Parents
Parents email three days prior to the week their kids are attending and ask for them to be in the same activity group with three other campers that are attending that week.
What is: replying to explain that our policy is to fulfill one activity group request to ensure them that their kid will be with one of the other people they have requested.
Two cabin leaders are not getting along well and it's impacting their attention to campers.
A camper is still homesick on Tuesday.
What is: Talking to them to identify moments that may have been exciting and latching on to those. If doesn't not work - calling parents/caregivers for advice and to make a decision together.
There is a small fire in the main area of Wild Plum, because the stove was left on.
What is: use the fire extinguisher if it is less than a pillow size. Then let Directors know and clean up mess.
You notice scars on the arms of a camper from self-harming.
What is: acknowledging the scars directly but in an open ended way that invites them to share more or indicate that they are old scars.
A parent calls and says they are coming to visit their camper at camp.
What is: explaining we typically don't allow this unless something important needs to be dropped off, or a camper needs to be picked up early. Ask if there is anything we can do for their camper/reason for the visit.
What is: taking that staff aside and explaining that these details are not what camp is about, and it's not our role to be sharing these details with campers.
The same group of campers continue to break safety rules and puts other campers in danger by doing so.
What is: Directors talk to the group together and tell them the reasons that they need to listen and if they don't they'll have to go home. One warning, calling parents, second warning, home.
One of your campers go missing on campout.
What is: call Directors with walkies while looking in neighbouring campsites. Directors will come and run extended missing camper drill.
You find a camper sitting against the REC hall during an activity (away from their group) having a panic attack.
What is: staying with them and guiding them through some exercising to help them wait out the panic attack. Then, helping them to a quiet place and getting water, and a safe person for them to talk to.
A parent asks for your personal phone number so they can text you a video of a family member who has an important sporting evening while their other kid is at camp (so the sibling can see the video).
What is: telling them they can send the video via email and that we will do our best to show it to the camper close to when we receive it.
Two staff are dating and it's become obvious to campers and staff throughout the week.
What is: conversation with Directors and both staff to provide reminders - no PDA at camp!
One camper makes multiple racist comments to a darker skinned camper.
What is: addressing it each time, giving warnings, calling parents and then sending home (in consultation with Nadya)
A stranger with a weapon comes onto camp property during REC at Koinonia.
A youth camper expresses feelings for you at Fireside one evening.
What is: acknowledging the feelings, but also as inappropriate for this context. Keeping space from that camper for the rest of the week and letting other leadership know.
A camper fell on their back/neck off the gaga ball pit and the health officer advised you to call 911, because it may be a potential spine injury. You follow these instructions, but receive an angry email from parents a few days later complaining about the cost they had to pay for the ambulance.
What is: forwarding this to Nadya because you did the right thing and this is not your problem to solve. OR respond yourself and explain this was advised by the health officer and CC Nadya on the email.
There has been some inappropriate touching/conversation from one staff toward another who does not want it.
What is: ensuring the staff who is being touched is okay and has the support they need. Then, pulling the other staff aside and explaining that this is against policy and they have only one warning to change their actions.
A camper throws a chair in the lodge after a meal when they get very angry.
A tornado comes quickly and without warning while campers are sleeping.
What is: one leadership using air horn, the rest of leadership checking each cabin to make sure everyone is going to the basement. Checking in with RMs if possible once all are in basement safe.
A camper discloses abuse from a caregiver who is supposed to pick them up at the end of the week.
What is: following disclosure policy, ensuring ANCR knows that the disclosure is involving a caregiver that is supposed to pick up the child at camp.
After a week of camp, you receive a very aggressive email from a parent who said their camper was bullied and the cabin leaders didn't do anything about it.
What is: talking to the cabin leaders to get more information and then responding to the parent with that information.
During a cabin clean up, you find weed in the bag of your co-cabin leader.
A camper leaves the cabin and goes sleepwalking during the night. They were found near the REC field.
What is: Calling caregivers to see if this is normal, getting advice and calling Nadya. Making a plan for the next night, but if it continues then the camper will need to go home.
What is: Activity group leading clearing other campers from the area, one ropes instructor gets leadership and health officer and the other stays with injured camper.
A camper tells their cabin leader that they want to die and have the means to do so at camp.
What is: ensuring the camper is not left alone, any dangerous items collected, someone with ASSC joins the camper, Director calls caregiver/crisis response.