4-H Camp Counselor Tips

1. 4-H Camp Counselor Tips From A to Z Teresa M. Johnson Extension Agent March, 2003

2. AARDVARKS • An endangered species in the New England states, aardvarks are nocturnal mammals with large ears, tub-like snouts, and powerful digging claws. • The aardvark is not fierce, but when attacked it rolls on its back and uses its claws to defend itself. • Seeing aardvarks is the first early warning signal of COUNSELOR BURNOUT.

3. BANANAGRAM • A note, colored yellow and cut into a banana shape, sent from Caring Counselors to campers who need cheering up or special attention.

4. BEDWETTING • In all cases of bedwetting the rule of rules is this: Do not humiliate the child. • Ask the 4-H agent to change the bed while the other children are out of the cabin.

5. BEDWETTING • Many children are one-time bed wetters – that is normal. Restrict the bed wetter’s fluid intake after supper, and wake the child up at midnight to take him/her to the bathroom. • Anti-humiliation hint: The counselor should place his own mattress on the child’s bed, while the bedding is being washed.

6. BUDDY STSTEM • A simple method used to prevent counselors from losing children. Every camper picks or is assigned one buddy, and the buddies must stay together during the entire activity. • When the leader shouts: “Buddy check!” the buddies grab each other’s hands, and raise the hands into the air. Then the leader counts to make sure all the buddy pairs are present. • “Where’s Your Buddy?”

7. CAMPER PROD • An electrified metal rod that gives a mild but noticeable electric shock, designed for moving campers from one activity to another. (Just kidding.)

8. DEHYDRATION • Symptoms are dizziness and abdominal cramps. Prevent dehydration by drinking enough fluids during strenuous exercise.

9. ELEPHANT MEMORY • A common mistake that counselors make with campers. When talking to campers, counselors frequently use their elephant memories, and shout: “Today you pushed Billy, yesterday you hit Kevin ….” • The effective way to help children is to Take care of one situation at a time. Forget about the child’s past exploits. Respond to the most recent opportunity-problem with sincerity, calmness, and caring.

10. FIGHTS • When the aggressive camper misbehaves, or gets into a fight, the only way to help him is by responding with warmth and calmness. • NEVER let kids “fight it out” – that only leads to more hostility. Break up fights immediately. • As you run up to the fighting children, yell in a loud and firm voice: “Stop!”, or “That’s enough!”, or “Break it up!” – just to let the kids know that you’re there, and that you are about to pull them apart.

11. FIGHTS • Step between the children and pull them apart. Separate the fighting kids as soon as possible – the fewer the blows that land, the better. • After the fight, never force the fighters to apologize. Instead, let the kids calm down, and then try to help the fighters to repair the broken relationship.

12. GBUG (pronounces “GEE-bug”) • An acronym for “Go Before U Go”. • Before you leave for any activity with the campers, take them to the bathroom, even if everyone swears that they do not have to go.

13. HOMESICK CHILDREN • Homesickness is most common during the first few days at a new place. The camper may begin by complaining about a tummy ache: even though you suspect homesickness, take the child to see the nurse. • As soon as they occur, you should report all cases of homesickness to the 4-H agent.

14. Prevent most cases of homesickness, and lessen the severity of other cases, by immediately – during the first moments and the first day – establishing a warm friendly rapport with the child. • Treat homesick children by giving them special attention during the day, then talking with them before bedtime at night. • Don’t smother or baby the homesick camper: give him lots of but not too much special attention during the day.

15. When the camper asks you the burning question: “When can I go home?”, tell the child the honest answer: “That decision is not up to me; that decision is up to the 4-H agent.” • If the child asks to speak with the 4-H agent, than make arrangements for them to meet. Never promise the child that he can call or go home; and never cut off all hope that he will be able to go home: both these extremes will aggravate the child’s condition.

16. KNOTS • Loosen knots by rubbing soap on the knot, and then work the laces apart with a screwdriver or the file on your nail clippers.

17. LABELING KIDS • Never stick labels onto kids. If Joe hangs around you all the time, don’t think or say: “Joe is a leech!” If Sam cries a lot, don’t say: “Sam is a crybaby!” • When you squeeze a person into one word, you fail to see the whole person. If Joe hangs around you a lot, don’t slap a label on him: find the root of the problem, and solve it.

18. LABOR SAVING • In a group containing 2 counselors and 12 kids, the counselors should mentally divide the group to give better care and supervision. • For supervising showers, teeth brushing, cleanups and hikes, one counselor says to his partner: “I’ll watch these 6 kids and you watch the other 6.” The next day, the counselors should switch sets of kids so that they get to know all the children.

19. MEALTIMES • Use the mealtimes to organize yourself and to supervise children’s basic health maintenance. Before meals, campers should always wash their hands. • During the meal, Caring Counselors look at their campers to spot check for signs of physical or emotional bad health. Never force a child to eat, but if a child does not have much of an appetite, inform the camp nurse.

20. NUMBER COUNT-OFF SYSTEM • A method used to prevent counselors from losing campers. Give each camper a number that he must remember. If there are 20 campers in the group, then number the campers from 1 to 20. • When you shout, “Count off!”, then each child yells out his/her number, in order and so on. • Ask the campers why it is important for each camper not to call any other number except his/her own.

21. ONE-MINUTE MEETINGS • Throughout the day, have frequent one-minute meetings with the campers, which lasts from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. • Gather the campers in a circle: ask how everyone is doing: tell a joke: praise the group for any caring, creative, or cooperative actions they have done; find out what the campers want to do now, and then end with an energy cheer and a superhug.

22. PARTICIPATION • If a child does not want to play the game that the other campers are playing, he/she should be allowed to sit quietly nearby. • He is not allowed to wander away. Encourage participation, but never force participation.

23. RULES • Counselors and campers should work together to make the rules for the cabin. Don’t work on rules immediately; you want to show the kids that you are here to help them, not to dominate. • Health and safety rules are made by the counselor alone; explain the reason behind each rule.

24. All other rules can be made by the children and counselors working together. • Campers propose the rules, discuss them, debate why or why not the rule would be good, then vote on the rule. • One all-purpose rule that the counselor should propose and pass is: “No one is allowed to hurt anyone or any living thing.”

25. STAINS • Terrified of their parents’ wrath, many children become extremely upset when they get stains on their clothes. • It is far easier to remove the stain than to change the parents’ attitude toward the clothes. • For the best chance to get rid of stains, treat them immediately. Find the 4-H Agent for help.

26. TEASING • Teasing hurts; and the counselor must stop the teasing as soon as it begins. • If Joey teases Billy, the counselor should talk with Joey. If the whole group teases Billy, then the counselor should call a meeting and ask the kids how to help you to solve the problem. • If the kids don’t come up with the answer, then the counselor must be firm and clear: the teasing must stop immediately.

27. TONE OF VOICE • The way you say something is just as important as what you say. Whenever your tone of voice conveys anger – you hurt the camper. • Whenever your tone of voice conveys a warmth, interest, and respect – you help the camper.

28. TOUCHING • Touching is a natural way for health children to express affection. Use good judgment before you touch the child. • Here are some non-intimidating ways to touch someone. • Shake his/her hand • Slap him/her five • Hug or huddle together in a circle • Exchange funny and elaborate handshakes • Pat him/her on the back

29. WE TECHNIQUE • This is a method for responding to a camper’s misbehavior that works remarkable well because it asks the camper to help you to solve the problem. • The counselor says “We have a problem; what can we do to solve it?”.

30. ZIPPERS • Rub a bar if soap over the stuck sipper, then pull, tug and jerk for all you’re worth.

31. Source: Pastore, Michael, (1993). Dynamite counselors don’t explode.