At Camp WaHoo the kids have a blast!  The first night is spent in riotous living.  “Lights out” occurs three or four times the first night, and finally the counselor goes to sleep so the campers don’t have to listen to his, “Now this the last time I’m going to tell you…” About 3:00 a.m. the last camper sleeps from exhaustion.

 "The last night of camp has more order to it.  The boys have planned a special party –without the counselor, but including the girls."

In order to gain the most from his/her experience at camp, each camper needs to be mentally aware and emotionally stable.  If you want cooperation, participation and fewer problems, getting a full night’s sleep is absolutely essential to the accomplishing of these goals.

 “Kids love darkness rather than light because the counselor can’t see.”

There is plenty of fun during the day, and perhaps a few well-orchestrated evening or night activities.  Putting the camper to bed ON TIME and giving him (requiring?) a full night’s sleep will not detract at all from the program of the camp, but it will help greatly.

Some inexperienced Counselors see the ordeal of getting campers to bed as one of the Counselor trying to exert their "power" over the campers--they think they should try to get the campers to submit to the authority of the Counselor.  Some see it as simply trying to get the campers to "behave". 

You CAN do it without yelling and threatening!  Actually, it can be a lot of fun.  Anyone can do it.  The following method has been very successfully used for years with young people from the ages of 7 to 18.

Step 1:  To the Cabin
The evening activity or campfire has just ended.  You’re heading back to the cabin, which means BED for the campers.  The game begins.  “What can we do to avoid ending today?” is their goal.  Your counter move is simply to WALK WITH THEM.  Sound easy?  Sure is!  Unless you have a “special” friend who is counselor in the other half of camp.  Campers first!  Walk with them.

1. This avoids the need to scold later because they got “lost” going to the cabin.
   

2. This gives another special opportunity to get to know them and their reactions to the day.
   

3. You easily keep them moving in the right direction by moving in that direction yourself.
   

4. It is a constructive way to give that personal attention and show real interest in individuals.  You are establishing better rapport.

The only side trip for campers at this point may be to the nurse.  Older ones can be sent.  Younger ones may need to taken or sent with a more responsible camper.  
Note:  Do this NOW or else you will have a major interruption during lights out or even later.

 Step 2:  How to Handle the First Big Stall
You all made it to the cabin.  Congratulations!  Now, remind them of the next step.  “Everyone get your toothbrush.  We want to get through with the bathroom before lights-out time!”  Make it a game or contest if you can.

Now comes the first BIG STALL.  Remember, the objective for the camper is to avoid at all costs that inevitable “lights out” time.  He feels it coming closer, so he may try several maneuvers.

• “Who took my toothbrush!  I left it right here!”  Or the towel isn’t around (it’s on the line where he left it).
• He may just stand there, talk, and goof around with his buddy.
• As they fly out the cabin door, one may detour to the cabin next door.
• When finally IN the bathroom, rather than really washing up, the little water fight starts or a “deep discussion” on how the other team cheated (our team lost).

These are children (even if teens), so this behavior is normal.  To counteract it, just patiently remind each one, ONE AT A TIME, what he OUGHT to be doing; then (now get this technique) just stand there and watch him until he does it.  Simple, effective, and kind.

Please note that the counselor is WITH the campers the whole time.  There is an art to getting through the night routine yourself AND getting your campers through it.  If you are working with a junior counselor, plan how to alternate the responsibility so both of you can be ready for the next step.

Step 3:  Back to the Bunk
Getting some cabin groups through the wash-up routine is like trying to hold onto eight slippery fish.  Don’t give up, be patient.

The FIRST thing to do when a camper gets back to their bunk cabin is to ask, “Did you go to the toilet?”  Phrase it how you like, but make sure it is clearly understood.  The rule is, EVERYBODY GOES.  No excuses.

Step 4:  How to Handle the Second Big Stall
The camper will not give a straight answer to your question because "she knows that “I have to go” is an excuse that never fails during cabin lights out, or later.  Listen carefully for a straight and truthful response.

“I don’t have to go.”  “I went after supper.”  Answer with a big smile or humor, but make it stick.  “Try again, EVERYBODY goes.”

At this point each one should be changing into his/her P.J.’s but some may be slow to the extreme.  The basic rule is that NO CLOTHES are worn to bed that have been worn all day.  For those not changing try this:  “O.K., Joe, let’ start with the shoes. Now the socks.  Now keep going until you are in bed.”

You stand there a few seconds and just watch until he really starts.  If this does not work, go to the next step.  “You either do it yourself or I’ll have to do it for you.”  This is said with a big smile, of course.  But stick with it!  The farthest I’ve ever had to go was the shoes.

We need to pause here and make a special note.  Some children are just embarrassed to change in front of others.  So clue them in on how to do it under the covers quickly and quietly, rather than force them or ridicule them.

I’ve often told little guys, “Do it quickly now, everyone is changing and no one will notice.”  “Get back to the cabin early tomorrow night and be done by the time most get here.”  In any case, work WITH the camper, and he will appreciate it.

Step 5:  Into Bed!
Most are changed into night clothes.  The bathroom visits have ceased.  But as you look around the cabin, no one is in bed.

Give them a time limit or a goal.  “O.K., in just 60 seconds I want everyone IN BED and ready to go to sleep, but we’ll have a story time first before lights out.”  Most will enjoy the contest.

With older ones, you may need a few gentle but firm reminders:  “Sam, let’s get going.  Don’t hold up the cabin."

Help individuals (especially those that are slightly scatter-brained or disorganized) to quickly take care of last minute details and hop into bed.  Work WITH them to meet the deadline and keep the countdown coming.

Once you get a camper into bed, don’t let him get out!

Step 6:  Story Time
We are speaking here of how to get campers into bed and asleep on time, so the discussion of how to conduct an evening cabin story time will be taken up later.

Start the story even with a little noise in the cabin.  Start with a question, or something else.  Check out the Counselor section on how to conduct a cabin story time.

Step 7:  The “Last Word”
Just before you begin, or perhaps you will want to stop in the middle, give this little speech:  “I’m going to read a short story (poem).  When I say “the end” that’s it for the night – no more talking or questions or bathroom visits.”

At the end of the story time or discussion, be standing near the light switch.  If you are reading the story, as you read the last paragraph, flip off the light switch and finish with a flash light.

Remember, they are all in their beds and ready to go to sleep (you hope!)  So you say, “The End.”

“O.K. guys, this is our last ditch effort to stall of going to bed! is the thought in several young, creative minds.  Counselor, are you ready for –

Step 8:  How to Handle the Third Big Stall

1. “I have to go to the bathroom!”  “Me too!”  Did he go before?  Did you, as a counselor, make SURE he went?  Then you have on pat answer:  “No.”  Of course, if you forgot to ask him, he has you.  You lose, and he wins.

If that is the case, send them ONE at a time.  If you DID check one at a time and he said he DID go, then you tell him, “No, you will have to wait till morning.” He says, “But I gotta go” and breaks the whole cabin up with laughter.

At this point I pull out my old standard reply that has become a standing joke in my camps:  “Sorry, no deal.  Medical records prove that you can wait 12 hours without any physical harm.  If there is a mess in the morning YOU can clean it up.”

 In short, hold your ground!

2. Following this go-round or instead of it, there are kinds of “important” comments to cabin mates or wise cracks.  Some even try the old “Good night Sam, Good night Ollie,…”  and go around the cabin.  Then the next one picks it up and does the same.
   

3. Of course, now the campers get very respectful and want to ask you, the father of all wisdom, some important questions.’’

Girls often appear to get very serious at this point.

For all these important questions and comments, you have only one stock answer:  “I said that’s it for today, no more talking tonight.”  “I’ll answer that tomorrow, not tonight.  Good night.”  Or “Sh-sh-sh, no more tonight, tomorrow’s another day.”

Remember, once you answer a question, you have broken your own rule about talking, so, MANY other questions will follow.  YOU said, “no more talking” therefore, the most basic principle is this:  YOU cannot continue a conversation either.

Beware of this trap.  MOST COUNSELORS fall for this one and the kids know it.

The second basic principle is not obvious:  Always speak quietly to the individual who is talking, NOT to the group.

Say as little as possible yourself, say it softly, and say it only to ONE person.  Never again, the rest of the night, will you address the cabin as a whole.  ALWAYS speak only to the one person.

 “Why?”  The mental game they play is this:  “She is really speaking to the others, so I am getting away with it.”  You crash their game when you address him by name:  “Lucy, no more.  We are done.”

If you have 5 talking, go to each one’s bed and give him the same message with just a little variation.  “No matter what the others do, YOU quit.  No more.”

The third principle is this:  you must stay on your feet in the middle of the cabin.  If you were sitting on your bed when you said “The End,” stand up in the middle of the dark cabin immediately.  Just stand there.

For each disturbance, go to that person’s bunk and speak to him.  Being on your feet will help you get quickly and quietly to where the problem is.  An added benefit is that the whole cabin will be quiet to hear what you are telling Lucy in her ear!

Stay in the cabin; do not leave.  If you leave now for that staff party (or special “friend”), the alert camper will assume leadership and start his own party.

In any case, every camper must ALWAYS have some responsible adult there.  It is a basic of good child care.  Never leave campers alone. NEVER.

 “Our Last Chance”
So you won the first round, but these campers are not about to give up!  “O.K., so he’s got us on the talking routine, but let’s try another angle.”

 Step 9:  How to Handle the Fourth Big Stall (THE BIG JOKE)
Usually it comes after story time and often after the talking has stopped.  The little geniuses will start with the mouth noises, rubbing or bumping the wall, crinkling paper, throwing little objects to a friend, playing with a flashlight, or the methodic rolling back and forth in the squeaky old army bed.

Hang in there, counselor, you WILL win the game!

1. Stay on your feet in the middle of the cabin.  When you know who is doing it, go to that ONE person and tell him to stop (the action) because it’s time to go to sleep, not play games.  Part of the game he is playing is, “Does the counselor know what I’m doing?”  You won the game!
   

2. If you need to calm a camper down, speak every so softly close to him and give him a lecture that would put anyone to sleep!  Tell him he’s been a good camper; it’s been a good day;’ let’s end the day right; much to do tomorrow so we need a full night’s sleep; it is not right to keep the others awake, etc., etc., etc. 

When You Go to Bed

IF you will use this method, you will find that you will getting much more sleep.  In fact, all you want.

You are on your feet in the middle of a dark cabin.  Several campers have had the pleasure of your personal visit.  The games seem to have ended.  You won.  Your next step is to listen.

Listen for that slow rhythmic breathing.  You’ll hear your campers “pass out” one at a time.  At last only two or perhaps three campers still have that mild restlessness.  Safe?  Almost.

Sit down on your bunk.  If you have Old Squeaky, the campers will hear it.  But they are listening for TWO squeaks, not one.

It takes one to sit and TWO to lie down.  Just sit for another five minutes, then lie down with your eyes on that one camper that you are not sure about.  Another five minutes and you are safe, but do NOT leave the cabin!  The squeak of the door is the “GO!” signal to start another party because the counselor is gone.

Some counselors have come back to the cabin with the lights on, everyone up, and the remains of a pillow fight rather obvious. If you DO leave the cabin, leave someone else standing in the middle of the floor.

If you have seven- and eight-year olds, you may need to take a second trip to the bathroom about 30 to 60 minutes after “The End”.  When they finally slow down and relax, bed-wetting can be a real problem.  With eight campers, you may have one to three with this problem.

One morning a young boy asked me, “Uncle Dave, didn’t you go to bed last night?”  I was standing in the middle of the cabin when he got up!

Obviously, after this routine has been established, you will be able to sack out much sooner.  If you happen to have that rare ideal cabin, you can say “The End” and go to sleep yourself.

Some girls’ cabins gather around on a couple of bunks for the story.  If the girls are giving a high level of cooperation, that’s fine.  What has been herein described is the course to take when all is not so rosy.

What to Do if Your Camper Wets the Bed – 2 Steps to Prevent it

Bedwetting, or enuresis, can ruin a camping experience for a child.  If you have a camper with a history of bedwetting be calm, do not make the camper feel guilty.  Handle the problem with a matter-of-fact attitude.

If a camper has had an “accident’ during the night, he or she will be embarrassed.  It is up to you to IMMEDIATELY take steps to alleviate the camper’s anxiety.  You should assist the bedwetter in as quiet and unobtrusive a manner as possible to change and air the bedding.

 Care needs to be taken to prevent the bedwetter from becoming an object of ridicule in the cabin.  Develop a signal so the bedwetter can comfortably ask you for help.  Perhaps bedding can be changed or aired while your other campers are occupied elsewhere.

 To prevent bedwetting:

1. Limit the liquid from supper on.

2. Get the camper up 45 minutes to 1 hour after asleep and take him (or her) to the bathroom.