Is training still required/offered for camp counselors?

[Dr. Ron]

I have done everything you can do in camping ministry....name it.

As SO, I enforced some very strict requirements for anyone remotely acting in a leadership position.

In my first state, they would wait until everyone arrived and then pick the cabin leaders , teachers, deans, and so forth,.

I stopped that the first year and insisted on the whole thing being organized by Jan before camp in June. They were dumbfounded at first, but then saw the wisdom in it.

IYC was a "gift" that was given to the "best" camper. Most never came back to work in a camp afterward.......same was true in Tennessee while I was a camper.

All it is going to take is for one camp to be sued by a parent and things will change. But we are so willing to think nothing will ever come our way.

No one cares about camps more than me....but right now our kids don't participate in camps because I can't get anyone to commit to be staff. So the kids suffer because I will not take the chance on less than well organized and trained staff. In this day, no camp is better than to take a chance on a multimillion dollar law suit.

I hope there is some training. At least some prep. reading.

[dawgs10]

i do think that there should be more training much beyond iyc because it is who you are or who you know kind of a thing in iyc. the big issue is why do we allow people that do not support cogop at the local level to work in our state youth camps. that has never made sense to me!!

[Pastor Bill]

Sorry Kenya, as you know I've been out of town and hadn't had a chance to respond. Speaking specifically for KY, yes there will be a staff meeting which will include some very basic training, those over 18 will be "Guides" those under will be GITs or "Guide in Training" and are generally not in charge of a group on their own. There are other more experienced Guides as well as other more experienced people in other positions that will be there to assist and train as well.

There is some additional training that was offered, but it was last fall, and as they still need adults to volunteer, they don't completely require that as it would basically force us not to have enough adults to run camp this year.

Having served in that specific camp for the last 3-4 years, I can say they will be fine, and I'll be there to help them out. I know your health isn't up to it, but if you still have concerns beyond that, we'd love to have Joey join us, we can always use more adult men.

[Rob]

Kenya,

I just returned from Junior High camp where I served as Dean of Boys. It was my first time to work in camp in about 4 years. I'll not address here why I quit, but would be glad to in another forum.

As Tony stated Henry Griffin is now the Camp Coordinator and developed a 135 page manual, which is has been long over due, and has this past year and will again in the future continue to do teaching/training for those who want to work in camp as "Guides" not counselors.

Camp was very good this year, and I will assist them again next year as well. Been a lot of changes in one year, with more that need to be made and will be made as well.

If you would like to discuss this further, you know how to contact me and I would be happy to discuss it with you.

Pastor Rob

[Billy n NC]

Here in NC we do have a Staff manual that has been prepared.
Also in March of each year we have Camp Staff Planning/Training weekend. There are 2 or 3 sessions for new staff training during this wknd.

Also in our younger camps. 4-5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 year old camps each cabin leader has a Cabin Leader Assistant that are Ages 14-17. I believe Penny's daughter is in her 2nd year this summer.

[Penny]

Here in NC we do have a Staff manual that has been prepared.
Also in March of each year we have Camp Staff Planning/Training weekend. There are 2 or 3 sessions for new staff training during this wknd.

Also in our younger camps. 4-5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 year old camps each cabin leader has a Cabin Leader Assistant that are Ages 14-17. I believe Penny's daughter is in her 2nd year this summer.

Is that new the staff manual?? or I just never seen this? I think I saw one my first year. Cannot recall 5 years back.

Yes Lindsey is in her 2 year. She worked hot shot 4-6 years old and loved it.

She will be going back to work JR high. 11-12 years old.

[MrDanger]

IYC was a "gift" that was given to the "best" camper. Most never came back to work in a camp afterward.......same was true in Tennessee while I was a camper.

We had camp that far back? Was Moses your cabin leader? If so, did you wander around trying to find the cafeteria for 40 years?

Thank God it's not like that with IYC any more in TN. We actually don't choose anyone that hasn't already started working in the camping system. We got burned on that a few times.

As far as the law suit part goes, I absolutely agree. I do know for the last four years IYC has tried to address that and Bro. McKinley did in our camp workers meetings.

The one issue that I haven't been able to get people to pay attention to is what would be our lock-down plan if someone were to enter our campground area with a weapon or a fugitive be in the area. If people haven't been noticing, the shootings have evolved. It seems that the shooters are choosing opportunities and location where they can close up a group of people (i.e. college dorms, college classrooms, open campuses).

[EagerBeaver]

IYC was a "gift" that was given to the "best" camper. Most never came back to work in a camp afterward.

Hey but at least they got saved at IYC, right?

[Dr. Ron]

Nope, they usually came back back-slide to the bottom!!!!

I worry about what Jeff mentioned. It is a very "target rich" environment. And then you have to worry now about the "moles" coming in and trying to get a "scoop" on some great story.

Is camp still worth the effort? Yes. but the prep should be year round. All camp workers should be put through some serious training.......even if by dvd.

[Paully_44]

Is camp still worth the effort? Yes. but the prep should be year round.

living with our states Sr Camp leader, I can attest to this.

[EagerBeaver]

Is camp still worth the effort? Yes. but the prep should be year round.

living with our states Sr Camp leader, I can attest to this.

She does a great job too. In fact Camp is going on there right now -- any word as to how many people attending?

[Paully_44]

She does a great job too. In fact Camp is going on there right now -- any word as to how many people attending?

Lowest in recent memory. All camps are down this year here. Not sure at this point of the reasoning, but I am thinking the economy is playing in to it.

Sr camp has only 55 registered. Jr camp is close to 40.

[EagerBeaver]

She does a great job too. In fact Camp is going on there right now -- any word as to how many people attending?

Lowest in recent memory. All camps are down this year here. Not sure at this point of the reasoning, but I am thinking the economy is playing in to it.

Sr camp has only 55 registered. Jr camp is close to 40.

I would think the economy is playing into it as well. Very sad.

I still hope it is a good camp though. I always loved Senior Camp and I am glad 55 people get to experience it this year.

[Dr. Ron]

See.......people didn't use their "stimulus" checks for the right reasons....I knew they would blow that money on toys.......new phones,.....and junk.

[Paully_44]

See.......people didn't use their "stimulus" checks for the right reasons....I knew they would blow that money on toys.......new phones,.....and junk.

I know of at least 1 couple that didnt blow theirs. My parents. They are sending 5 of their grandchildren to camps this year. Props to them.