4. WHAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION DO YOU WANT?
Overnight camps vary in size from fewer than 90 campers to more than 400, but all sizes and types have some kind of organizational structure. The two main components are “Living” (how the living quarters are organized) and “Activities” (how the activity periods are organized). Understanding your child’s Living and Activity preferences will help you select the best camp.
Organization of Living Quarters
Most overnight camps organize campers’ living quarters by age or school grade. This is the organization that makes kids most comfortable. Grouping camper’s living quarters by age or grade
makes it easier for kids to change clothes in front of one another, for cabin leaders to select age-appropriate activities the whole cabin will enjoy, and for each group to have its own identity.
The typical organization of living quarters at a traditional overnight camp hasn’t changed in more than a century. The entire camp is usually divided into three, four, or five units or “divisions,” according to the age or grade of the campers. Each division comprises several cabins. Each cabin contains between 6 and 20 campers and between 1 and 4 cabin leaders. Cabin leaders live and eat with the children and may also function as activity instructors. Of course, there are variations, but this is how most traditional overnight camps organize their living quarters.
The organization of living quarters at specialty overnight camps and special needs camps varies. Camps with their own outdoor property usually organize their living arrangements like a traditional camp, by age or grade. Camps that use college campuses usually have a less structured organization. There, it’s more likely that younger kids will be living next door to, or even in the same room with, older kids. On college campuses, it’s also less likely that an adult leader will be living in the same room with your child. This organization of living quarters results in less direct supervision and guidance. Such “leadership from a distance” will make it difficult for your child to benefit from the positive adult role models who work at the camp. Living quarters should be organized to provide outstanding supervision and leadership to all children, all the time.
Regardless of the exact organization of living quarters, remember that any adult who actually lives with campers is like a substitute parent. That person’s job is to befriend your child, set an example for her, encourage her when she is challenged, praise her when she succeeds, support her when she fails, and comfort her when she is down. Obviously, it’s important that such an adult be extremely well trained in leadership, gifted at working with kids, tremendously enthusiastic, and consistently aware of appropriate limits and boundaries.
Overnight camps vary in size from fewer than 90 campers to more than 400, but all sizes and types have some kind of organizational structure. The two main components are “Living” (how the living quarters are organized) and “Activities” (how the activity periods are organized). Understanding your child’s Living and Activity preferences will help you select the best camp.
Organization of Living Quarters
Most overnight camps organize campers’ living quarters by age or school grade. This is the organization that makes kids most comfortable. Grouping camper’s living quarters by age or grade
The typical organization of living quarters at a traditional overnight camp hasn’t changed in more than a century. The entire camp is usually divided into three, four, or five units or “divisions,” according to the age or grade of the campers. Each division comprises several cabins. Each cabin contains between 6 and 20 campers and between 1 and 4 cabin leaders. Cabin leaders live and eat with the children and may also function as activity instructors. Of course, there are variations, but this is how most traditional overnight camps organize their living quarters.
The organization of living quarters at specialty overnight camps and special needs camps varies. Camps with their own outdoor property usually organize their living arrangements like a traditional camp, by age or grade. Camps that use college campuses usually have a less structured organization. There, it’s more likely that younger kids will be living next door to, or even in the same room with, older kids. On college campuses, it’s also less likely that an adult leader will be living in the same room with your child. This organization of living quarters results in less direct supervision and guidance. Such “leadership from a distance” will make it difficult for your child to benefit from the positive adult role models who work at the camp. Living quarters should be organized to provide outstanding supervision and leadership to all children, all the time.
Regardless of the exact organization of living quarters, remember that any adult who actually lives with campers is like a substitute parent. That person’s job is to befriend your child, set an example for her, encourage her when she is challenged, praise her when she succeeds, support her when she fails, and comfort her when she is down. Obviously, it’s important that such an adult be extremely well trained in leadership, gifted at working with kids, tremendously enthusiastic, and consistently aware of appropriate limits and boundaries.
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