There are many effective ways to interact with campers and numerous variations in counselor styles. But staff often wonder what manner is best. Here is a short quiz to help you determine your style as well as show you some effective responses to a few common camper problems.
Adapted from “What Type Of A Parent Are You? ” by Donald A. Cadogan, Ph. D. )
Scold the new camper for cheating and make him sit out the next game
Tell him not go get upset because he is younger than you
Tell the returning camper you know it is not fun to feel cheated, but you are confident that he can work it out with the new camper.
Play tetherball with the returning camper separately and tell him you are proud of him for not cheating
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Punish him by not letting get ice cream in the afternoon
Say nothing and assume he just forgot
Tell him you were worried about him and ask him if he needs help finding his meeting spot
Tell him that get worried that he might be hurt or lost when he doesn't check in, then let him know you have to report it to a Division Leader
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Insist she eat before leaving the dining hall
Disregard it and let her skip lunch
Tell her it is ok if she is not hungry now and you will get her a bagel from the bagel bar later
Explain to her how important it is for her to eat a good lunch so she doesn't get weak later in the day and go up to the food court with her to help her choose something before lunch ends
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Scold him when you see him next period and tell him to sit in the office the rest of the day
Ignore it because you saw him eat a bagel at the bagel bar earlier in the day
Leave lunch to find him, then when you do, get him a plate of food so he isn't hungry
Leave lunch to find him, then when you do, tell him you were worried that something happened to him and that you have to tell the DL and call his parents
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Scold her and tell her that the rule is everyone goes in for swim instruction
Ignore it and let her sit on the side of the pool
Tell her how important it is to learn how to swim and that you know she can be the best swimmer
Tell her that you understand that she is scared, but you know she will have fun and you will go in with her
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Make him swim 10 laps every day during free swim until he passes
Say nothing since he is trying - you don't want to make him feel even worse
Tell him he will definately pass next time and console him by getting him a slushie
Tell him that you know he feels sad, but he does great in his other activities and ask him if he wants extra help from you during free swim to build his skills
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Scold him and make him clean it up
Ignore it because it was an accident
Clean it up for him since boys will be boys
Tell him you are annoyed, and that he needs to keep his cup in the middle of the table so he can't knock it over. Then tell him where the rags are to clean up the mess.
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Scold the girls and tell them they don't get to go on the optional trip ice skating tomorrow
Ignore it because you know they will eventually warm up to her
Assign a different buddy to the new girl each period so they have to interact with her
Sit down with all the girls during group choice to talk about their behavior and how it affects other people. Have the girls come up with ways to get to know the new girl and make her feel welcomed.
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Scold him for being late and restrict his elective activities next week
Let him miss the bus, and have him go to the office to call his mom to let her know she has to pick him up
Grab his bag from the bunk, throw his dry shorts over his bathing suit, and get him a golf cart ride to the bus
Give him a choice of either changing out of his bathing suit and missing the bus; or going home in a wet bathing suit without his bag and making the bus
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Find them, then scold them for taking off and tell them they cannot go on trips for 2 weeks.
Continue going on rides with the other girls, because you know you will run into them in the park
Spend the next 30 minutes scouring the park until, then give them a big hug when you find them because they are safe
Wait 10 minutes to give them a chance to return, and when they do let them know you were worried and you will have to report it to the Trip Supervisor
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You expect campers to respect you and do what they are told with no argument
Children should be given the time and space to solve their own problems and develop at their own pace
Campers should be made to feel safe and given an abundance of love without demands or conditions
Campers should be treated fairly, with mutual respect and openness of ideas where rules are mutally developed.
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