Florida 4H Camp Counselor Training

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Florida 4-H Camp Counselor Training

• Teaching a Class at Camp
• -Experiential Learning
• -Communication
• -Learning Styles

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Experiential Learning
DO
APPLY
REFLECT
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Experiential Learning

• DO- Experience the activity
• Provide instructions for the activity as outlined
  in the lesson plan.
• Ask if the youth have any questions before
  beginning.
• Pass out any supplies or materials needed, then
  let them get started!

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Experiential Learning

• Doing questions
• How is it working?
• What else might you try?
• What might make it easier?

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Experiential Learning

• REFLECT- Share and process the activity
• Counselor asks campers questions to help them
  share what their experience was (WHAT HAPPENED?)
  and then asks questions to help them process
  (WHATS IMPORTANT) the experience.

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Experiential Learning

• Sharing Questions
• What did you do?
• What happened?
• What was the most difficult? What was the
  easiest? 
• Processing Questions
• What problems kept happening over and over?
• What similar experiences have you had?
• How did you feel when?

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Experiential Learning

• APPLY- Apply what theyve learned from this
  experience to an everyday situation
• Counselor asks questions to help youth discover
  what theyve learned and how it will help them in
  an everyday situation.

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Experiential Learning

•  Applying Questions
• What did you learn through this activity?
• What is another situation in which you can use
  this skill/what you learned?
• How will you act differently in the future as a
  result of what you learned?

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Communication

• Learning to listen is a basic skill that we all
  need for living, but it especially important for
  camp counselors.
• At camp the goal of a good listener is to keep
  the conversation going long enough so you can
  understand the real message
• The best way to keep the conversation going is by
  using open responses instead of closed responses.

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Open vs. Closed Responses

• Camper says I want to go home. Billy is always
  mean to me.
• Closed response Just forget it, he probably
  didnt mean it.
• Open response Has Billy been picking on you?

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Open vs. Closed Responses

• Camper says Youre the meanest counselor in the
  world! I hate you!
• Closed response Dont you talk to me that way!
• Open response You sure are angry with me

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Open vs. Closed Responses

• Camper says Watch me cast!
• Closed response Dont hit me with the hook.
• Open response You have a good technique. Make
  sure that you are far enough away from everyone
  else so that you dont hit anyone with the hook.
  

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Communication

• Before children will listen to us, we have to
  invite them to listen. We can do this with our
  
• body language
• tone
• eye contact
• Get down on their eye level, look them in the
  eye, and use a calm voice.
•  

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Communication

•  Children wont listen when
• we are disrespectful
• we blame them
• we judge them
• we make fun of them
• we are sarcastic
• we nag them

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Communication

• Children will listen when
• They feel appreciated
• They are respected for not wanting to tattle
• They understand how you feel but dont think you
  hate them
• They understand the consequences of their actions
• They have confidence that you will listen to
  their side of the story

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Communication

• Encouragement is a big part of communication.
• Try to encourage the campers for what they are
  doing right, and they will be more likely to
  listen to you when you ask them to correct bad
  behavior.
• Remember, nothing works every time for every
  child. If the childs behavior or attitude is
  interfering with camp or other counselors, seek
  out a staff member to address the problem.

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The Best Response?

• Situation Campers have gotten waist deep in the
  water when they were instructed to only go in up
  to their knees.
• Response A Why cant you listen to the rules? I
  told you not to go in that deep- hurry up and get
  out!
• Response B Guys, I really worry when you dont
  follow the safety rules because I know that one
  of you might get hurt.

.
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The Best Response?

• Situation A camper constantly interrupts you
  when you are trying to help another camper
• Response A Stop interrupting and wait for your
  turn!
• Response B I will help you as soon as I finish
  helping Johnny.

.
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The Best Response?

• Situation Campers left a mess after finishing
  the activity
• Response A You guys are such slobs! Do you
  think Im your mother or something?
• Response B This mess is not for me to clean up
  myself. Whos ready to help me?

.
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The Best Response?

• Situation A camper is constantly harassing you
  for attention
• Response A Stop it and quit bothering me!
• Response B I dont like it when you pull on my
  sleeve/hit me, etc. Please say my name instead.

.
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Learning Styles

• All people are different and they learn
  information in different ways. These different
  ways of learning are called learning styles.

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Learning Styles

• There are three primary ways that are important
  for you to understand as a camp counselor
• Visual
• Auditory
• Tactile/Kinesthetic (touch/movement)

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Visual Learners

• Need to see the instructors body language and
  facial expressions to fully understand the
  content of a lesson.
• Often prefer sitting at the front of the
  classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g.
  peoples heads).
• Prefer to take detailed notes (during a lesson)
  to absorb the information.
• May think in pictures and learn best from
  visual displays including diagrams, illustrated
  text books, overhead transparencies, videos,
  DVDs, flipcharts, and handouts.

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Auditory Learners

• Learn best through lectures, discussions, talking
  things through and listening to what others have
  to say.
• Interpret the underlying meanings of speech
  through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed,
  and other nuances.
• Benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape
  recorder.
• Written information may have little meaning until
  it is heard.

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Tactile / Kinesthetic Learners(touch / movement)

• Tactile/Kinesthetic (touch/movement) Learners
• Learn best through a hands-on approach, actively
  exploring the physical world around them.
• Find it hard to sit still for long periods and
  may become distracted by their need for activity
  and exploration.

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Creating an Effective 4-H Camp
Classroom

• Learn campers names and use their names.
• Be prepared. Collect all of your supplies and
  materials before the start of your class or
  activity.
• Reduce distractions. (For example, weather,
  noise, room temperature, environmental
  distractions, campers in other classes, etc.)

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Creating an Effective 4-H Camp Classroom

• Be sure that campers physical needs (hunger,
  thirst, bathroom, sleep, etc.) are met.
• Be sure that campers emotional needs are met.
  (Foster an environment where campers can
  participate without being picked on, criticized,
  made to feel stupid, self-conscious, etc.) 

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Creating an Effective 4-H Camp Classroom

• Plan periodic breaks.
• Be sure that you address multiple learning
  styles.
• Provide a safe learning environment (no
  put-downs, no sarcasm, etc. only constructive
  comments).
• Can you think of any others?