Must Have Amazon Items for Summer Camp Counselors

 My camp staff LOVE Amazon and honestly, I can't blame them. You can find just about everything on Amazon and with Prime you get free shipping. If you can't get to the store right away you can have something shipped to you within days. There are a lot of reasons to use Amazon! Here are some of the best finds for camp counselors on Amazon. 

#1: Stickers

Waterbottles stickers are all the rage at camp! You'll be the envy of your co-counselors when you have the perfect reward for campers always handy. You can also use them to decorate clipboards, water bottles, and whatever else your heart desires. They make great pick-me-up gifts to stick in your friend's mailbox too. The best part is that you can get a pack of 300 stickers for cheap on Amazon! 300 stickers is enough to last you the entire summer!! See our staff favorite pick here. 

#2: Motivational Quote Cards

We all need a little motivation from time to time and being a camp counselor is hard work. These little cards are perfect for handing out to co-workers, campers, or even yourself. The colors are super fun, so they also make great decorations. For just $14.99 you get 300 cards, which is plenty for the entire summer!! See my personal favorite here.

#3: Greeting Cards

Chances are you will have a bit of downtime at some point. I personally love to send letters to friends and family members. It's an easy way to make someone's day! You can find blank greeting cards on Amazon for way cheaper than any party store. I love these fun cards because of the bright colors, but there are many options to choose from! The best part is that if you have leftovers they can be saved and used as future thank you cards. They are also quite nice to have on hand if you have a few homesick campers. 

#4: Hair Ties

This one is more for counselors with long hair. Summer will be hot and you're not going to want to have your hair on your face and neck. In addition, you will almost always have a camper who forgets to bring hair ties and wants their hair braided. You can find a set of super colorful hair ties on Amazon for just $10.99!! These also make great gifts for other staff! Here is the staff's favorite pick. 

#5: Waterproof Phone Pouches

If you're a summer camp counselor, it is likely that at some point you will be participating in activities that involve water. Whether it's a kayaking trip, rainy day, or puddle jumping you'll want to make sure that your phone and any other possessions stay dry. This is my favorite pick because it comes as a pack of 6. The pouches are great for other things that you don't want to get wet such as receipts, money, cards, etc. They can also make a nice gift for other counselors. 

Sleepaway Camp Summer Camp Counselor Tips

I've compiled a list of tips for new summer camp counselors. These tips are based on my 8+ years of experience and some are provided by our returning camp staff. The tips are geared towards counselors at a sleepaway camp but can be transferred to a day camp as well. 

Tip #1: Pack Only What You Need

This tip is especially true for staff who are flying into their camp but can be used for local camp staff as well. In my first summer as a counselor I definitely overpacked. I went to camp with the idea that I would basically never go to the store, so I packed enough for the entire summer. Little did I know there would always be rides to Walmart on my time off. I could have saved a lot of space by purchasing things like shampoo, conditioner, food, etc. as needed. 

Pro-tip #1: Talk to your director or other counselors before you get to camp. See if they will share a suggested packing list. If you're flying, it might be helpful to connect to returning staff who will also be flying to camp. Make sure to ask if there will be opportunities to go to the store when you arrive. Purchasing items at the store rather than packing them along can save you a lot of space and time.

Pro-tip #2: Not all camps will allow this, but check to see if you can have items shipped to camp prior to your arrival. If you're purchasing items solely for camp, why not have them shipped directly there? With Amazon Prime, you can ship just about anything for free. 

Tip #2: Bring Extra Food 

Most sleepaway camps include free food when campers are present. Unfortunately, the amount of food is not always excellent for adults, especially when you are burning calories all day. Make sure to ask your director if there are any restrictions on foods for snacks. Some camps are peanut-free. 

Pro-tip #1: Bring snacks that are easy to bring with you on the go and that you can eat quickly. Aside from your time off, there won't be many opportunities for snacking. Granola bars, bananas, fruit snacks, etc. are all great choices.

Pro-tip #2: There is a good chance that at some point at camp you will be living in a semi-outdoor setting such as a cabin or platform tent. To ensure your snacks are free from critters, bring a small plastic tote to store them in. 

Tip #3: Ask About Sleeping Arrangments

Most sleepaway camps run for about 3 months. That is a long time to go without a good night's sleep. Make sure to ask what the sleeping arrangement will look like. Will you have a bed frame? Are there mattresses? What should you bring for bedding? These are all great questions to get answered prior to your arrival. 

Pro-tip #1: Some camps have different sleeping arrangements for when you are not with the campers. Sometimes it is helpful to bring two sets of sheets, sleeping bags, etc. so you don't have to haul everything back and forth. 

Pro-tip #2: Camp mattresses are not always the comfiest.  A cheap memory foam sleeping pad can make all the difference in getting some quality z's. 

Tip #4: Participate in Pre-camp Events

If your camp offers any type of in-person or virtual events prior to camp, try to participate as much as possible. If they don't offer these types of events, introduce yourself and participate in any online groups available. Participating prior to camp will allow you to make some friends before you arrive. Virtual meetings can also be a great opportunity to get all your questions answered. 

Pro-tip #1: If your camp doesn't offer any events prior to camp, talk to your camp director about implementing something via Zoom. It's likely something they never thought about and you can score some bonus points by taking initiative.

Pro-tip #2: Most camps have some sort of spring events. If you're in the area, these are great opportunities to see the camp. If you ask, you'll likely be able to get a tour. 

Tip #5: Take Advantage of Free Recreation

This one is especially true for staff who stay at camp on the weekends. It's likely that your camp has a lot of recreational activities available. Whether it's the lake, pool, or maybe even tennis courts. Ask about what is available to you on your time off. It's one of the perks of the job! 

Pro-tip #1: Become a lifeguard or make friends with one to enjoy weekend pool time. If your camp does allow you to use the pool, it's likely that they will require at least two people and one of them will need to be a certified lifeguard.

Pro-tip #2: Simply enjoy the nature that your camp has to offer. Most camps have hiking trails. Your time off will be your chance to enjoy these without a bunch of children lagging behind you. Just make sure to take a buddy!

Tip #6: Be Friendly

This might seem obvious, but it is super important during the first weeks of camp. You will want to make friends with some of your co-counselors and to do that you might need to step out of your comfort zone. Being friendly even on tiring days will go a long way.

Pro-tip #1: Try to attend any staff outings during the first weeks. Whether it's going to get something to eat or running to Walmart, you're sure to have a bonding experience. 

Pro-tip #2: If you have a car on camp, try to offer rides if possible. This is simply a kind thing to do and a great opportunity to make friends. 

Tip #7: Use Your Time Off

While making friends is important, you also need to make sure that you use your time off wisely. Time off is a precious thing during camp. Sometimes you might only get two hours a day. If you're exhausted, this is a great time to take a nap. It's also your time to take care of your personal hygiene, so don't forget to shower. 

Pro-tip #1: You will likely be sharing your time off with other counselors. They may or may not be quiet during this time. For a peaceful time off, bring a sleeping eye pad and earplugs.

Pro-tip #2: This is also your time to call home to your family. Not all camps have WiFi, so if you love to make video calls and don't have unlimited just keep in mind that your data might not last as long as usual. Alternately, you can use a mobile hotspot for the summer to fulfill your wifi needs. 

Tip #8: Have Coping Mechanisms and Use Them 

It's no joke that working as a camp counselor can be stressful. While it is one of the most rewarding and fun jobs on the planet, it is hard work. There might be times when your patience is tested and you feel like you just can't keep going. Having solid coping mechanisms to cope with your stress is a must. Whether it's deep breathing, doing yoga on your time off, or coloring, you need to have something to fall on. 

Pro-tip #1: If you know that you get stressed out easily, talk with your director before camp begins. If you let them know this, it could end up taking a huge weight off your shoulders in the long run.

Pro-tip #2: If you color, draw, have fidgets, etc. keep supplies handy in your backpack. You never know when you'll need them. 

Tip #9: Ask Questions

Ask all the questions! You will not get in trouble for asking questions. Chances are there are other counselors who have the same questions as you and are just too afraid to ask. It's important during the first weeks to get things clarified and understand your expectations.

Pro-tip #1: If you're not comfortable asking your director, try asking a returning staff member. Chances are they can answer pretty much any questions you have. They probably had the same questions as you during their first summer. 

Pro-tip #2: During staff training, there might not always be a great opportunity to ask the questions you have. Take a notebook and pencil to write down questions and get answers to them later. 

Tip #10: Dress for the Job

In this case, no fancy suits or dresses are needed. You will be outside in the heat and will constantly be moving. Unless your camp has a specific uniform, most counselors wear athletic shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops. This is not the time to pull out your favorite booty shorts or low-cut crop top. Keep in mind that you will be working with children and will be moving around a lot. On a given day you might end up rolling on the grass, doing a cartwheel, finger painting, and jumping in the pool all with your clothes on. Shoes are also important as you will be on your feet a lot. If your camp allows sandals, they need to be supportive and have a back. Even if they are allowed, do not wear flip-flops. You will have regrets.

Pro-tip #1: Ask other counselors or the director if there is a dress code to follow. Some camps have specific requirements, especially for check-in days. 

Pro-tip #2: Depending on where you are working, the weather can be cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon. Make sure to pack a few layers just in case. Zip-up hoodies are a great choice as they can be pulled on and off easily when the weather changes. 

Creating a Virtual Summer Camp Staff Training

A lot of people have had questions about the process of creating a virtual summer camp staff training. This is something that is new to me and I have learned a LOT along the way. I'm hoping that by sharing my process I'll be able to help other people more easily create the pieces of training that they need. Below are some of the major steps that I took when creating a staff trainings

1. Planning in-person training

This step is huge! When I first considered the option of virtual training, I wanted to just dive right in. After a lot of consideration, I realized that to be most effective, I needed to match my virtual training with some of the key components of my in-person training. This meant that I had to first establish our schedule for in-person training. While I was able to pull quite a bit from last year's training, I am also in the process of re-vamping our in-person training, so this step took a considerable amount of time. 

2. Narrowing Down the Topics

This step was difficult, to say the least. I feel that everything we cover in staff training is important. I worked with my Assistant Director to pull the topics that we felt were most important. Some consideration was also given to which topics would transfer well into a virtual setting. There were a few things that are important, but will just need to be addressed at camp. We ended up narrowing it down to the following topics:

• Being a Good Counselor
• Boundaries at Camp
• Homesickness
• Active Listening
• Camp Parents
• Setting Consequences
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• Practice Scenarios

Thankfully we already had lesson plans for each topic with the information that we plan to cover at training. This made the next step a lot easier!! For those who are interested, I am planning to share another blog on creating lessons for in-person training.

3. Creating the Presentations

At first, my plan was to just have conversations surrounding each topic, but thankfully, I realized that would have been a disaster. While there will be lots of conversations had during the training, I decided that I needed some sort of presentation for each topic to keep us on track. I chose to use Google Slides to organize my information as I had a couple of other staff involved in the process and this was the easiest way for us to be able to collaborate. 

While it might not make a huge difference, I like my presentations to look put together. While I have skills in graphic design, I save myself a TON of time by using slide templates. I was even able to find a few super cute camping-themed templates. 

This one is my favorite from Teachers Pay Teachers and the best part is that it is free! I made sure to give credit to the creators of the templates when applicable. 

When it came to the information and presentation of the information, this step involved a lot of adapting. I had several different activities that I wanted to include and I had to get creative to make the activities work virtually. 

As I mentioned in the previous step, I had already created lesson plans for my in-person training. This was also a huge time saver as I was able to copy and paste information directly from the lesson plans. I also incorporated a few short videos that I had already planned to use in my regular training. 

4. Incorporating Opportunities for Participation

Something that was really important to me when creating this training was ensuring that there were plenty of opportunities for participation.  I feel that I accomplished this in several ways:

• Adding discussion questions throughout each training
• Using Padlet to track responses: https://padlet.com/dashboard
• Encouraging staff to use the chat feature in Zoom
• Encouraging staff to un-mute during discussion opportunities 

5. Creating the Schedule

Once I had all of the content created, I needed to create a schedule. The schedule helped me figure out how much time the training would take as well as planning for how much time each particular topic would take. I actually ran through a few topics with my Assistant Director to get an idea of how long they might take. 

We ended up deciding that it would be best to try to knock everything out in one long day rather than breaking up topics into multiple days. We knew that this would likely be easier for scheduling and we felt that staff would get more out of the training when they set aside a day for it versus trying to fit it into their already busy schedules. 

Since we knew the day would be very long, we took breaks into consideration when crafting the schedule. We also gave ourselves a bit more time than what we thought we would actually need. We figured that it would be better to end a bit early than run late. We also figured that the extra time would allow for more questions and longer discussions for some topics. 

Here is the schedule that we created. 

While not everyone is lucky enough to have an Assistant Director to work with this on, I would highly suggest collaborating with someone when creating the schedule. It was super helpful to bounce ideas off of each other and run through a couple of the topics. 

6. Picking the Dates

Honestly, this was the most challenging part of the entire process. My Assistant Director and I presented the training together, so the first thing we did was look at our schedules to find dates that worked for both of us. Many of our staff are still in school, so we knew that the date options would have to be on weekends. 

After we compiled a list of possible dates, I used Google Forms to send out a poll to my staff that would need to attend the training. I had my staff select ALL of the possible dates that would work for them. I did not have them select their preferred date as it would have been nearly impossible to coordinate everyone's schedules. 

Once I received a response from most of the staff (of course, there are always a couple that doesn't respond), I picked a date that worked for everyone according to the poll. Of course, after announcing this date, it suddenly did not work for half of the staff involved. 

At this point, I moved to the next best option, I selected two different date options and sent a sign-up form. Staff could sign-up for one of the dates. This gave them some choice, but it also still worked with my schedule. I decided that it would be best to get everything done in one weekend, so I ended up with two groups. One group went on Saturday and one group went on Sunday. The nice thing about this was that the groups ended up being fairly even. I had one group of three and one group of four. This allowed for some great participation. 

7. Day 1 Training Summary

Overall, day one went really well. It definitely exceeded my expectations. The staff were engaged throughout the training and asked a lot of clarifying questions. 

Here are a few things that I felt went really well:

• Engagement: all of the staff were engaged throughout the presentation
• Group Size: The small group size was perfect. It seemed like all of the staff were comfortable with the small group
• Collaboration: My assistant director and I collaborated well throughout the entire training. It was a nice change of pace to switch on and off
• Ending Discussion: We allowed time in the end for staff to ask questions. The questions did not need to relate to the training. They had a lot of great questions and we were able to discuss their arrival day
• Timing: We were able to get done a little early and still had time for breaks. All staff were on time which was helpful 

Here are a few things that I learned and plan to incorporate into the day 2 training:

• More Examples: The staff did really well with the examples that we had. I think incorporating more examples would be helpful
• Location: My voice tended to echo in the location that I was at. I might try a different location. 
• Longer Introductions: I felt like our introductions were really short. It would be nice to give staff a slightly longer opportunity to share about themselves, especially since we had additional time at the end.

All-in-all, day one was a huge success! It was a lot of fun and I felt like the staff had a lot of good take-aways. 

8. Day 2 Training Summary

Day 2 also went well, however, this group was a bit quieter, so engagement was more difficult. 

Here are a few things that I felt went really well:

• Group Size: The group size was great again. While I originally had planned on one larger group, if I did it again, I would keep the small groups. We had a couple of very quiet staff and I don't think they would have participated at all in a larger group setting. 
• Collaboration: My Assistant Director and I collaborated well again. We changed up some of the presentations to play to our strengths and it worked perfectly. 
• Timing: The timing was good. We did get done a bit earlier than the first group.
• Location: I chose a different location that had better lighting and less of an echo. This helped me to better focus on the staff in the training. 

Here are a few things that I learned and will incorporate into future virtual training:

• Creating alternate ways for participation: I think it would be nice to incorporate a variety of ways to participate such as Kahoots. With my quieter group, it was a bit harder to tell if they were actually comprehending the information. I think a brief Kahoot quiz after each section would have been helpful here
• More Lessons: It was difficult to predict timing. If I had known that we would have extra time, I would have incorporated a few more lessons that I also felt were important

9. Summary 

All in all, I felt that this training went extremely well and is something that I would like to continue in the future. It is not the same as in-person staff training, but it did provide my staff with some of the knowledge that they will need when they get to camp. There will still be some in-person components needed, however, a lot of pressure will be taken off knowing that they got a good chunk of information prior to arriving at camp. 

I will be sending out a survey to the staff involved to get their feedback. I will be interested to find out what they thought about the training. 

Free Virtual Summer Camp Staff Training Slide Decks

 

I know that a lot of people have been able to use the training decks that I created for our virtual staff training. That makes me so happy! For those who are interested, I completed a list of all of the slide decks we will be using as well as a copy of our schedule. 

Please feel free to edit or share these trainings to fit your needs. To edit the trainings, you will need to make a copy of the training and share to your Google Drive. 

All of the topics were carefully selected from topics that we will be covering in our in-person training. 

Example Schedule:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12AYe08bCq8ixSJyjXGx2Th-moXRHuKYW8VLniMzqL0U/edit?usp=sharing

Being a Good Counselor:

 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e6doiL5yD3uwk4-_b0qRHUxJVQ-fkGOj-xxudaDgSYA/edit?usp=sharing

Boundaries at Camp:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eF8lLxibOJ_o1_vxKPeizsoDJMtao5EJ7kh2JwxL4C8/edit?usp=sharing

Homesickness:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16uRUlhA4ZIZEWTvtmboTXJSaCIY4OQVHnJDxVvMqzVU/edit?usp=sharing

Active Listening:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oYKtBD4QxLPHzcwzYdyJSFidJAeekhzYn_Us1Jaq21M/edit?usp=sharing

Camp Parents:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_0iEnGagYAGTF38iJKVAIsZuwBZxhhMkSl1Xu8ApuyM/edit?usp=sharing

Setting Consequences: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qJOs2DuLOLCOXMVK2L9ryB2mxpaiprRlk0OV9nA-lG8/edit?usp=sharing

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qrFpu5BMt1gxoRw8YckwGg-00sfTS0qhmVMS95AmUNk/edit?usp=sharing

Practice Scenarios:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VCtWtVDBbBfmy4HPkELL5RElD1SXehkWYfwdle3X2Jk/edit?usp=sharing

Free Scenario Training for Summer Camp Counselors

Hi there! Just sharing another resource for virtual camp staff training. This slide deck goes over some basic camp scenarios. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes six different scenarios on the following topics:

• Gossip
• Camper Boundaries
• Bullying
• Abuse
• Homesickness

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. The scenarios are based off of real life camper situations, but names and information have been changed. The audio is my own. 

Scenario Training:

 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VCtWtVDBbBfmy4HPkELL5RElD1SXehkWYfwdle3X2Jk/edit?usp=sharing

Free Camp Counselor Training: Setting Consequences

Hi there! Just sharing another resource for virtual camp staff training. This slide deck goes over the basics of setting consequences. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes the following topics:

• What is a Consequence
• Consequences vs. Punishments
• Using Rewards as Consequences
• Collective Consequences
• Implementing Consequences
• Example Scenarios

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association.

Setting Consequences Training:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qJOs2DuLOLCOXMVK2L9ryB2mxpaiprRlk0OV9nA-lG8/edit?usp=sharing

Free Being a Good Counselor Camp Counselor Training

Here is another free resource for training summer camp counselors. This slide deck goes over the basics of being a good counselor. The training is designed for new camp counselors or counselors in training. I am planning to use this as a part of my virtual training, but it can be adapted to use however you would like. 

This training has some information that is specific to our camp. Feel free to make a copy of the training and make it work for your camp's needs.

The training includes the following topics:

• Counselor Expectations
• Positions at Camp
• Analyzing the Daily Schedule
• Importance of the Counselor
• Qualities of a Good Counselor
• The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Game
• Effects a Counselor has on Campers

This training is based off of my experience in the camp field (8+ years) and information from the American Camping Association. Videos are from The Summer Camp Society. I do own nor did I create any of the videos. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly game is based on a game from Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps by Eric Nicastro, Jessica Furrie, and Rachel Saslove.

Being a Good Counselor Training:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e6doiL5yD3uwk4-_b0qRHUxJVQ-fkGOj-xxudaDgSYA/edit?usp=sharing