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by Bob Ednick
The question campers at Coleman Country Day Camp ask most frequently
is “Is it club time yet?”
Club time is an elective program period that takes place each day. Campers
select an activity from an extensive list of activities, including regularly
programmed activities such as arts and crafts, soccer, and volleyball
and specialty activities such as calligraphy, sign language, water polo,
and synchronized swimming. Campers participate in their chosen club activity
for a two-week period with other campers from different groups and age
ranges.
Making Fun Choices
Club time allows campers to make choices, and kids love to choose. It
also permits campers to spend time at an activity they enjoy. Both campers
and staff are able to get involved in an activity, because unlike shorter,
once or twice a week activities, club time enables campers to do long-term
projects, play a full game, compete with campers from other groups, or
get extra time in an activity they’d like to improve in or learn.
Since campers get time in activities not offered during your regular
program, club time broadens your overall activity offerings. Club activities
also allow you flexibility in your programming, especially with older
campers. Do your oldest campers want each activity you offer? Do your
older boys want music? Some do. Do your older girls want softball? Some
do. Some don’t. You don’t have to schedule these activities
at all or as often on your regular program because campers can select
this activity as a club time activity.
Staff Become Shining Stars
Activities are led by a club leader who has specialized skills in the
activity area. All activity specialists lead an activity, but in some
cases a counselor may lead a club group. In all cases, the leader is
a skilled person who has planned the activity, ordered supplies, and
demonstrated leadership ability. To find staff members’ hidden
talents, review their applications and resumes.
Club program activities must be long term since campers will be taking
part in the activity each day for forty-five minutes. It must be exciting
and different since campers have chosen that particular activity above
and beyond the other fifty or sixty choices offered each cycle.
Club leaders must determine the number of campers a club can handle
and if that club can accommodate a broad range of ages. For example,
an art club may offer a painting program where older campers are doing
still life in oil and younger club members are doing still life in watercolor.
A water polo club may be available to only deep-water swimmers, but a
synchronized swim club may be open to all ages and swim levels. In a
situation where a highly specialized club has only one leader, for example,
violin club, you can offer the club to younger campers in the first club
rotation and to older campers in the next two-week cycle.
Club Time Start-up
Decide on a time slot for each club, preferably during the same time
each day. Also, decide on where each club will meet. Now it’s time
to get campers signed up.
Getting acquainted
During the first day of camp, use the club period just for counselors to get
acquainted with campers.
On the second day, counselors should explain the concept of clubs and
read campers a list of clubs to be offered. Also, explain that this is
not a group choice, but an individual choice. Tell campers that they
may not get their first choice, so they should think about alternatives.
Also let them know that they will get a first choice in later rotations
if not on the first round.
On the third day, have club leaders make presentations. Subdivide campers
so assemblies are small and allow for questions and answers.
Sign-up day
The fourth club day is sign-up day! Club leaders gather in a large tent or
building. Each should have a sign and a large envelope bearing the name of
their club. Give each camper a card with his name and group on it. Campers
enter the tent and deposit their card in the envelope of their club of choice.
Call groups in a different order for each sign-up rotation to ensure everyone
gets a first choice at some point during the summer.
Envelopes are then collected and sent the office to be recorded. Lists
are generated by club and group so counselors and the office can easily
access campers during the club period. These lists are adjusted for absent
campers and any changes.
It’s Finally Club Time
The next day is the first regular day of club time. Assemble club leaders
on a large field and have them stand in line alphabetically while displaying
their club signs. As campers enter the field, they go to their appropriate
club. All non-club leaders assist in getting campers located.
When campers are situated, club leaders take attendance and move out
with their club members. Follow this organization for the first and second
day of each club cycle to familiarize campers with their club locations.
Afterward, campers can go directly to their club location when the announcement
is made.
The benefits of club time for campers and staff far out shine the time
spent planning, programming, and signing up. It’s all worth it
when you hear campers enthusiastically ask, “Is it club time yet?
Originally published in the 1999 May/June
issue of Camping Magazine. |
