Adirondack Camp University

Adirondack Camp Staff LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE

Module I: Philosophy and Orientation

1. History of Camp & Lake George Area.
2. Camp’s Philosophy and values we wish to impart to our Campers.
3. The Adirondack Spirit – weaving the 10 Commitments and Brave’s Code of Honor throughout daily life at Camp
4. Camp’s physical plant, organizational structure & daily schedule.

Module II: Creating a Safe Place

1. All aspects of Water, Land, and Facility Safety, Emergency Action Plans, and Camp community policies.
2. Preventative/early response measures including first aid procedures; Health Maintenance Protocols, Infirmary hours and rules.
3. Fostering a sharp, conscientious, and thoughtful perspective in regards to all campers including their general health, common maladies, bug-bites, scrapes and scratches and what to do when they occur.
4. Guiding your charges to eating right, not feeling lonely or lost and not missing home too much.
5. Creating a safe Camp environment where campers feel supported emotionally, physically, and psychologically with specific emphasis on Camp's ten commitments of: leadership, creativity, cooperation, growing, independence, effort, courage, spirit, sharing, and responsibility.
6. Acceptable standards of counselor behavior both on and off our premises.

Module III: Setting The Example

1. Everything you will need to know to be an outstanding Adirondack Camp counselor.
2. Learning how to balance an individual camper's needs with those of the Adirondack camp community.
3. Fostering good sportsmanship through team activities and working with others.
4. Setting positive role model characteristics and behavior for others to follow when participating in Camp activities.
5. The importance of Service and Camp community policies of: leadership, creativity, cooperation, growing, independence, effort, courage, spirit, sharing, and responsibility.

Module IV: Cabin Life

1. The importance of cabin life and sense of community at Adirondack Camp through the use of community policies including leadership, creativity, cooperation, growing, independence, effort, courage, spirit, sharing, and responsibility.
2. Troubleshooting and how to deal with opportunities or issues that may arise including missing home, making new friends, bed wetting, and responsibility for one's bed, trunk, and personal well-being.
3. Learning the special qualities of each and every one of your campers through the use of Parent Confidential Questionnaires.
4. Managing camper expectations, goal setting, buddy building, challenges and achievements in an environment where children are free to be themselves for various lengths of time (2,4, or 8 weeks sessions).
5. Knowing and communicating with your campers’ parents and laying the foundations for camper extensions and annual return.
6. Quiet times: Bedtimes, Rest Hours, In-between Activities, Before Breakfast, and the Infirmary.
7. Learning to recognize any and all aspects of your camper's needs, goals, interests, and personal values.

Module V: Activity Life

1. Organizing your activity and fellow activity staff for the season including setting-up, lesson planning, "special days", and rainy day options.
2. Tricks-of-the-trade to make lesson plans successful including: role-playing, peer teaching, and peer-assessment prior to camper arrivals.
3. Teaching your activity effectively to accommodate multiple skill levels of beginners through advanced, diverse age groups, and varying attendance commitments in a coed activity environment.
4. Strategically planning your camper's experience in your activity to begin at one level and advance to another finishing every week at a higher level through specifically tailored and individual camper activity goals.
5. Incorporating the 10 Commitments into your activity.
6. Enhancing your lesson plans through the incorporation of other activities including trips outside of camp and blue/white traditions.
7. Importance of daily, weekly and seasonal camper recognition including: awards, coups, emblems, braves, and eagles.
8. Stepping outside of yourself (as a counselor) to examine areas for self-improvement and personal growth as an Adirondack Camp Counselor including qualities and characteristics of a pied piper.
9. Responsibility and accountability for protecting your activity equipment and Camp's facility.

Total Hours: 80 (over 10 days)