to do?
Answer: They are trying to get your attention and communicate their needs/feelings to the best of their abilities!
You can't account for one camper during a transition.
Question: What's your next steps?
Accepted Answers: Stay calm, do a head count, retrace camper's steps, ask other staff and campers (without panicking everyone.)
If they still have not been found, alert the Admin Team immediately.
Your group arrives 15 minutes early to an activity, and campers are starting to get restless.
Question: Name three things you could do without needing extra supplies.
Accepted Answers: Rose/Bud/Thorn, Would You Rather, Simon Says, Categories, Silent Line-Up, Camp Cheers, Group Stretch, Two Truths and a Lie, etc.
A camper is crying and won't tell you what's wrong.
Question: What do you do?
Accepted Answers: Stay present, offer support, and give space if needed. Do some detective work and ask other campers and staff if they know what happened.
A camper discloses something serious that happened at home.
Question: Handle it or call admin?
Answer: Immediately involve admin.
Two campers tell you that another camper has been repeatedly excluding them from activities and calling them names when adults aren't nearby. What should you do?
Take the report seriously, gather information from all parties, document what happened, and inform leadership rather than trying to handle ongoing bullying on your own.
A camper says: "Can you keep a secret and not tell anyone?"
Question: What would you say to this camper?
Answer: "I can't promise to keep secrets, but I can listen to what you have to say."
A camper is having a difficult day and seems upset, frustrated, and disengaged.
Question: What is an important thing to remind yourself of?
Answer: A camper's bad day does not reflect on your counselor abilities and it's not personal! You are a great counselor!