During the two or three days at camp, how will the camper GROW in CHARACTER? That answer is largely up to you.

Applying this chapter will make the difference between an average summer and a really great one.  If the whole counseling staff will follow these guidelines, the camp itself will rise above the ordinary to the exceptional.

Your first goal is to understand the camper.  You can learn a lot by listening with both ears and casually, but intently, observing.

Listen.  What is his (or her) vocabulary (i.e., street language: is it educated, slang, polite, crude, etc.)?  How does he relate to others in the cabin (i.e., loner, leader, mischief-maker, follower, bully, wallflower)?  How does he respond to you, the one who represents authority (i.e., clings, avoids, obey, disobeys, ignores, pleases, deceives)?  Look closely at his eyes, the window to the soul.  What do you see (i.e., hurt, loneliness, fear, joy, confidence, life, peace, pride)?

If you can meet his parents, what do you see (i.e., wealth poverty, confidence, crudeness, character, cigarettes, religious,…)?

Before the second day of camp is ended, you need to write down a GOAL for every one of your campers.  What do you want to make happen in this individual’s life this week?

Some Clear Cut Goals

Goals should look something like this: 

• That (s)he would overcome shyness and get involved.
• That (s)he would be considerate of other campers
• That (s)he would learn to be more gentle.
• That (s)he would not be rebellious.
• That (s)he would be content (not complain).
• That (s)he would be more compassionate.

The list can go on and on with character qualities or changes in behavior that you see are needed.  The important thing to do is to choose one main objective to see accomplished in that child’s life during camp.

In choosing an objective, be realistic.  You can't work miracles at camp, but you can sometimes help a camper realize that they have positive abilities and potential to grow that they didn't realize before. 

What we CAN expect during the one short 1/2 week at camp is some movement in the direction of the goal.  (Some of the most important growth in a camper, if this is to be some, may occur long after camp is over.)

After you select a definite goal, write it down.  This is essential.  Writing it down will force you to make your objective clear, short, and reasonable.  At the end of camp, write down under the goal the RESULTS.  What DID happen in the child’s life this week?