Echo Grove Camps Overview
“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!” – William Booth: Founder of the Salvation Army
Older Adult Camp – For adults over 55 years old. Our goal as a staff is to serve these golden-agers in an effort to help them rest, relax and rejuvenate in the setting of God’s Creation.
Visually Impaired Camp – For visually impaired campers of all ages and their families.
Teen Camp – For boys and girls 13-17 years old not necessarily involved in the Salvation Army.
Sports Camp – For boys and girls ages 8-12 years old. This camp combines the teaching of sports and the attributes of being a good athlete with the Word of God.
Music Camp – For boys and girls ages 9-18 years old with an emphasis on the arts. The campers attend classes daily on the Salvation Army tradition of brass bands, choir, timbrels, drama, guitar, dance and more.
Character Building Camps – These camps are offered to young people who are a part of scouting type programs within the Salvation Army. These camps are age and gender specific:
o Sunbeam Camp – For girls ages 6-11 years old
o Explorer Camp – For boys ages 6-11 years old
o Girl Guard/Ranger Camp – For adolescent boys and girls ages 12-18
KIDZ Camp – Boys and girls ages 7-12 years old who are not necessarily involved with the Salvation Army.
Family Camp – For families with children ages 12 and under coming from financially impoverished families.
What to Pack:
Michigan weather is balmy and 70’s so remember that while you’re packing. Space is limited and you may find yourself moving quarters during the summer so here is a suggested list of what to bring with you:
· T-shirts & shorts
· Pants and a hoodie for the cooler nights
· Tennis shoes/trainers, sandals
· Bathing suit – one piece or full covering tankinis for girls
· Towels
· Sleeping bag/linens & pillow
· Rain coat
· One or two smart casual outfits – staff banquets and Sunday services on camp
· Essential toiletries
· Day pack
· Bug repellant
· Sunglasses & Sunscreen
· Bible
· Water bottle
Qualities of an SMT
Support the mission of Echo Grove Camp
Echo Grove is a great place to meet God in His great outdoors. Through relaxation, adventure and rich fellowship, we endeavor to bring all campers close to Him. It’s a GREAT day at Echo Grove!!
Faithful
Seek Christ and serve Him this summer with all your heart, soul, body and mind.
Adaptable
Things can change on a whim. Be flexible.
Respectful
Obey the guidelines set by the leadership for you at Echo Grove. If you have concerns…always go up.
Teachable
Being able to humble oneself and follow is foundational to becoming a great leader.
Encourager
Encourage and edify campers and each other.
Consistent
Strive to finish the summer as strong as when you began.
Relational
Build relationships and shower them with the Fruits of the Spirit
The Roles of an SMT
Stay in the Word:
Maintain your 20/20’s as best you can. Use mornings or evenings, even potty breaks…just get it in. It will keep you strong, focused, raw and real.
Relationships:
Love your kids! Your goal this summer is to develop relationships with your campers through shared experiences. Your relationship with your campers is key to growing them in their relationship with Christ. How do we do this? Show them that we care. We demonstrate this by taking a genuine interest in them. Think about when you were little. What were the people like that you loved to be around? They took an interest in YOU! Talk, climb Charlie together, outshoot one another in archery or the pellet range, swim together, fish together, make friendship bracelets, giggle whatever it takes…this is a smidge of what developing relationships looks like. This takes time, a lot of time, but it is worth it. One challenge for you this summer: Figure out what your kids are STUPENDOUSLY AMAZING at and let them know.
Without relationships we have nothing and with it we have everything. Having a positive relationship with someone opens the door for them to listen to you, respect you, seek you out for advice and obey you when the time comes. It is through this relationship that you will be able to share the Gospel of Jesus. You will be the one who makes Christ real to them. If you remember only one thing this orientation let it be to Love Your Kids! (1 Thess. 2:8)
Example:
“Be a life that speaks rather than a mouth that speaks.”- Dan Webster. What we tell our campers is meaningless unless reinforced by our actions. (James 2:18) We must live what it means to follow Jesus then teach it. (Eph. 5:1).
Enthusiasm:
Be that craazzzzzy counselor! Be excited about everything! Your attitude, energy and enthusiasm will pump up your campers’ experience. They won’t be able to help themselves….happiness is contagious. Food for thought: Think back to the people you loved to be around when you were little – was it the crazy AJ’s of the world or the Debbie Downers?
Inclusion:
Stress the importance of friendship with each other and others. ALWAYS look for the lonely and unpopular kids to encourage and love on. Camp can be like high school in regards to cliques. Get on cliques right away. Sit with them, get to know what they are all about and encourage them to sit with others. You as a counselor can break this trend on the first day by stepping out and making friends with the “outsiders”. Other campers will follow your example.
Respectful:
Kids expect discipline in the form of structure and guidelines. They need to know what is expected of them and know you mean it. Lay out the rules firmly on the first day during cabin meeting time. Corporal discipline is not an option! (Mark 10: 13-16)
Safety:
Be hyper-aware of safety issues and attentive to possible problems. Kids are our first concern at camp. Be approachable to them and let them know they can always come to you if there is anything or anyone bothering them. You are here to help them.
Participate:
In every activity or session be engaged in both body and mind. Most kids will do anything you do if you are excitable and ask them to be a part of it! Don’t be afraid to get dirty or look silly. If it makes a camper smile isn’t it worth it? Let your campers paint your face, dress you up, whatever…Just have fun with them!
“B double P’s”
Back Pocket Pieces are quick games learned throughout orientation and serve many purposes so pay attention to the ones you really enjoy and make a note of them somewhere. They are great to use during cabin activity time or if you have down time with your campers. Suppose an emblem class or group session ends earlier than expected. You need to keep them together and occupied. Suppose your kids are moody and need a quick energy boost…these are perfect opportunities for a Back Pocket Piece! And if it’s a rainy day...you can make a day of them. Here are some ideas if you get stuck.
· Volleyball/Nitro ball with another cabin
· Leg wrestling
· Human Knot
· Puddle jumping
· Scar stories
· Hot Seat
· Silent line-ups
· Rolling down hills
· A Hike
· Plan for flagpole challenges
· Play “dress up” with your campers
The importance of being on time
It is the counselor’s responsibility to have themselves and their entire cabin to activities, sessions and flagpole on time. And it is a support staff’s responsibility to be at all assigned areas on time (this means before an area opens). Being late delays the rest of the day and can take away from campers’ free time. A goal one could set for them selves is “To be on time is to be late. To be early is to be on time”. – Greg Payton
CAMP IS FOR THE CAMPER
Eight Sacrifices you might need to make for your campers.
1. If camp is for the camper, your dating life comes second to the time spent with the campers.
2. If food servings run short in the dining hall, kids eat first. We promise you’ll eat.
3. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Eat by example – we eat what the kids eat. No special requests please.
4. If campers are lined up, be last in line.
5. If there is a fun activity going on, your job is to make sure all campers are having as much fun as possible before yourself. Save your competitiveness for staff rugby.
6. If there is a ball game, hit the ball if all the other campers have had a go first.
7. If there is a competition, step aside and let the campers compete, even if it means your team may lose.
8. When lunch is dismissed, go with your campers. Do not leave them alone.
Echo Grove’s Kids!
The 5 Basic Needs of our Kids
· Survival
· Love and Belonging
· Freedom
· Power
· Fun
· What happens when they don’t receive these?
Campers Should Never Experience...
· Corporal discipline
o 1. Discipline is never exercised for the satisfaction of the person who disciplines.
o 2. Discipline is always curative never a vengeful.
o 3. Discipline is always carried out by a person who has authority to discipline.
o 4. People are served well by discipline
· Bullying
· Foul language
· Yelling or screaming
· Degrading or humiliating pranks
· Deprivation of food or sleep as a form of punishment
· Being alone without supervision, observation or interaction from a SMT
· Ridicule
· Threat
· Excessive physical exercise
· Excessive restraint
Campers Should Always Experience. . .
· Adults playing with them
· Smiles
· Laughter
· Hugs
· Opportunities for success
· A safe environment
· Encouragement
· JESUS
Rules for Campers and SMT
· Be Responsible
· Be Respecful
· Be Fun To Be Around
CAMP IS FOR THE CAMPER
Guidelines for SMT
Music & Language
Some music is appropriate for camp; some isn’t. If you wouldn’t let your grandmama listen to it, then don’t let your campers listen to it either. This might also be the only time they get to have a positive influence through music. Let everything you do give glory to God.
Some language is appropriate in some situations, but not at camp. Conform to Standard English when speaking to your campers, so that any unfortunate messages are avoided.
Dress Code
EG is a crack-free zone. No Stumble Wear = no midriffs, no boxers or underwear visible. If we can see your underwear it is not ‘under where’ it’s supposed to be. Put it away and keep it away! Never give your campers the opportunity to question standards because of what you are wearing. Always error on the side of modesty so that camp administration does not have to address how you dress! – no short shorts or spaghetti straps.
Curfew=Lights Out
When the schedule says “Lights out” it means lights out. Campers should have already taken their evening medicine, brushed their teeth, washed their faces, put on their pajamas, and be in bed. Counselors should be ready to give devotions. Make sure you round up your campers who need to take medicine during their free time before bed. It’s important that campers get good nights sleep or they won’t be able to have a good time the next day and it will make your job a whole lot harder. Sleepy campers make grumpy campers. This applies to SMT as well.
Evening Devos with your kids
This is one of the most important parts of the day. This is the time where you relate the Word of God directly to your campers. Just before lights out is a great time to talk. Use this time to pray with them, talk with them, read with them…whatever it takes to show them Christ. This is an incredible opportunity to show them you love and care for them by taking an interest in who they are. Questions about what they like, dislike, best friends, etc can be a great segway into sharing the Gospel of Christ through personal testimonies, devotionals, bible stories or other resources.
Relationships
It’s necessary to keep in mind what your purpose this summer is: you’re here to honor God with your gifts and talents; you’re here to show campers Christ’s love; you’re here to be a solid role model for your campers. We want you to look back and remember the time you spent with your campers, not the times you spent trying to develop a relationship.
‘Isms (Racism, Sexism, Ethnocentrism)
At camp, there will be people who are not just like you. Love them!
CAMP IS FOR THE CAMPER
The best preparation for summer is to get prayed up and read up. Reading the Bible is essential and we also highly recommend you read The Christian Camp Leader by Jim Badke. It is only $2.99 as an ebook on amazon which we will reimburse you for (and more) IF you read the whole book and pass the test!!
*Most Important*
We want you to spend your time wisely….with campers. This may be the one chance we have to be Jesus in their life, to love them like Jesus and to show them their worth in Jesus. If we don’t do it, God will find someone who will. Seize every moment campers are here. Be where your campers want you to be. Be the counselor you always wanted!