by Denise Cabrero Nelson
Children can learn to work together from an early age, and the bunk
group at camp is ideal for discovering how to work as a team. Campers
are eager to learn, be challenged, and have lots of fun! The camp environment
should always be changing, challenging, and stimulating for the camper.
Campers with different personalities need to be motivated to work together
in all camp activities. Unity can also be accomplished through educational
activities, group dynamics, and even simple chats.
Time with campers is limited. Counselors should take advantage of every
moment in the cabin to encourage leadership and camaraderie, which are
necessary for any successful team. Any activity done with campers, from
quiet talks at night to teaching survival skills in the wilderness, can
cause a positive impact in a camper's life.
Building Respect
From day one, start team building with campers
in your bunk group. If you intend for campers to learn from you, they
must respect you as a leader. Establishing rules early is extremely important
for the bunk to survive and for maintaining your role as a leader. Campers
should help create bunk rules to enhance their self-esteem and to show
them from the beginning how they, too, can have a part in the decision-making
process of the team.
Sample Cabin Rules
- Always ask before borrowing someone's things
- Talk nicely to one another
- Include everyone in activities
Campers look up to counselors and expect them to be fair. Being honest
and extending discipline when needed is welcomed and respected by campers.
Being tough yet loving toward the whole group also builds respect for
you and helps campers be more trusting especially in times of trouble.
Initiating conversations with campers and avoiding favoritism, which
can hurt the team, can also improve their trust in you.
Not only should campers respect you, they need to respect themselves.
Building self-respect and self-esteem in campers can commence with good
icebreakers such as introductory name games.
Name Games*
- Ask each camper to share of a positive adjective that describes themselves
and starts with the same letter as their name, such as Positive Paul.
- Have campers come up with a gesture to go with their name and share
it with group members, who then repeat the gesture. Gestures should
be in good taste.
- Create a musical jingle using each camper's name.
Setting short-term goals is also a good way to let campers get to know
one another and promote self-esteem as well. Personal goals such as wanting
to ride a horse with no assistance or group goals such as completing
a difficult hike together are great ways to forge a team.
Promote Cabin Unity
Cabins can be colorfully decorated to motivate team spirit. Campers
can personalize their name tags, help others decorate, and work together
to create a cabin banner. Many cabins already have names, but fellow
bunkers can brainstorm an upbeat cabin theme or song.
Create a Time to Listen
A fantastic way to wind down from a hectic day is to take time before
lights out to encourage campers to express insecurities and concerns.
Listen to their stories and read them an inspiring story. Certain topics
can be chosen for discussion each night such as a friendship or goal
setting to help them open up and communicate better. Giving them the
opportunity to express their likes and dislikes will help them feel important
and motivated to keep sharing their feelings. They can learn that good
communication skills and being good listeners are key elements in forming
a strong team.
Teach Teamwork Through Activities
Taking advantage of games to teach campers teamwork is an excellent
way to facilitate group thinking. Adventure course and low ropes activities
promote team effort and survival skills. For example, the spider web
ropes course activity requires all campers to go through the ropes to
the other side without touching the "web." All campers, regardless
of size, play important roles in this game. Campers need to think together
to develop the best strategy for success. During activities, individual
skills such as physical strength, leadership, and the gift to encourage
others will surface.
Team Building in Nature's Midst
Another great way to bring the bunk group together is through nature.
Many times campers come from cities where contact with nature is limited.
Having overnights in the woods can be a new and thrilling experience,
giving the campers an opportunity to lean how to survive together. Counselors
should be experts at putting up tents and building fires, but it is important
to accept suggestions (as long as they are safe) from campers and encourage
them to help initiate activities. Accepting their ideas and guiding them
with your wisdom will help them gain self-confidence, respect, and knowledge.
Campers are more likely to share their feelings and listen better while
huddling over a warm fire. A campfire is perfect for story telling. Stories
of brave Native American tribes working together or of early settlers
striving to survive are sure ways to teach campers the importance of
teamwork and teach an insightful lesson.
Admit What's Wrong but Praise What's Right
Teams come together through hard work and trial and error. Campers come
from different backgrounds and bring with them distinct personalities
that can be valuable in creating strong teams. As campers try new skills,
they also learn that it is okay to make mistakes. When a counselor makes
a mistake and admits fault, he sets a good example. Counselors should
praise the camper who learns a new skill or is trying his best. Campers
will respond positively to praise and will enjoy working with the other
team members.
Campers will not remember long speeches about how to form a good team,
but they will be less likely to forget the cabin song or theme, the games
played together, caring counselors, and the special friends that they
made. Without realizing it, campers will carry with them the skills and
values they learn at camp and apply them in their own lives. A counselor
with a strong and disciplined character will be a role model campers
will never forget.
Originally published in the 2000 May/June of Camping
Magazine.
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