SU VOLUNTEER TRAINING
MAKING CAMP FUN
YOU WILL NEED
A PowerPoint Projector
The PowerPoint Slideshow “SU Training Making Camp Fun”
Chart Paper
Printed Handouts “SU Training: Making Camp Fun – Scenarios”
Printed Worksheet “SU Training: Making Camp Fun” one for each participant.
Note: parts of this resource have drawn from CYCAS training available at max7.org
WELCOME
Camp should be loads of fun! Volunteers play an important role in helping make camp an
experience the campers will never forget. Today we’re going to look at ways to make camp
exciting and memorable. When the SU Coaches come the night before camp they will talk in
depth about your roles and responsibilities. This session helps you explore ways for you to be
a significant part of making camp extraordinary!
RULES
On the Monday morning when camp begins the rules are explained to the campers. Rules
exist to ensure every camper has a fun and safe experience. Here are the five camp rules.
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Respect each other
Respect yourself
Respect the Leaders
Respect the equipment and facilities
HAVE FUN!
We work together to enforce the rules. It’s important that we are consistent and fair.
Children are the first to notice when something isn’t fair! The SU Coaches and senior
volunteers are primarily responsible for seeing that the campers obey the rules. Your role is
to be supportive. When a coach is leading a group of children it’s not easy for him/her to
stop teaching/instructing and discipline a child. Here are some tips for assisting the coach:
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SKILLS IN RUNNING A GROUP
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Actively encourage good behaviour
It’s far more effective encouraging good behavior than punishing bad
behaviour. Help make it a positive environment for the children.
When a child is being disruptive rather than calling them out for poor
behavior make a point of identifying another child in their proximity and
complimenting the child who is listening, e.g. “Thanks for listening so well,
Sarah!”. Identifying positive behavior is a subtle way to reinforce your
expectations.
Some children want to get your attention. Try not to pay attention to
children who are using disruptive or negative tactics to get your attention.
However, when children are being cooperative (obeying the rules) and
positive make a point of giving them your special attention.
Never be angry or lose control
If you yell “GET IN LINE!!!” or “BE QUIET!!!!” with anger or frustration the
children are less likely to respect you as a leader.
Lowering your voice and speaking more deliberately is a useful technique
for getting the campers attention and cooperation.
Keep your cool.
Move close to disruptive children.
Sitting or standing next to a disruptive child indicates that you’ve noticed
their behavior and your proximity will usually encourage them to behave.
Try not to point out bad behavior publically
If you point out bad behavior in front of the group you will embarrass the
camper. Often, when a camper has been embarrassed, they are more
inclined to continue to act up to “save face”.
Try to make eye contact with a misbehaving camper as a way to point out
that they’re acting up. If a group activity is taking place find a way to invite
them to join the discussion/activity
Consistency and forgiveness
Campers should know that there will be consequences for their bad
behavior. There should be no doubt in a campers mind that should they
misbehave they will be punished.
The SU Coach or senior volunteers are responsible for enforcing
consequences. Let them know when you see a camper breaking a rule.
We want to demonstrate the value of forgiveness. When a child has
crossed you the SU Coach will ask the child to apologize to you. Always
accept the apology and indicate that you forgive the person who has been
rude or offended you.
In the same way, if you embarrass or hurt a child please be ready to
apologize and ask for forgiveness.
Work together as a team
Communication is essential. Has a child been acting up all day? Tell a SU
Coach or senior volunteer about it.
We can also work together as a team to develop a strategy for dealing with
a disruptive child. Perhaps one person has been able to build a good
relationship with the camper and can be switched to their group, maybe
another leader knows of underlying issues at home that may contribute to
the misbehavior.
At the end of each day, stick around for the volunteer meeting so that these
issues can be addressed.
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Pray for wisdom
A misbehaving child may be seeking attention for many reasons. It may be
simple mischief or it may be a cry for help.
Here are some things to consider: What else is going on in the child’s life? Is
the lesson/activity boring? Do they have friends in the group? Are they
being bullied? What is happening with their family? Are they hot, hungry or
tired? Pray for this child, and pray that you would have wisdom to discern
what to do to help them.
LEADING AT CAMP - ACTIVITY
Let’s look at ways you can help lead an activity.
Hand out the “Leading at Camp” activity sheets – giving each group one of the topics to
discuss. Groups will have 10 minutes to talk about the topic and come up with answers. At
the conclusion of the discussion each group should nominate someone to present their
findings/comments. See notes below for comments that should be added if missed by
presenters. If time allows, invite each group to demonstrate/role play one a game you can
play to fill the lull, teach a game, hype up the crowd, or handle a transition to another
activity.
Downtime/Filling the Lull
Downtime can be good for kids, but crazy for leaders. We always need to be one step ahead
of the campers by keeping them busy with structured activities to avoid chaos.
When will there be downtime (dt) during camp?
Anytime campers are waiting for the next activity. This could happen after lunch, during
sign in/out, between games, between sessions, at the end of a small group session
What problems may occur during dt?
If children are bored they may look for ways to entertain themselves. There may be a
lack of leaders or volunteers around which makes it easier for kids to act up.
What should leaders do during dt?
Start a fun activity with a small or large group. Take advantage of the time to get to
know the campers and talk to them about their day.
What are some activities you can use to fill the lull?
Ninja, rock paper scissors, silly songs, stella ella, hand tap game.
Transitions
How do you handle transitions?
When part of the group are at the venue for the activity and the rest of the group has yet
to arrive start a fun game/activity with the campers who have already arrived. Consider
beginning the planned event as a way to encourage children to move faster next time.
If you’re with the campers who are taking their time getting to an activity encourage the
“slowpokes” to speed up and set a pace that will help get everyone moving faster.
To avoid confusion during transitions (where to go, who goes where) develop a routine.
Get campers to line up before you transition, make it fun (by height, by address
numbers, by the month of their birthday), have a leader in front and one in back, tell the
children where they are going, give clear instructions.
During transitions invite the campers (in a fun and compelling way) to march, do fun line
up games, do cheer-offs, follow the leader (the leader is doing fun things like walking
with little steps or big steps or hopping etc), take a water break.
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To motivate the campers to move faster award squad points or have races.
When moving between sessions/activities that are off site there should be a leader at
the back and another in the front of the group. If the group crosses an intersection a
leader should safely stand in the road on the lookout for traffic, regular headcounts are
essential, children should have a buddy, and we should move closely together as a group
(don’t spread out too much).
Hype
What do fan tunnels, cheers, squads, loud music and high fives all have in common? They
help keep the kids excited. Hype is KEY!
How can you hype up the hype?
Be full of energy yourself, be excited and involved in every activity, verbally encourage
the campers to be energetic, excited and involved.
What are some ways to hype up kids
High fives, words of affirmation (e.g. Way to go Tommy!), music, cheers, squad points.
What are some ways to control hyped up kids!
Squad points, quiet activities.
Leading a Game
The children are full of energy and looking to you to start a fun game. What do you do?
How should you introduce a game?
A story, say it’s your favourite, or explain why you want to play it
Where should the children stand as you teach?
Circle, semi-circle, NEAR you (don’t have them spread out as for the game until you’ve
finished explaining it)
How can you use the word “Go” to make life easier?
Tell the children not to move until you say “Go” whether this is to their places for the
game or to start the game.
How long should the instructions take?
Be as quick as possible – 2 minutes is the max!
Should you accept questions?
Yes, but you can’t answer everyone’s question.
Will the game start perfectly?
No, it often takes a minute or two for children to understand what they’re doing.
What may make it easier to explain a game?
Having it set up before hand. Getting other leaders to model what the goal is. Having
leaders who know the rules helping or being on the children’s teams.
MISSION STATEMENT – CLOSING ACTIVITY
Brainstorm together a possible mission statement for your camp. Is your goal to
help every child have fun? To share Christ? To connect your church with the
community? Consider the mission statement and invite each volunteer to decide
how they can help make this mission statement possible. Have them write one line
under the mission statement of how they can help then have each one sign their
name. Pray together.
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