Rumor has it that counselor is not a profession and not an opportunity to earn. This is the style. Lifestyle, worldview. All the best improvisations usually come from perfectly rehearsed blanks. Therefore, counselors do not hurt to develop all kinds of squad activities long before the start of the season.
Camp: what you need to know about him
If you are going to work in the camp, you need to understand its specifics as much as possible. If you can familiarize yourself with the territory and buildings, the availability of modern equipment, the quality and the food system via the Internet (camp site, reviews of children and parents, etc.), then it is more difficult to understand the program that is offered in this camp. Activities for children in the summer are diverse: from elementary team and individual games in the fresh air to various master classes and educational classes.
Children
It is even more difficult to understand how uniform the children's team will be. And we are talking not only about the financial capabilities of parents (and, therefore, more expensive clothes and accessories of children), but also about the similarity of education and level of development. Of course, the younger the child, the more he trusts the authority of the elder (counselor) and the easier he agrees to the proposed entertainment. If we are talking about adolescents, then cohesion around one idea or similar interests allows you to quickly establish contact with the squad.
This is also important because a variety of squad activities often involve joint activities. And if the children are familiar with each other, they need less time to establish contacts with peers.
At the very beginning of the shift (almost on the very first day), it is necessary to organize an “Evening of acquaintance”. In what form this will be realized: an elementary representation of oneself, a masquerade ball or a game of forfeits is decided by the counselor. The main thing is that at this event the counselors will be able to understand which of the guys can become a leader, who needs to be supported, etc. And you also need to try to see what exactly your team can be interested in.
How to entertain children in the camp
It is generally accepted that in the camp children spend time outdoors in the company of peers. But if they are not offered games and contests, classes in hobby groups, sports entertainment, they will get bored and begin to dream of returning home. Or, on the contrary, they will begin to seek entertainment on their own. And this is not always safe.
Therefore, counselors should develop squad activities that can interest most of the guys. It is not necessary that all children want to take part in common games. Such events include all kinds of contests, master classes, trainings aimed at developing a child’s personality, etc.
Counselor identity is important
If the counselor is able to interest the children, then consider that the “thing is in the hat” - the children will have a great time forgetting about the house with a computer. The plan-grid of team events should be ready before the start of the shift, so as not to waste precious time planning or inventing after the children arrive. Of course, changes are possible in the planned schedule. After all, weather conditions and the wishes of children can make their own terms. Nobody will follow the guys' plans and completely change plans, but counselors are obliged to correct them based on the general mood.
Intellectual or physical education?
And one more thing to clarify for yourself. Counselor can do anything! And with a ball to drive, and learn songs, and organize a quiz. The scenario of contests in the camp should always be different: from orienteering to cooking, from collective games to ways of each child’s individual manifestation.
After all, children are just learning to understand themselves and look for interesting aspects of life. This is the beauty of a summer vacation - you can try everything and find some new hobby. On the contrary, try to avoid monotonous entertainment. Children will definitely get bored of constant football games or eternal intellectual quizzes.
Victory Rewards
Like any person, a child needs recognition of his labors. Therefore, it is imperative that winners be announced after each competition. The spirit of competition creates excitement, and what else is needed to solve the task?
A detachment event in the camp, the scenario of which is known even before the start of the shift, allows you to choose a wide variety of prizes and awards. All this should be taken care of in advance and prepared a lot of small souvenirs. The obligatory element of the award ceremony should be diplomas and medals. They can be prepared independently, or can be purchased in specialized stores. It all depends on the budget you have.
What can serve as a prize?
- All kinds of stationery, because the children will go to school in the fall, and the pen won in the camp will remind you of a wonderful time.
- Souvenirs in the form of trinkets, etc. - it is important for children to show each other their treasures. Remember how many trinkets, pins and some baubles hung on school bags.
- Chocolates and sweets - what kind of child does not like sweets?
- Benefits and incentives in the form of "violation" of the regime - additional minutes of swimming in the sea (if the camp is marine), the opportunity to spend a quiet hour not in bed, but in the lobby of the detachment, doing some favorite thing, etc.
With the latter, the main thing is not to overdo it. Children love to discipline, but in order not to cause discontent in the team and not contribute to total disobedience, this should be a reward for an objective victory.
And, of course, we must not forget that all participants should be praised and thanked - cardboard medals and diplomas are intended for this.
What are the events
Actually, like everything in the world, competitions for the camp can be divided into several categories. As we have already said, it is important that the child develops comprehensively, therefore it is necessary to cover all of the listed areas during the shift.
- Socio-political. An elementary geographical quiz may well end up in this category.
- Labor. From cleaning the territory (collective work) to all kinds of workshops.
- Cognitive. Discussions, conferences on interesting topics.
- Ecological. The study of the eco-system of the area in which the camp is located.
- Sports. Team and individual competitions.
- Artistic. Drawing, acting, etc.
- Leisure activities. Elementary games for a large team that can brighten up the waiting time for their turn in the dining room, for example.
- Moral. Unobtrusive classes in ethics and aesthetics, personal growth trainings, etc.
Actually, you should not be scared. After all, a person in science is called Homo sapiens, but there is nothing threatening in this. It is enough to make a small adjustment when playing in the cities - we name only cities from countries that are members of the European Union, for example - and you have a public-political detachment ready.
Team Event Examples
What team events to choose, where to start and how to interest children? Perhaps for a young (inexperienced) counselor these are the most serious questions. Here are a few favorite children and very informative squad affairs.
At the very beginning of the shift, as soon as the guys arrived at the camp, they need to find out what and where is located. Of course, just telling and showing on the map is the easiest way out. But you can divide the squad into several groups and give everyone the same tasks (count the number of windows in the dining room, for example, or find the shortest path to the disco). When children independently explore the territory, they quickly adapt to new conditions and will surely remember perfectly what and where is located.
Another scenario of contests in the camp may affect several units. To motivate restoring order in the rooms and in the squad, you can arrange a show of unnecessary things. Everything that cannot be used for its intended purpose should be allowed to create thematic sculptures. The day before the competition, the counselor announces: "Tomorrow we have an exhibition of sculptures. We are competing with the first squad for the right to spend an additional half hour at a disco."
An improvisation evening will help children learn how to navigate the situation and not be afraid of the unknown. This is a squad event, the script of which is written in the process of its implementation. The following options are possible: the counselor offers the first and last phrase, and the participants come up with a story that combines these phrases. Each participant comes up with only one proposal and waits beyond his turn.
For example, the counselor says that the story begins with the words "The granddaughter came for a vacation to her grandmother ...", and everything should end with the words "and the blue bird flew into the distance." More examples:
1. A forest near the city has grown ... but the wolves never came.
2. Parents somehow left for a visit ..., the bouquet of flowers withered and remained.
If the children are mobile and energetic, then the following scenario is suitable for improvisation: the counselor distributes to the participants cards on which the roles of the play are written (people, trees, animals, etc.). The presenter then tells the story, and those participants whom he calls illustrate it with their actions. In this option, more children are involved at the same time.
Presenter: “There was a forest (everyone with trees, etc., should gather and depict the forest), a small path circled between the trees and led away into the thicket (the“ path ”illustrates these words). And it ended in a clearing that hid behind the bushes ... "
If the host does not have enough imagination, you can thus illustrate the songs and sayings.