Campers’ safety, their desire to try new experiences, to grow and express themselves greatly depends on the approach we take as counselors and as camp in the whole.  One of the best ways to manage behavior and avoid stressful incidents is to make sure everyone feels accepted and safe. How do we achieve it at Russian Camp MN?

• Create a safe environment which promotes dignity for all campers. This environment is one, which values respect and tolerance for differences, and the safety and freedom to express individuality.
• Develop relationship with campers. Counselor and camper relationship is mutually respectful and supportive with open communication. This relationship is characterized by empathy, genuineness, mutual acceptance, care and cooperation. A couple tips:
  – Get to know your campers, talk to them, smile, show interest with comments and questions, comment positively on qualities and strengths.
  – Give regular positive feedback that is specific, genuine and brief.
  – Allow for choices and give campers opportunities for decision making, when appropriate to practice this skill and help them feel empowered. We do not strive for perfection during our workshops or evening shows, we are creating opportunities and providing necessary encouragement and guidance for campers to exercise their creativity, make their choices, learn to cooperate and have fun.
• Set rules and expectations. Campers respond best when limits and expectations are clear. Engage campers in developing your team’s rules and review them frequently. Keep rules short and clear. Write 5-6 points on a large piece of paper at your first team meeting and post it in the common area. Talk about rewards and privileges as well as consequences. On a regular basis give praise to those that follow the rules to use positive reinforcement. For example, one of the common rules at camp: the counselor in charge of the team should always know where each kid is. Discuss with the team why it is crucial and how it helps everyone, write it down and emphasize/reward when your campers are taking steps to follow the rule.
• Create routines. Establishing routines can decrease camper anxiety and create a community atmosphere. It helps eliminate a fear of the unknowns as routines become comfortable and familiar. Every day during the morning team meeting daily plan is discussed, written down on a large piece of paper and posted in the common area. Campers should know their schedule and should have a chance to ask any questions about it in the morning meeting. Each day ends with the team meeting by the fire with both counselor and CIT actively participating. It is a chance to discuss the day, answer any questions, reinforce positive behavior, build the team, etc.

How do we deal with conflicts? Any conflict goes through a few steps in its cycle. While we cannot prevent all stressful incidents, we can choose how to react to them and how to come out of them building even stronger relationships with campers.

Steps in the Conflict cycle:

1. A stressful incident
2. The camper’s feelings or reaction
3. The camper’s observable behavior or misbehavior
4. The counselor’s reaction, which can become a stressful incident

Your reaction has an Impact! Remember, how you react and respond will impact the camper and vice versa. We could agitate the camper further or we could take this opportunity to have a supportive and calming effect. Think about the goal and the desired outcome before reacting.

AVOID! Never yell, avoid using a loud voice and dramatic gestures. If you ask yourself a question “Am I calm?” and the answer is no, then ask for help. We work as a team and will provide the backup. Keeping everyone safe is our top priority! Here are some tips to follow if you are facing a stressful incident.

• Diffuse it at the first signs of increased agitation or anxiety: redirect the camper to an alternative task, set or restate clear limits and expectations, use a calm, positive tone of voice, give campers choices for tasks among acceptable alternatives, use humor (but not sarcasm). And above all RESPECT the camper! As an example, you see that a camper is not comfortable participating in a skit. Emphasize how important the decorations are and redirect the camper to create something by hand to embellish it or use their technical knowledge to run music or perhaps get them involved in directing.
• Try to find something positive to say first and, if possible, remind them of past successes and capabilities. Calmly offer support – “How can I help? I’m listening.” For example, start with: “You are great at drawing. Remember, when you really helped our team with creating the flag and the poster? What would we do without you? I am here to help and I am ready to listen. What can I do?”
• Ask for help! We work as one big family and support each other so we have your back.

While all of the different activities at camp such as climbing, swimming, archery, ponies, etc. certainly make it memorable, it is the atmosphere where everyone feels safe and accepted that allows each camper and each counselor to grow and truly enjoy the experience. And this is the atmosphere we build at Russian Camp MN.