I'm a big believer that you can never be too organized. People come to my camp and can't believe how organized and smoothly run everything is. It's no accident. I have a lot of experience running camps, but I also try to plan for everything. These are some questions I ask myself each year as I'm planning camp.
Scheduling questions to ask yourself
How many days will your camp run?
What time will staff arrive?
What time will cubs arrive?
What time will camp begin?
How long will opening ceremony be?
How long will each station last?
How much time is there between stations?
How many stations will there be each day?
When is lunch? How long will it last? (include time for lunch program)
How long will closing ceremonies last?
What time is camp over?
When can staff go home?
When will den times be scheduled?
When will familes be involved in the program?
Showing posts with label general information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general information. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Questions to answer when planning your camp
I have planned a lot of day camps. These are questions that you will most likely need to answer at some point. I've found that coming up with answers when you have time to think about it allows you to do much better than when a crisis arises.
Some items you might want to include in your planning
When to send out letters/emails to parents of cubs letting them know about your camp.
When to send out letters/emails to staff notifying them of training dates.
Scheduling training dates, how many will you do? When? Where?
Sending letter to hospital, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Sending letter to fire department , who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Scheduling pre camp inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Scheduling camp inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen? Who will attend inspection?
Meeting with Key Staff to divide up responsibility for national standards
Forming dens, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Creating rotation schedule, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Purchasing supplies, especially things that need a lot of lead time, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Having program complete, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Doing a dry run through planned activities, when will it happen?
Sending thank you letters to staff, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Asking for donations from local businesses, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen? Who will oversee to make sure no duplication of asking at same business?
Coordinating when/how you will get any supplies council is providing
Finding a 1st aid person, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Finding a range master and getting them trained, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
When is your camp is “closed” to new campers?
Doing an inventory of leftover items, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Purchasing items for trading post, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Creating a camp map showing where stations are, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Promotion plan, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Budget approved, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Staff manual prepared or updated, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
National Standards ready for inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Evaluations handed out to staff, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Lunch time entertainment planned and scheduled, who is responsible?
Opening and Closing ceremonies planned, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Recognition items purchased and prepared, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Certificate given to cubs at final closing prepared , who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Some items you might want to include in your planning
When to send out letters/emails to parents of cubs letting them know about your camp.
When to send out letters/emails to staff notifying them of training dates.
Scheduling training dates, how many will you do? When? Where?
Sending letter to hospital, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Sending letter to fire department , who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Scheduling pre camp inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Scheduling camp inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen? Who will attend inspection?
Meeting with Key Staff to divide up responsibility for national standards
Forming dens, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Creating rotation schedule, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Purchasing supplies, especially things that need a lot of lead time, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Having program complete, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Doing a dry run through planned activities, when will it happen?
Sending thank you letters to staff, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Asking for donations from local businesses, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen? Who will oversee to make sure no duplication of asking at same business?
Coordinating when/how you will get any supplies council is providing
Finding a 1st aid person, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Finding a range master and getting them trained, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
When is your camp is “closed” to new campers?
Doing an inventory of leftover items, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Purchasing items for trading post, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Creating a camp map showing where stations are, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Promotion plan, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Budget approved, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Staff manual prepared or updated, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
National Standards ready for inspection, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Evaluations handed out to staff, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Lunch time entertainment planned and scheduled, who is responsible?
Opening and Closing ceremonies planned, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Recognition items purchased and prepared, who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Certificate given to cubs at final closing prepared , who is responsible to do it? When will it happen?
Crafts and Woodworking ideas
Crafts and woodworking are only part of a successful day camp program. The things the boys bring home will give the parents an impression of what kind of camp you held. Focus on providing a few quality projects for the boys instead of something at each class.
The key to successful projects is planning: before, during, and after the activity.
Before:
Where to find ideas: library books, Family Fun Magazine, internet search (especially if you include “birthday party” in search), old Pow Wow books, library/community programs, Cub Scout Leader How to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps
Things to consider:
Age Appropriate: Different crafts/projects for different ranks
Time to complete: It will take the tigers longer to do a craft than the webelo 2.
Theme related: camp is to do fun projects and things that are difficult to complete in a standard den meeting, not to “get them their rank”
Cost: work within your budget
Your camp setting: access to electricity, running water, tables, protection from wind
Your camp history: has there been a history of boys doing certain woodcrafts at each rank? If so, boys coming up are looking forward to those crafts, how will you address this?
Supplies: Some items are consumable and you need enough for each boy plus some for breakage/mistakes. Some items can be used again and again but you need enough for each boys (ex. if there are 10 cubs, you need 10 hammers)
Prep. Work: Are there things that need cut out ahead of time, if so who will do that?
Safety: Follow BSA standards for using tools,knives, etc.
Learn from my mistakes! Do a dry run and allow yourself to only use the materials you've set aside for the class. Then, have the person teaching the class do the same thing.
During:
Follow BSA safety standards. Safety glasses must always be worn when working with wood tools such as hammers, saws or drills.
Determine how materials will be given out, either as kits or one piece at a time.
Determine how to monitor supplies to make sure there are enough for all cubs
How will construction be demonstrated? Shown step by step, partially completed projects as examples, posters with illustrations...
What is the plan if the project is completed faster than expected?
What is the plan if the project is not completed in time? How will incomplete projects be stored to get them back to the boys quickly and easily? When will they be able to complete it?
Remember to have the boys place their name on the project
After:
Recognize the hard work of the boys, emphasizing the cub scout motto of “do your best” and talk about core values used in completing project.
Three choices for what to do with the project when it's done and things to consider
Will they carry it with them for the rest of the day? Is it ackward? Are they carrying other things? What will happen to projects that get forgotten at later stations?
Will they return it to their den site? Will the class end early to allow time to return to den site? Is there time during the normal passing period to return to den site?
Will they leave it at the station and retrieve it later? How will projects be sorted for quick retrieval? What will you do with unclaimed projects?
What will station leader do with leftover supplies? Are they needed for another class, if so whose responsibility will it be to get them to the other class? What will happen with left over wood kits? (are they being returned for credit, resold for profit, or stored for future years)
Provide an evaluation to the station leader to get her feedback on the project
It is likely some boys will forget their projects the last day, what will happen to them?
The key to successful projects is planning: before, during, and after the activity.
Before:
Where to find ideas: library books, Family Fun Magazine, internet search (especially if you include “birthday party” in search), old Pow Wow books, library/community programs, Cub Scout Leader How to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps
Things to consider:
Age Appropriate: Different crafts/projects for different ranks
Time to complete: It will take the tigers longer to do a craft than the webelo 2.
Theme related: camp is to do fun projects and things that are difficult to complete in a standard den meeting, not to “get them their rank”
Cost: work within your budget
Your camp setting: access to electricity, running water, tables, protection from wind
Your camp history: has there been a history of boys doing certain woodcrafts at each rank? If so, boys coming up are looking forward to those crafts, how will you address this?
Supplies: Some items are consumable and you need enough for each boy plus some for breakage/mistakes. Some items can be used again and again but you need enough for each boys (ex. if there are 10 cubs, you need 10 hammers)
Prep. Work: Are there things that need cut out ahead of time, if so who will do that?
Safety: Follow BSA standards for using tools,knives, etc.
Learn from my mistakes! Do a dry run and allow yourself to only use the materials you've set aside for the class. Then, have the person teaching the class do the same thing.
During:
Follow BSA safety standards. Safety glasses must always be worn when working with wood tools such as hammers, saws or drills.
Determine how materials will be given out, either as kits or one piece at a time.
Determine how to monitor supplies to make sure there are enough for all cubs
How will construction be demonstrated? Shown step by step, partially completed projects as examples, posters with illustrations...
What is the plan if the project is completed faster than expected?
What is the plan if the project is not completed in time? How will incomplete projects be stored to get them back to the boys quickly and easily? When will they be able to complete it?
Remember to have the boys place their name on the project
After:
Recognize the hard work of the boys, emphasizing the cub scout motto of “do your best” and talk about core values used in completing project.
Three choices for what to do with the project when it's done and things to consider
Will they carry it with them for the rest of the day? Is it ackward? Are they carrying other things? What will happen to projects that get forgotten at later stations?
Will they return it to their den site? Will the class end early to allow time to return to den site? Is there time during the normal passing period to return to den site?
Will they leave it at the station and retrieve it later? How will projects be sorted for quick retrieval? What will you do with unclaimed projects?
What will station leader do with leftover supplies? Are they needed for another class, if so whose responsibility will it be to get them to the other class? What will happen with left over wood kits? (are they being returned for credit, resold for profit, or stored for future years)
Provide an evaluation to the station leader to get her feedback on the project
It is likely some boys will forget their projects the last day, what will happen to them?
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