Dealing with Problem Campers - Staff Training

Session #3 ~ Dealing With Problem Campers


Problem Prevention

The best form of discipline takes place before, not after, a problem occurs with your campers.

 Keep your campers busy, teach them how to have constructive fun

 Let them know right away what your expectations are and the consequences for disobeying

 Give a fresh chance to those with a bad reputation or a bad start (people will act a certain way just because you expect them to)

 Be with your campers, especially on the in-between-times (just your presence will avoid many bad situations)

 Praise good behaviour (positive reinforcement)

 Avoid letting your campers become over tired

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard on another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was in also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:3-5)

Respect your campers and act in such a way that they respect you
o Set a good example, respect your campers, and be fun! If you do this, your campers will look up to you. They will see how you are acting and want to follow your example. (1 Timothy 4:12)


“Children are learning all the time, observing and imitating. Consequently when you are with them you are teaching them. The way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the things you say. You cannot say, ‘now I’m teaching – now I’m not’.”

~ Mrs. R. Raymer, Camp Tanamakoon


Discipline

Disciplining campers takes a careful balance of two things:

Support & Control

Support: An expression of love for the camper.

Control: Setting up definite boundaries and consequences for crossing those boundaries.

1. The Permissive Cabin Leader:
This Cabin Leader offers high support but low control. Campers tend to walk all over the permissive Cabin Leader, but at least they know he loves them.

2. The Neglectful Cabin Leader:
This one provides very little of anything: low support and low control. He is probably at camp for all the wrong reasons, or is simply not suitable for the task. There is minimal time and attention given to campers, and they suffer for it.

3. The Authoritarian Cabin Leader:
This Cabin Leader demands high control but offers low support. Campers usually respond to this Cabin Leader in one of two ways: they either fear or rebel against him. This Cabin Leader is demonstrating immaturity and misusing his or her authority.

4. The Authoritative Cabin Leader:
This ideal discipline method offers high control while also offering high support and love. Campers feel secure in firm boundaries, but also know that their Cabin Leader loves and cares about them. Obviously, this is the best of these four styles, but it is not always the style that comes to mind when the campers begin to get out of hand.


Acceptable Disciplinary Consequences

 Limiting Activity

 Separation

 Making Restitution

 Withdrawing Privileges

 Talk with the Program Director or Camp Director


Unacceptable Disciplinary Consequences

 Any Form of Physical Consequences

 Verbal or Emotional Abuse

 Retaliation

 Unfairness or Favoritism

 Bribery

 Disciplining campers for aspects of their personalities

~ The Biggest thing we can stress this summer is ~
LOVE
“If we have not love, we are nothing”

 The whole point to you being here is to show God’s love to these campers.

 Remember that you are here for them and not for yourselves.
• When they wake up crying and you get the urge to roll over and go back to sleep, Don’t!!! Get up and help them or comfort them until they go back to sleep.
• Take time to plan their devotions and cabin time to make it fun for them
• Listen to what they have to say
• Etc........


I Cor 13:4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”