Hello one and all. Our program staff have been toying with the idea of giving staff a half or possibly full day off during our week. We run Sunday to Saturday, and realize the importance of giving staff their needed rest. For those of you who give staff half or full days off, how do you cover their campers? What elements of your program ensure that staff who are missing are not truly missed? Any other ideas for how to deal with this logistical problem? Thanks for any responses.

The camp I used to own, assigns 10-12 campers to a cabin group with two staff assigned to each group, so that when one is on day off or otherwise removed, one counselor will still be with the group. Most activity areas also have 2 or more staff assigned, so that activities can continue with one person absent.

Another possibility is to have junior counselors or roving counselors who fill in as needed.

Bob Hanson

We hire 2 staff as "rovers" during the summer and allow personal days for 2 staff per day. The rovers fill in when the other staff are gone.

We have used permanent rovers(all summer) and rotating rovers(one week each) and have success with both. The permanent rover is a good position for that staff member who has aspirations of being on your summer management team, but isn't quite ready. It's a chance for them to see a bit of the "big picture" and to prove that they can work hard.

rovers(one week each) and have success with both.