7/12/17
28 Little Things that are a Big Deal for Campers
Day Camp
The big events at camp are fun, but we think you’ll agree that it is the little things that really make a difference in what makes a camper’s experience so special. Our counselors are experts at doing this so we asked them to tell us their tricks for the trade.
- Create a secret handshake for your group.
- Give a camper a special job to do with you.
- Do goofy dances so that campers are comfortable being silly.
- Sit next to different campers each day during lunch.
- Let a camper carry your clipboard.
- Establish a special, funny ritual to happen at the same time every day no matter what you’re doing – “It’s 2:33pm, everyone do 3 jumping jacks!”
- During group time, a camper decides what the group will do. And, we all do it.
- Blow bubbles, host a bubble party, have a bubble day. Everything is just happier with bubbles.
- Be always willing and able to start landyards for campers.
- Make a special birthday poster for each camper who has a birthday while at camp.
- Always address campers using their names. It shows them that you really know who they are.
- Choose a “walking song” that your camp group sings when moving from one activity to the next.
- Have spotlight moments. When a camper does something awesome, make the whole group freeze, let everyone know about the accomplishment and give the camper a high five.
- Let kids help distribute snacks and popsicles to the rest of the group.
- Write little notes or give out certificates for campers to bring home highlighting something great they have done. Campers feel recognized and then parents know what happened too.
- Sing songs while on bus rides.
- Say “yes” when campers ask to pour or spray water on you during hot days.
- Have a dress up day just for your group.
- When a camper has mastered a new skill, have him teach you or the rest of the group how to do it.
- Swim side-by-side with a camper during swim lessons.
- Always have a secret stash of stickers to give out to campers.
- Be the most spirited and most dressed up on special event days. Campers love to know that their counselor stands out from the rest.
- Laugh at every popsicle stick joke no matter how many times you’ve heard them.
- Figure out whatever song campers love the most and just play it on repeat at the pool, on the bus, during group times and at all other opportunities.
- Put “magic glitter” on campers’ cheeks before performances to get rid of pre-show jitters.
- Find time to go for a quick walk with an individual camper and really listen to what she has to say.
- Give over-the-top compliments for things that really matter – doing something new, being a good friend, helping others – and not just for how they look or what they are wearing.
- Smile at all campers. In fact, smile so much that your face hurts at the end of the day.
What do these things have in common? For starters, they are all ways to make campers feel important, special and valued. Whether they remember what exactly the counselors did at the end of the summer or years from now, we don’t know. But, we do know that because of these things and so many more, they will remember how they felt at Apachi J Camps.
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