#114087 - 05/31/10 09:17 AM
Suggestions for a newbie!?
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GrrrRREG
2 to 10 posts
Registered: 05/31/10
Posts: 5
Loc: United States
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Hey Everyone!
First official post, YES!
Okay so...I'm looking for advice. This summer I'm the choreographer for a camp in Pennsylvania. I've not worked at a camp since I was in Junior High as a CIT.
Being a performer from New York and Chicago myself, I have worked with hundreds of people doing this. I've worked at different theatres in the country, as well as, with competitive high school show choirs.
However, I have never solely relied on youngsters to put a show together.
Therefore, the advice I'm asking for is what are some good incentives or good ways of praise for campers when successfully completing the given tasks.
Any advice will be useful -- even things to learn before camp, what not to forget, etc...
Thanks!
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#114090 - 05/31/10 09:38 AM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: GrrrRREG]
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Beetle
200 to 300 posts
Registered: 11/19/02
Posts: 205
Loc: Mississippi
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Welcome!
I am sure that you can find some helpful info here.
As for praise, everyone wants it and needs it. Make sure that it is genuine and honest. Reward good behavior and improvement. Create obtainable goals for campers, but challengen them too.
I am sure that you will be a sucess and that your campers will have fun!
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#114092 - 05/31/10 10:02 AM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: Beetle]
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heathesaurusrex
150 to 200 posts
Registered: 04/30/10
Posts: 191
Loc: NJ
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Quite honestly you cant treat most kids as you would treat adults. They want respect and praise and they want to do well in their show.
You could institute some sort of rewards system but more than likely you don't need it and if you start camp with it in place the kids will expect rewards whether they need them or not. You can google positive reinforcement for teachers or something and there will be a lot of good ideas of what you can do with kids.
Good Luck!!
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#114093 - 05/31/10 10:04 AM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: heathesaurusrex]
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GrrrRREG
2 to 10 posts
Registered: 05/31/10
Posts: 5
Loc: United States
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Thanks guys! This helps -- I was just worried because usually it's in a career situation for everyone involved!
Thanks a lot!
Anything I need to know about today's camp scene?!
What are some things that wouldn't be on a packing list that someone could most definitely use.
It's an 8 week coed.
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#114094 - 05/31/10 10:24 AM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: GrrrRREG]
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Smudge
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Registered: 05/18/07
Posts: 8805
Loc: UK
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I did a few drama programs over the years at the camps i have worked and i have found that when you let the kids take some of the ownership for what they are working on they will put more effort into than if they are just working on something that has been entirely divised by other people.
For example - my first summer the program was the girls (at girl scout camp) had to write their own script, and direct the performance with me there to lead and guide them and help them when they got really stuck. I found that this approach worked really cos the girls got into what they were doing and cos they had written it etc, they wanted it to be the best the could be and would practice during me time and suck.
At another camp the drama specialist (the first camp didnt have one) created all the dances and choose the the play that they were doing and they were alot less motivatied than the girls at my first camp.
I am not entire sure how this would work with dance, but I hope it helps.
Welcome to the boards!
As for things that arent on packing list that are essential -there is a really good thread heathersausrex started when she was wanting to know the same things. However in your situation I would say lots of camperific music.
Also if you are living in a cabin/unit with the campers then some books to read to them or let them borrow. Also a waterbottle - dancing at camp can make you even more thirsty than when you are in a nice air con'd studio.
Edited by Smudge (05/31/10 10:27 AM)
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#114105 - 05/31/10 10:12 PM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: Teenster]
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Layton
300 to 400 posts
Registered: 11/21/09
Posts: 316
Loc: Missouri, USA
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Congrats on the position, and Welcome to the boards!!
I wouldn't worry about rewards, but praise is the best thing. always be positive - use positive reinforcement like "walk please" rather than, "DON'T RUN!" when someone helps someone else out say, with dance moves that someone forgot then praise the helping camper with, "Thanks so much for helping out! I really like to see that, good job!"
praise is just as good as rewards without the negative response when someone doesn't get a reward.
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#114106 - 06/01/10 12:39 AM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: Layton]
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heathesaurusrex
150 to 200 posts
Registered: 04/30/10
Posts: 191
Loc: NJ
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Layton just reminded me, don't ever ask a kid to just 'stop that' for two reasons. 1) What exactly is 'that'? 2) if you don't give them an alternative they'll find something to do that is just as bad. For example if a kid is running down the hallway and you say 'Don't Run!' 9 times out of ten they will leap, skip, hop, jump, crawl, or scoot. ANYthing other than walk, which doesn't really solve the problem but in all honesty, all you asked them to do was not run... which is what they're doing.
If you say 'Walk please." they can't do any of the other options so unless they're just trying to be a smart alec, they have no choice but to walk. Also, if you have a whole group that is acting up except like 3 or 4 campers, don't say something like 'Why are you all misbehaving' or 'Please behave.' Look around and find the campers who are doing the right thing and say 'I like the way Alexa is waiting patiently.' or if you're waiting for them to get in a starting position or something 'Michelle's got it, Jake has it! Grace is doing the right thing.' Everyone will start looking around to see why the other kids are getting praised and try to copy them automatically. Also, if you're characteristically loud and peppy but everyone is talking or being rowdy or generally being kids but you need to get work done, just stand still and don't speak. My kids used to take 'Everyone get your social studies books out.' as an invitation to happy hour but I would just stand in the middle of the room with my book in my hands and eventually someone would notice Ms. Heather wasn't speaking... or moving... and it made them nervous lol. So they would open to the page I told them and sit quietly waiting for me to say something. It helped even more once they figured out the first thing out of my mouth was almost always interesting (did you know that scientists are working on ways to colonize mars?)
But if you think back on it, these are probably all things adults did with you as a kid. Remember your favorite teacher, or counselor, and use their systems for reinforcement. Honestly, I don't know the statistics for camp but I know that something like 50% of all teachers quit within the first 3 years because the hardest part of being a teacher is getting 30 8 year olds to sit and pay attention at the same time. Which is not to say the kids are bad or the teacher is bad, just kids are kids. If you think about behavior management ahead of time and have a plan you should be fine and everything should be easy and fun I LOVE working with kids if only because they will surprise you every five minutes with a funny story or a brainwave, or something nice. Kids are awesome.
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#114144 - 06/03/10 01:44 PM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: stormy]
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GrrrRREG
2 to 10 posts
Registered: 05/31/10
Posts: 5
Loc: United States
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Thank you guys!!
TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING!!
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#114243 - 06/07/10 06:00 PM
Re: Suggestions for a newbie!?
[Re: GrrrRREG]
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THECAMPWOMAN33
150 to 200 posts
Registered: 02/04/06
Posts: 198
Loc: Soon to be@ Flat Rock River YM...
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Make sure you GET PLENTY of sleep. That's always the problem with new staff they want to stay up every night especially the first two weeks. But it'll catch up on ya.
Also be Flexible. I've seen staff who aren't and people end up not really liking them because they weren't flexible on stuff.
Have fun and good luck!
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