Organization of Activity Periods
Activity periods are organized differently at different camps. There’s no single best way to organize activity periods at an overnight camp. It depends on the camp’s philosophy, the staff’s skills, the kind of kids who attend the camp, the climate, and the facilities that are available.
The organization of activity periods ranges from “maximum structure” to “almost complete freedom.” At every overnight camp, there are some scheduled activities that all campers must do,
such as getting up in the morning and eating at a certain time. Most camps also offer a few choices of what to do and when to do it. However, the variation in structure is great.
At the “maximum structure” end of the spectrum, you will find camps that schedule all the activities for kids ahead of time. For example, if you’re in Cabin 3, you’ll play baseball from 9:30 to 11:00, go swimming from 11:20 to 12:00, then eat lunch from 12:15 to 1:00, and so on. The advantages to such high structure. Kids get to:
There are also disadvantages of such high structure. Kids may:
At the “almost complete freedom” end of the spectrum, you will find camps that offer endless choices. There may be several blocks of time each day when campers can choose among six or eight different activities. For example, from 9:30 to 11:50, campers may have the choice between basket weaving, horseback riding, sailing, volleyball, swimming lessons, snorkeling, and riflery. There are advantages of such freedom. Kids get to:
There are also disadvantages of such freedom. Kids may:
As you might guess, there are many camps that strike a balance between high structure and almost complete freedom. At these camps, staff schedule some activity periods ahead of time and kids choose the rest. Your child might do some activities with his cabin mates but other activities with kids from other cabins. This balance is a good concept, but it too has some disadvantages. For example, when lots of campers choose the same activity, and there isn’t enough room or equipment for everyone, some kind of selection needs to happen. Raffles and lotteries are the most fair ways of selecting who gets to do the activity and who has to choose something else. The best camps keep track of who loses each raffle, to give those kids first priority the next time that activity is offered. The best camps also modify activities appropriately when just a few campers show up for a period.
Two final notes on activity period organization: First, not all campers get to do all activities. Second, some camps charge extra money to a camper’s account for certain activities. For example, water-skiing might cost $5 extra per run, to defray the cost of gasoline for the boat; horseback riding might cost $100 extra per week, to pay for the horses’ care. If your child likes the idea of freedom to choose activities at camp, make sure you know which activities he is eligible to do, and which have an additional fee. Restricted activities and those that cost extra should be noted in the camp’s registration materials.
Activity periods are organized differently at different camps. There’s no single best way to organize activity periods at an overnight camp. It depends on the camp’s philosophy, the staff’s skills, the kind of kids who attend the camp, the climate, and the facilities that are available.
The organization of activity periods ranges from “maximum structure” to “almost complete freedom.” At every overnight camp, there are some scheduled activities that all campers must do,
At the “maximum structure” end of the spectrum, you will find camps that schedule all the activities for kids ahead of time. For example, if you’re in Cabin 3, you’ll play baseball from 9:30 to 11:00, go swimming from 11:20 to 12:00, then eat lunch from 12:15 to 1:00, and so on. The advantages to such high structure. Kids get to:
• Try new activities they might not have chosen on their own
• Know what’s coming up next
• Rely on staff to schedule full and interesting days for them
• Get better at activities they plan to repeat each day
• Know what’s coming up next
• Rely on staff to schedule full and interesting days for them
• Get better at activities they plan to repeat each day
There are also disadvantages of such high structure. Kids may:
• Be scheduled to do less enjoyable activities
• Not get to do their favorite activities as often as they wish
• Do everything with the same group of kids all day
• Miss the fun of choosing a personalized schedule
• Not have enough time to relax and just hang out
• Not get to do their favorite activities as often as they wish
• Do everything with the same group of kids all day
• Miss the fun of choosing a personalized schedule
• Not have enough time to relax and just hang out
At the “almost complete freedom” end of the spectrum, you will find camps that offer endless choices. There may be several blocks of time each day when campers can choose among six or eight different activities. For example, from 9:30 to 11:50, campers may have the choice between basket weaving, horseback riding, sailing, volleyball, swimming lessons, snorkeling, and riflery. There are advantages of such freedom. Kids get to:
• Have fun choosing what they want to do, and when they want to do it
• Plan to do some of their favorite activities every day
• Be with different groups of kids and staff at different activities
• Build in enough time to relax and just hang out.
• Plan to do some of their favorite activities every day
• Be with different groups of kids and staff at different activities
• Build in enough time to relax and just hang out.
There are also disadvantages of such freedom. Kids may:
• Never try anything new because no one makes them
• Feel lazy and not go to any activities (They might as well be sitting at home.)
• Get overwhelmed by the number of choices
• Fail to improve at any one thing because they’re always trying something new
• Feel lazy and not go to any activities (They might as well be sitting at home.)
• Get overwhelmed by the number of choices
• Fail to improve at any one thing because they’re always trying something new
As you might guess, there are many camps that strike a balance between high structure and almost complete freedom. At these camps, staff schedule some activity periods ahead of time and kids choose the rest. Your child might do some activities with his cabin mates but other activities with kids from other cabins. This balance is a good concept, but it too has some disadvantages. For example, when lots of campers choose the same activity, and there isn’t enough room or equipment for everyone, some kind of selection needs to happen. Raffles and lotteries are the most fair ways of selecting who gets to do the activity and who has to choose something else. The best camps keep track of who loses each raffle, to give those kids first priority the next time that activity is offered. The best camps also modify activities appropriately when just a few campers show up for a period.
Two final notes on activity period organization: First, not all campers get to do all activities. Second, some camps charge extra money to a camper’s account for certain activities. For example, water-skiing might cost $5 extra per run, to defray the cost of gasoline for the boat; horseback riding might cost $100 extra per week, to pay for the horses’ care. If your child likes the idea of freedom to choose activities at camp, make sure you know which activities he is eligible to do, and which have an additional fee. Restricted activities and those that cost extra should be noted in the camp’s registration materials.
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