On Your Feet Challenge

Staff training is 10 days of intense training. We begin at 8am and we usually end at 8:30 or 9pm. There is a lot of material to cover but it is also preparation for the intensity of camp.

When I plan staff training, I make a list of all of the topics I want to cover. "How to teach" each of the activities, how to deal with homesickness and behavior issues, how to communicate with kids and with each other, lessons on child development, camp culture, policies, procedures, etc. Each day is broken down into one hour session blocks (there are a few shorter and a few longer). Sometimes sessions take longer than I have them scheduled for and sometimes we get through them quickly. Often I move things around mid-week because of weather or because when I read the group, I know a session won't work at the time it is scheduled. I love staff training and I am good at leading it.

For a few years now, I have been trying to come up with a good way of giving staff the most hands on experience to prepare them for when kids arrive. And this year, I found it!

I knew we were going to end our session early and as the staff worked on their activity, I was trying to figure out what we would do next. I came up with the "on your feet challenge". I listed every location at camp and next to each location, I listed a few supplies like, "choose 5 items from the drama building" or "nothing". Then I wrote each person's name.

When we finished the scheduled session I said, "who is ready for a challenge". Counselor J raised his hand. I told him his partner was going to be Counselor R and that they had 5 minutes. They were going to go to the drama building and use anything they found inside to come up with a 15 minute activity to lead the whole group in.

We all went to the building 5 minutes later and they lead the staff in a goofy relay race where they had to get dressed up in different parts of an outfit. It was very fun and the staff enjoyed it. Afterwards, we debriefed about their experience. We've done it a few times already and each time it is a different staff with a different partner. Everyone will have the chance to be the lead and the assistant. It is scary to have to think on your feet and be on the spot, but it is the best practice I can give them without actual campers. I am very pleased with my brainstorm and this new training activity.