Field Trips
You arrive at the destination and your group is excited to run toward the entrance. What should happen before leaving the bus area?
Conduct a headcount and verify all children are accounted for.
Why is it important to establish expectations before an activity rather than waiting until children begin misbehaving?
Setting expectations proactively prevents many behavior problems before they occur and helps children understand what the expectations are.
A counselor is actively playing basketball with one court of kids. Everyone appears safe at the other court. Why might this still be a supervision concern?
The counselor may become distracted from supervising the entire group.
A room becomes increasingly loud during an activity. What should happen before giving further instructions?
Regain attention using an attention getter and establish room control.
A counselor says, "First person sitting quietly gets candy!" What mistake is being made?
Bribery.
A parent volunteer tells you, "I've got these kids, go take your other group to the restroom." What should you do?
Politely decline. Parent volunteers may assist but can never supervise a group independently.
A counselor chooses not to review rules everyday because "They know the rules already." Why is it important to review expectations regularly?
Children need consistent reminders and reinforcement. Reviewing expectations helps prevent problems and creates consistency across activities and staff.
You notice another staff member snuck their phone outside and is checking text messages while supervising. What should you do?
Address the concern and/or report the supervision deficiency immediately.
You know two campers have argued every day this week. What proactive strategy should be used before the next activity begins?
Separate them and pair them with different peers.
A child who usually struggles, has a great day. What reinforcement principle would have the greatest impact on the child's future behavior?
Specifically recognizing and praising the positive behavior.
While walking through a crowded venue, a counselor is walking beside the line chatting with another counselor. What supervision expectation is being missed?
Counselors should walk facing children and actively monitor the group, not socialize.
A child runs away from line-up. What logical consequence would directly connect to the behavior?
Walking next to a counselor.
A child asks to use the restroom during a field trip. What are the next supervision responsibilities?
Check the bathroom to ensure there is no one else inside. Know where the child is, remain close enough to assist, monitor bathroom access, and ensure they return directly to the group.
A counselor says, "I didn't know we were transitioning yet." What classroom management expectation was missed?
Knowing the schedule and planning ahead for transitions.
Why is "praise publicly, critique privately" considered effective?
It reinforces positive behavior while not embarrassing during corrections.
A child says they forgot lunch. The field trip venue only sells expensive snacks. What are your responsibilities as the counselor?
Notify the director immediately and ensure the child has access to an adequate meal.
A child repeatedly throws game equipment after multiple reminders. What makes a consequence "logical" rather than reactive?
The consequence directly relates to the behavior, such as temporarily losing access to the equipment.
A counselor spends the day responding appropriately to injuries, behavior issues, and conflicts as they occur. According to the training packet, what is the biggest concern with this approach?
The counselor is being reactive instead of proactive. The goal is to anticipate and prevent problems before they happen.
The children are bored and behavior is escalating. What should every counselor have prepared?
A "bag of tricks" with backup activities and games.
Two counselors have groups with similar behaviors. One group is highly engaged and cooperative, while the other constantly struggles. Both counselors enforce rules consistently. What positive reinforcement strategy might explain the difference?
The more successful counselor is likely actively recognizing positive behavior, building group identity, creating excitement, and focusing on what children are doing right instead of only correcting mistakes.
A counselor says, "I've done this field trip five times. I know exactly what I'm doing." According to the training packet, why can this mindset actually create a safety risk?
Because familiarity can lead to complacency. Staff must remain vigilant, conduct frequent headcounts, actively supervise, and stay alert regardless of how many times they've attended a field trip.
Before giving a consequence, staff should assess the behavior. Name the four questions counselors should ask.
Name three supervision mistakes that could lead to serious injuries even if they seem minor at the time.
Why does the training packet emphasize consistency in schedules, expectations, and counselor behavior?
Lack of structure and inconsistency often contribute to behavior problems.
The packet encourages counselors to create group chants, traditions, or secret handshakes. What is the purpose of these strategies?
Building group identity, belonging, and pride in positive behaviors.