Camp counselors who are "life changers" nurture relationships within which others can grow and explore. They challenge children to reinvent the boundaries of what they expect of themselves. Such people have common characteristics that include love, humor, forgiveness, honesty, humility, encouragement, generosity, and integrity. The…

Tattooing and body piercing are becoming mainstream, especially among the college population that comprises camp staff. Campers often idolize their counselors and want to be like them. Piercings may present a safety hazard. Camps should develop a policy and communicate it to prospective counselors and campers as early as possible. Several camps'…

Building good character in today's youth is an adult issue because children learn values from adults. Adults must demonstrate the core values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Camps have developed expertise in character development and can provide leadership in the community in character education.…

Teen risk-taking is normal, healthy developmental behavior. Teens act out their fantasies--good and bad--at camp because it is a safe place away from parents. Signs of unhealthy risk-taking, camp staff responses, and how the September 11 tragedy might affect risk-taking are discussed. Sidebars describe tips for understanding adolescent behavior…

Camps are in a unique position to educate about the environment. Describes how to create a nature center for campers. Suggests using sound environmental practices at camp to provide an example for campers, providing year-round environmental programs as a community service, and developing financial partnerships to finance environmental education…

Camp, with its community living focus, presents a constant source of potential conflicts and offers an ideal environment to help campers develop their problem-solving skills. Steps in social problem solving are listed, and an example of problem-solving skills in action is offered. Counselors can discuss conflicts with campers and ask for group…

Camp directors are role models for staff, and their behavior sets the tone for staff behavior. Treat staff like adults. Treat them with respect; be demanding and fair. Clearly tell them what is expected. Encourage initiative, and don't punish the mistakes that come with learning to make decisions. Anecdotes illustrate how inappropriate management…

Discusses how camps can cultivate staff from among the camper ranks. Outlines questions to consider in deciding whether internal leadership development (ILD) is appropriate and feasible. Describes elements of successful ILD programs and six training techniques to maximize ILD: leadership by example, delegation of responsibility, role-playing,…

For over 50 years Catherine Hammett has dedicated her life to the development of organized camping. She started at the ground level as a Girl Scout camper, became a counselor, joined the Girl Scout National Staff, became a camp director, author, and an American Camping Association president. (JHZ)

Discusses the critical nature of staff recruitment in the success of camps. Suggests directors contact domestic and foreign colleges as well as former campers. Stresses the importance of maintaining competitive salaries and making the working conditions as pleasant as possible to reduce staff turnover. (SKW)

Strategies that foster the religious and spiritual identities of campers include instilling a sense of purpose in the camp community, setting and implementing goals for transmitting values, providing feedback, using role models, planning activities that incorporate values into camp, and fostering acceptance of the individual. Describes steps to…

Describes strategies for disciplining campers: establishing a caring atmosphere; using praise; modeling positive behavior; using time-outs; keeping campers busy; using conflict resolution; and improving communication with campers by using words they understand, getting on their level, establishing eye contact, using I-messages, and using humor…

A series of focus groups involving 126 campers attending 11 camps in New England explored campers' feelings about mentors, safety, nurturing, skills, and service. The campers admired and valued their mentors and thought that safety and health encompass physical and emotional components, camps teach "people skills," and community service…

Three child psychology studies illustrate that although behavior can be shaped by rewards and punishments, children also learn through imitating adult role models. When parents combine control and warmth, children are more independent, responsible, and content than when either control or warmth is absent. Human behavior is influenced by context…

A study of 66 children with cancer and 43 siblings attending the Ronald McDonald Camp found that disease-specific camps allow children membership in a community of peers, which enhances self-esteem and social acceptance. A separate, longitudinal study of 38 beginning and experienced campers found that campers' intrapersonal and interpersonal…