Tri-State Camp Conference
Transcription
Tri-State Camp Conference
Tri-State Camp Conference CAMP COUNSELOR TRAINING: A Proactive, Positive, and Week-by-Week Approach to Working with Campers in a Day Camp Setting Presented by: Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman (Camp Psychologist), Ms. Andrea Fleishaker, and Ms. Pam Greenwood (Division Heads) [email protected] Goals for Today’s Workshop • Discuss Counselor Workbook that Was Used at Camp Ramah in Nyack • Review Strategies that Staff Can Use to Enhance CounselorCamper Relationships • Demonstrate Training Ideas • Discuss Challenges and Solutions Related to Training Counselors How We Instituted the Training at Camp Ramah • • • • • • Workbook Provided to Staff Part of Staff Week Met 4 Times Over the Summer Independent Reading Activities to Reinforce the Reading Ways We Are Improving it for Next Summer Counselor Workbook: Key Ideas • Stresses Being Proactive, Planful, and Mindful • Uses a Week-by-Week Approach • Based on Psychological Principles • Based on Actual Counselors’ Experiences • Provides Counselors with a Resource • Can Be Used as a Framework for Talking About Campers Throughout the Summer Topics Covered in the Counselor Workbook Week 1: Developing a Positive Relationship with Your Campers Week 2: Tips from the Trenches - Gain Helpful Tips from Experienced Counselors Week 3: Help! - I Am Still Struggling. What Can I Do Now? Weeks 4 & 5: My Boys/Girls Are Getting Very Comfortable and I Have Two New Campers for the Second Month…. Week 6: Staying Motivated and Healthy During “Week 6” Weeks 7 & 8: Ending Camp on a Positive Note Child Development: Typical Developmental Behavior for Ages 5-13 Special Concerns and Specific Job Related Issues Strategies that Staff Can Use to Enhance Counselor- Camper Relationships • Getting to Know Your Campers • Treating Your Relationship Like a Bank: Establishing a Positive Cash Flow • Changing One’s Focus from the Negative to the Positive • Using a Win-Win Approach Rather than a Power Struggle • Empathizing and Active Listening • Establishing Clear Expectations • Facilitating Friendships Demonstrating Training Activities for Counselors Word Scrambler: Use to Teach Concepts Related to Developing a Positive Relationship with Your Campers Role Play: To Address Difficult Situations that Arise in Camp Mindfulness Activity: To Help Counselors Become Aware of How They Are Perceived by Their Campers Week 6 Activity: To Help Motivate Counselors During “Week 6” Word Scrambler Use a Word Scramble to Teach Concepts from the Workbook Role Play Role Play the Difficult Situations that Arise at Camp For Example • Transitions • Campers and Eating • Reluctant Swimmers • Dressing Suggestions • Dealing with Cliques • Bullying • Disrespect and Lack of Participation EMPATHY/MINDFUL EXERCISE* • How do you hope the campers would describe you? • How would they actually describe you? • How close are these descriptions? If they are far apart, how can I change so that the words I hope my campers would use to describe me will match the words they actually use? • Would I want anyone to speak to me the way I am speaking with my campers? • Am I speaking or acting in a way that will make my campers want to hear and learn from me? * Based on Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein’s Raising a Self Disciplined Child Helping Counselors Cope with Feelings of Frustration and Worry Especially During Week 6 • Throughout the summer, but especially in Week 6, it is common for counselors to become frustrated and worried about their campers, cocounselors, supervisors, and camp life. • Helping Counselors to THINK About the Situation Differently Can Help Them to Feel Better. • If counselors are feeling FRUSTRATED, they may be having too many SHOULDS in their thoughts. Counselors can change their SHOULDS to WISHES. Instead of “my camper SHOULD get dressed”, the counselor could think, “I WISH Joe would get dressed, but my DEMANDINGNESS won’t help the situation.” • If counselors are feeling WORRIED, they may be “expecting the worst”. Counselors can ask themselves - What is the worst thing that can happen? From 1-100, how terrible is the situation? They can remind themselves that it is never as bad as they are expecting. • THE COUNSELORS CAN CHANGE HOW THEY FEEL BY CHANGING THEIR THOUGHTS. Changing Negative Thoughts to Positive Ones Be Like Derek Jeter! WEEK 6 Activity It is the World Series, 9th inning, 7th game, 2 outs, score is tied. What is Derek Jeter thinking when he gets to bat? “Oh no, I can’t do this. This game is too much, I‘m out of here”. Derek then takes a swing and misses - do you think he says…“The crowd has no right to boo me! They hate, me I just know it. I am so embarrassed. I am the worst player ever.” In reality - Derek Jeter’s Real Thoughts…“Before he bats, he is thinking, “I’ve been here before and I know what to do. This is what I practice for and I am ready.” After he misses, he is thinking, “I can’t control the crowd, but next time, I am going to send this ball straight out of the park!” So my question to you -- how can you think like Derek Jeter? Ask yourself the following questions. 1. Can I change the way I think about camp, my campers, and my supervisors so that I feel better? 2. Am I catastrophizing? What is the worst thing that can happen? 3. Can I change the way I think about the situation so I am less demanding and more flexible? 4. How can I think about “Week 6” so that I am being more realistic, practical, and flexible in my approach? Challenges and Solutions to Training Counselors • • • • Make It Fun Be Practical Get Their Input Balance Information with Actual Specifics