I Have $24 To Last Me Til Friday, What Should I Buy With It?

Behavior Management Tips

So I know in the past I’ve gotten questions about handling specific situations with campers. And I am happy to answer these. However, here are a few quick tips to help you get started on your own:

Remain calm. You panicking or getting angry helps nothing. Yes, your adrenaline might be pumping and your anxiety is picking up, but you need to try to keep yourself outwardly calm. I know this is easier said than done, but it gets easier with practice. 

Stop any immediately dangerous behavior. If kids are in an unsafe situation, get them out of it. If kids are fighting/bullying, separate them.

Take a minute to think. This is beneficial to you because you get to process what’s going on and think through possible solutions (and continue to calm down), and the kids get a chance to cool off so they’re in a better place to listen/talk. It’s a lot harder to think of a good solution and how to get there with the adrenaline and anxiety of a bad situation.

Don’t yell, be sarcastic, or snap.

Ask open ended questions. If they were doing something dangerous (example: I once had a 7th grader hop over the fence on our deck and stand on the ledge just because), ask them why that might have not been a good idea. If it’s bullying (like one on one), separate the kids out and ask them separately what’s been going on. If it’s bullying as a group, I usually talk to them as a group because I don’t want to hear the same thing from 15 different 6th graders and tell them all the same thing (some kids may ask to talk one on one after this, which is fine if you and another staff member are comfortable with it).

If someone was hurt, emotionally or physically, an apology may be appropriate. Alternatively, for group problems, team building activities such as Fill My Bucket can help.

If you, or another staff member, panicked or yelled or otherwise scared the kids, apologize. Kids are people too. I usually also make it a point to tell them that we are not angry with them and, if it was just a mis-judgement that ended up being something dangerous, that they aren’t in trouble we were just worried.

Check in afterwards. If I have the kids in a group, I usually have them rate one to five how they are feeling with their fingers while everyone closes their eyes and then let anyone who wants to share with the group.

As a note, I don’t actually punish kids. We talk through stuff, they agree not to do it again, and if we need to, we talk to the parents and the usual “punishment” we have is that they go home. Depending on what happens, we may call and inform the parents or send home a note. 

Also there aren’t a lot of valid punishments at camp. Staff will ask me if I’m going to punish the kids for doing something. No, they’re 10, they just wanted to play in the river and didn’t think through why that can be dangerous if there aren’t adults with them. I don’t want them to hate kapers and I’m not going to send them to sit in their tent alone. So I aim for the above.

Maybe this isn’t how their parents do it or how some other camps want to do it, but this is a method that’s worked well for me. Kids are tiny people and they have feelings and need understanding as they learn about the world around them and what is appropriate and what is not. Let camp be a safe place for them to learn that.

Camp staff discussion

What strategies do you use to manage your mental health at camp? Reblog with comments/tags or reply to start the discussion.

I like to talk things over with people, have a good cry, take breaks when I need them, and try to relax on days off.

Practice SELF CARE!

10 tricks you didn’t know you could do with your food.

By Blossom

CBM Essentials

Our list of popular items that aren’t on the main packing list!

Chaco’s- this is by far the most important item on the list. Chaco’s are worn all day, every day by almost everyone aside from that one weird staff member with a pair of Teva’s. Why? They’re the most comfortable and versatile shoes out there. Just make sure that you give yourself a few weeks before camp to break them in to avoid blisters.

Flannels- Flannels are also very important to bring because of their many uses. They’re perfect for when it gets cold at night and in the morning, and for a wide variety of dress up days. The possibilities are endless.

Knee socks- Perfect to wear with your Chaco’s in the morning and make any dress up day outfit stand out in a crowd. Make sure that you have them in different colors for color war!

Nike Shorts- Jean shorts and fancy clothes are not necessary at camp besides services. You’ll need double what you think you need when it comes to nike shorts. You go through them super quickly since the dirtiness of camp doesn’t make re-wearing clothes too easy.

A decked out Nalgene- One of the marks of a super cool camper or staff member is a Nalgene covered in stickers. It just is. The more, the most different the better.

Long Sleeve Shirts- Perfect for nighttime activities and mornings. Always worn with nike shorts, never anything else. Theres nothing comfier than an old long sleeve shirt to keep you stylish and cozy.

Bandanas- Bring bandanas and bring lots of different colors. Having a variety of colors and patterns makes everything easier when it comes to color war and dress up days.

Patriotic attire- In the world of summer sleep away camp, patriotic and red white and blue is certainly not just for the fourth of July. An ENO- This is the second most important item on the list. No explanation needed whatsoever.

What I want to teach my CITs

This is the earliest post in my drafts, started way back in September of 2015, when I first started this blog. And I wanted to share it with you now, with some new additions. 

There are some things I want to teach my leadership girls while they’re at camp.

1. Camp is where girls go to escape the real world. Let them.

2. It’s ok if you are at camp to escape the real world too.

3. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. Just try not to let your girls see.

4. It’s ok to be confused, to need to ask questions. You will learn something everyday, no matter how long you have been at camp. 

5. You will wonder what you are sending your kids home to. Is it the same love and acceptance of camp? Is it ambivalence? Is it something else entirely?

6. You will wonder because children say things. They trust you and so they tell you things. And because you see things, you watch how they act. And you will wonder.

7. You will never forget your campers. I remember campers from when I was a program aid, ten years ago, and I remember the name of every CIT from this summer (2015). 

8. You will want to share life lessons with your campers, things you wish someone would have told you at their age. But then you realize that it’s camp and you can’t tell them. And so you hope they will learn on their own.

9. You will make mistakes, at camp and in life. I’ve made mistakes, I still make them. You just have to learn from them. 

10. You will change while you are at camp. It is our experiences that shape us and camp is an experience with a shape that isn’t found anywhere else in the world.

11. Camp songs will be stuck in your head forever. 

12. You will work with girls from all walks of life, all different experiences. Learn compassion.

13. You are loved and you are valid. Being a teenager is hard. Being a young adult is hard. But you’re not alone in this world. 

14. Camp is an amazing place. Cherish it while you can because one day, not as far in the future as you may think, it won’t be in your life but will instead be a memory.

What to pack for camp: backpack/daypack

*These are things that I carry with me everywhere. Some of these things might overlap with stuff from previous posts, but that is because I have two of those items, one for the cabin and one for when I’m not in the cabin

*FYI I use a North Face Recon backpack. It has a nice mesh front pocket and large mesh side pockets.

water bottle

sunscreen

bugspray

after bite

first aid kit

schedule

2 extra pairs of socks

flashlight/ headlamp

lighter

paper for fires

hairties

feminine hygiene products (small opaque bag i.e. pencil case size, with a couple of what you need)

sunglasses

playing cards

pens and pencils

hand sanitizer

travel pack of clorox wipes

cell phone (i keep mine in a life proof case)

scissors

friendship string

duct tape (optional)

face paint for team games (optional)

portable speaker (optional)

small, lightweight towel (optional)

DO NOT keep things like your wallet, or keys in your backpack. they could get lost or stolen. Instead, keep these things tucked away in your cabin. I tend to bury them in my clothing drawers, so nobody can find them.

Can you post a really good packing list? including some fun items or things I would never think of. Thank you so much!! your blog is great and helpful

Thank you anon! I’m glad that you like my blog!

Here’s my packing list/suggestions.

Clothes:

Socks. A lot. Fun socks, if you can.

Old camp t-shirts. I pretty much wear only camp shirts, and you’re guaranteed that they’re camp appropriate.

Shorts and pants, in whatever style floats your boat. I like cargo - cargo shorts, cargo pants. They’re comfy and all the pockets are really useful. I also wear jeans a lot too. Make sure your shorts aren’t too short, especially if your camp has a stricter dress code.

Overalls. Comfy, lots of pockets, and fun.

A swim suit or two (depends on how much swimming there is at your camp).

Swim shirt (everybody)/swim shorts (peeps wearing the one-piece swim suits). This is a matter of personal preference, but I really like having extra covering and it’s less to put sunscreen on. Plus, less of a chance of sunburn. 

Hats. Sun hats, ball caps, beanies, weird hats, etc. 

Bandannas. I have a thing for bandannas, so I bring a bunch, but not everyone does. I use them for headbands, as a hair cover/hat, as a decoration. They’re super useful. 

A couple of sweatshirts/flannels/sweaters.

A long sleeve shirt (or two)

Raincoat! 

A regular coat (unless your regular coat is also a 

Shoes! Hiking boots, sturdy sneakers, flipflops for the shower, whatever sandals/water shoes you can have at waterfront.

PJs/sweatpants. I am forever happy that I brought sweatpants to camp last summer.I also have a rubber duckie onsie. I don’t actually sleep in it, it’s just for dress-up days.

Weird clothes you have laying around - I’ve got a cape, a Harry Potter tie, purple tie-dyed leggings, costume jewelery, extra crazy mismatched socks, and a crazy abstract space dress (it was part of a Luna Lovegood cosplay). 

*these clothes reflect the camp that I work at, which gets really cold. You might need to adjust if you work in somewhere really hot/muggy all the time. Also, we have a fairly conservative dress code. 

Other stuff

A headlamp AND a flashlightI have a lantern that I use in my tent and I really like that too.

Sunscreen, bugspray, chapstick (lots of chapsticks, you will loose them)

Your general toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste/toothbrush, hair brush, sanitary items, etc)

Stationary/notebooks, envelopes, postcards, and stamps

A camera!

Your trusty sleeping bag, a pillow, and perhaps a blanket too

A sturdy backpack

2 towels - one for lake, one for showers

2-3 water bottles. No they don’t need to be name brand Nalgenes, just make sure they’re sturdy and don’t leak. Bonus points if you put stickers on them.

Sunglasses

Laundry bag

Rubbermaid tote (to put all of this in)

Mess kit (if you need one)

Comfort items - I posted about self-soothing a little bit ago. I bring things like tea and a stuffed bunny. I’m bringing a few sensory items to put in a place that all the CITs can get to too.

Lotion. With all the hand washing and sanitizing, your hands will dry out. 

A journal. I write down the funny things and the things that I need to tell someone, but can’t for confidentiality reasons. 

A clipboard. I like the ones that close and open. They’re waterproof and hold a lot of stuff. My phone actually fits into mine along with a ton of paperwork. I also decorate it with camp photos, camper notes, and stickers. 

Sharpies

A multi-tool (think heavy duty Swiss army knife). Ask about your camp’s policy. 

Hairbands - if you have long hair

Kleenex packs to stash in your backpack.

I might come back and edit/add to this later.

The different things I did as a counselor that are the reason my alignment includes “chaotic”:

Accidentally made a 3-4 foot flour dust fire ball in our lodge using a fire starter in a metal cookout pot.

Instead of telling kids not to bully the girl who believed in fairies, I hid a fairy house in the woods and told them fairies were real.

Got the herpetology (reptile) club to come to camp and “paid” her with a walking taco and a s’more.

Brought a friend’s bearded dragon to camp for the critter care rotation and then kept it warm by keeping it on my shoulder while doing paperwork.

Dressed up in an owl costume, including mask, to run camper check in on the (public) road. Also made owl noises and motions while doing said check-in day.

When a child couldn’t sleep, I sang her the lullabies I knew. They were from a play I did about the holocaust. 

And this is just in my two years as a day camp counselor. I had four more years after this.