Beth
Allison
Go Camp Pro
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Here we go!
(15 mins.)
What Direction Do You Follow? - Gather your staff and ask if anyone
knows how to use a compass. If this is something your camp teaches, this
should be a very quick review (for anyone new). Be sure to be prepared
with simple instructions if your camp does not use them and you need to be
the one with the explanation. (we do not want to make this too
complicated)
(http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Compass)
Explain that, in their groups of 4, each group will use their compass to try to
find the treasure you have hidden (the notes from you). Using their
compasses, they will follow the directions to find the treasure. (make sure
you have a different treasure hunt for each group of staff so that they are
not all running over top of each other - they certainly don’t have to be too
far apart from one another - just different enough that they are not following
the exact same path). Frontload that they are all to come back in to the
session area at the decided time (or ring a bell or whatever your camp
uses).
NOTE: Do NOT explain ahead of time that all the routes are different.
Simply hand out instructions, 1 to each group. If groups start to follow one
another, that will work out beautifully in the debrief!
The treasure, should any of them find their note (and it will work perfectly
fine for the session if none of them find it), will simply be a note telling them
how excited you are to work with them this summer and how much you
appreciate them. You can make the notes as fancy and creative as you like
or very simple - choice is yours.
(10 mins).
What’s Our Mission?
Begin by discussion the meaning of your mission.
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Your Mission As a Compass
What is your True North?
What you will need:
your mission printed out large enough for all to see
a large cardboard compass with a needle that turns
scenarios that you can use to discuss the values of your mission statement
a prepared compass treasure hunt and notes written by you and hidden for each
group (you can photocopy notes if you wish rather than writing out a new one for each
group)
1 compass per group of 4 - 6 staff
a special food treat for the end of the session
(if you do not have compasses, you can purchase some from a dollar store - they do not
need to be perfectly accurate for the purposes of this session)
What your staff will need:
notebooks and pens
Before You Begin:
#1 - From cardboard or newsprint, create a large compass on the floor (one
that is large enough to be seen by everyone and that you can hang on the
wall in your staff lounge as a reminder throughout the summer). You will
need to make a needle that you are able to move (you can use one of
those brass fasteners - they come in all kinds of sizes).
#2 - You will also need your Camp’s mission written out very clearly and
posted so it is visible to all and hung in your session area.
#3 - Divide your staff into groups of 4 (it is always better to divide them
ahead of time to be sure to have a good mix of staff and to separate those
who should perhaps not be together in the same group - you know you they
may be :)).
#4 - Create (or find someone on your staff who will create them for you!)
treasure hunts for your staff (1 per group). They will use their compasses
to find your notes. Don’t make it too complicated. The point is simply to
provide an activity that provides a small group experience, introduces the
conversation that will follow, and leads into the discussion of True North.
(ex. take 35 paces East, then 47 paces West, then 51 paces Northwest,
etc.). About 10 - 15 minutes is more than enough for the activity.
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If you have a set of values,
(ex. the camp who asked for this resource has the values: Inclusion,
Celebration, Stewardship, Development, Legacy, and Spirit and they all
have short phrases that give them a little more clarity)
divide your staff into smaller groups of 5 or 6 (different from their first
groups of 4 to 6 and again have a good mix of staff) and have each group
decide what that value “looks” like at your camp. (if you have a lot of staff
and would have more than 6 staff per value, simply give more than 1 group
the same value)
For example, “What does “inclusion” look like, sound like, feel like at our
camp?”
If you do not have a list of values in your mission statement, take
some time as a large group to come up with a list of values that are
implied by your mission statement. (add another 5 -10 mins)
Give them time to discuss in their small groups.
(40 mins.)
Scenarios
Get staff to sit (or stand) around the compass in a circle. If you have a very
large staff, have them sit in concentric circles around it so that the circles
are not too big and far away from the compass.
Here’s where your staff gets to have a bit of fun. Begin with your first
prepared scenario (have 1 scenario prepared for each value you want them
to discuss). Ask them to either act it out or explain to you what that
scenario would look like if the compass of your camp were facing one of
the directions (acting it out would be more fun and interesting but you know
your staff). Not all members of the group need to act it out or answer.
Point the compass to one of the directions on your large compass per
scenario. Choose a different one each time. Explain that:
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South
= exact opposite of what you would want at camp
(they will have the most fun with this one obviously :))
West
East
North
= only focused on the individual(s) involved in the situation
= only focused on the greater whole (camp as a business)
= the direction of what you are looking for from your values
Feel free to get creative and have the compass also face SW or SE, etc.
TRUE NORTH
After the first group has acted out or explained (whatever you think your
staff would get into) the direction you have chosen in the first scenario,
ask if anyone knows what True North means on a compass.
Here is an explanation. If all these points have not been shared by your
staff, add in the ones they missed so they all understand exactly what you
are looking for (the big metaphor comes soon!)
TRUE NORTH
Magnetic North is not the same as TRUE NORTH -- it's close, but no
cigar
Magnetic north is always moving, and this margin of error is called
declination (an angle that measures the difference between true north
and magnetic north)
The angle varies depending on where you are on the planet
So it's important to always use a current map (especially if you are in
unfamiliar territory)
When you are going long distances, the declination or margin of error
gets bigger
True north is a constant (and refers to the geographic North Pole)
Magnetic north tends to shift and refers to the pole of the Earth's
magnetic field (oooh, think of this part of the metaphor - what are all the
‘earthly’ things that pull us away from our true direction!!)
Finding true north is essential for accurate navigation.
"True North" is non-negotiable, since the compass will show where
it is, relative from your current position, and it will never change
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After you explain what TRUE NORTH is, ask your staff to share how they
believe that is just like your mission at camp. If you have English majors on
staff, really let them play with the metaphor.
Before moving on, explain:
In life's journey we are not always sure where we stand, where we are
going or what is the right path for us. Knowing our true north will help us
to follow the right path.
So at camp, our true goal is trying to figure out where we really want to go
with our mission
Now, have either the same staff member or someone new act out or
explain the first scenario again using TRUE NORTH as your direction. This
is you getting it exactly right. This is them being truly INTENTIONAL in
everything. Allow all staff members to add in their thoughts and round them
out with your own, making sure you feel comfortable and assured that
everyone is on the same page.
Do these 2 steps with each of your remaining scenarios.
1) have staff act out or explain how they would handle the scenario
according to the 1 of the directions you choose
2) have the staff act out or explain how they would handle the scenario
according to TRUE NORTH
Note: Even if they were given NORTH as their direction the first time (and
you should choose this direction at least once), they need to understand
that you might get a lot of things right when your compass points NORTH
but TRUE NORTH would be über intentional. (you would be tweaking
NORTH to make it even more extraordinary).
True North is the “ideal” outcome of the scenario and fully inline with your
mission.This is the direction you all want to be headed together this
summer.
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(10 mins.)
The Wrap UP
Ask how they did on their treasure hunt.
were any of the groups successful?
what difficulties did they encounter?
did any of the groups just blindly follow others rather than their own
instructions?
how is this like their responsibility at camp this summer?
Ask staff the difference between a GPS and a compass.
(the GPS will tell you exactly where to go, when to turn, and will let you
know right away if you’ve made an error. A compass is a tool you must
know how to use yourself)
Explain that, at camp, there won’t be a GPS. They will need to be out there
‘in the wilderness’ with their campers and there won’t be a device that tells
them what to do. The thing about compasses is that they don’t tell you
where you are, they don’t even tell you what way to go. All compasses
really do is point out your options; they show you the direction you are
facing and all the other directions. You have to figure the rest out on your
own. You have to know where TRUE NORTH is or you risk getting lost.
To know where your TRUE NORTH is means to have direction and to have
direction gives you purpose.
Ask them if they are prepared to follow Camp’s TRUE NORTH this
summer. In silence (to mark the sacred moment), ask them to come up a
few at a time, and only when they are ready, to sign their names to the
compass as their promise to always work towards TRUE NORTH. Have a
number of markers available around the compass if you would like the
signatures to be colourful.
Play: “COMPASS” by Lady Antebellum while they are signing.
(music is always a helpful way to drive the lesson home)
A TRUE NORTH Treasure
To end off the session, ask if any of the groups found their ‘treasure’. If
they did, then have them read their note(s) aloud. If no one found their
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treasure, read out a copy of the one of the notes. Say that this letter is
NORTH. It was a nice treasure - to find a note saying how much you are
appreciated is a good thing.
But TRUE NORTH would truly show you exactly how much you are
appreciated. So TRUE NORTH would be…(and then you reveal your
special treat - ice cream party, milk and cookies, whatever you like!)
Hang the compass in your staff lounge and use it as a tool throughout the
summer to check in where you got off track, lost direction, etc. The
metaphor will be useful in debriefing issues big and small throughout the
summer.