Leaders Assembly 2020

https://zoom.us/j/806580093

Each summer, individuals aged 18-22 become camp counselors, which entails the adult-like responsibilities of rational decision-making, prioritizing others’ needs, and role modeling. Young adulthood (i.e. late adolescence) is the stage when individuals navigate the transition to adulthood by accepting more significant responsibilities, learn the full consequences of poor decisions, and manage multiple tasks with limited direction. Recent discussions surrounding staff mental health and behavioral challenges prompt us to reflect upon young adult’s developmental needs in different environments. Camp administrators encounter similar challenges with their staff that professors experience the nine months prior. Experiences gained from teaching and mentoring young adults can serve to broaden one’s understanding of the developmental needs that may influence their work behaviors, particularly as camp counselors. As a result, modifications to teaching and mentoring strategies sought to address young adult’s developmental needs while still holding them accountable for their work. These strategies differ from the original managerial strategies I employed earlier in my career, which could have enhanced my effectiveness as a camp administrator. This session will focus on identifying strategies to address young adult social-emotional learning skills (i.e. self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) so they may form positive relationships with campers and role model appropriate attitudes and behaviors.

We are excited to highlight innovations and bright spots happening all across the field of Jewish camp! These bite-sized 30 minute sessions will showcase successful initiatives, programs, marketing and fundraising ideas and so much more – all for you to steal and bring home to your camp and community.

We are excited to highlight innovations and bright spots happening all across the field of Jewish camp! These bite-sized 30 minute sessions will showcase successful initiatives, programs, marketing and fundraising ideas and so much more – all for you to steal and bring home to your camp and community.

https://zoom.us/j/648914458

Camp is a perfect setting for teenage girls to practice speaking up in a supportive and immersive environment. As camp leaders, how can we deliberately create opportunities for them to advocate for themselves and share their (popular or unpopular) opinions, thereby getting into habits that will be useful to them in high school and college, eventually in their careers, and in their personal lives? These behaviors will also help the campers communicate more effectively among themselves, leading to a more positive atmosphere in the bunks and beyond.
This session will address these questions and provide tools that counselors can use to help their female campers find their voices, especially the quieter and more reticent ones. It will include specific techniques for group activities (including how to infuse them with Jewish content) as well as suggestions for ways in which counselors can subtly encourage specific campers to assert themselves over the course of the summer.

https://zoom.us/j/806580093

In this workshop, we will talk about how to train summer staff in spotting red flags, asking the right questions, and taking that information up the ladder. We will troubleshoot issues that camp leadership have faced with training their staff around mental health, ideas to fix that moving forward, and camps will have the opportunity to share best practices. We will leave with ideas and concrete resources as we begin planning your staff training for summer 2020.

https://zoom.us/j/637687506

Anxiety is a real and growing issue in our society and for camps. Every part of the process is impacted - recruiting new families, encouraging returning campers, managing the onboarding of campers, keeping enthusiasm and commitment from signing up to showing up, and then all the questions and concerns that arise once we have their kids! Dr. G will help us understand the sources of that anxiety and then offer strategies for reducing and managing the concerns of parents and campers as well as identify places that we can build our brand and reputation by tackling these worries head-on, making your camp a place families want their kids to spend the summer!