Super Hero Strength #2: A Safe Environment

BACKGROUND

Youth should not fear physical or emotional harm while participating in a 4-H experience whether from the

learning environment itself or from adults, other participants, or spectators. Safety is a very basic need. We want the physicalenvironment of camp to be safe. We need to consider the possible risks associated with various camp activities and eliminate as many risks as possible. This is why we have insurance, participation/medical forms, life guards, etc. But physical safety is not the only aspect to consider. We also want environments to be emotionally safe. That means that participants are not afraid that they will be made fun of, insulted, or threatened (adapted from Ferrari, 2003).

It is especially important to spend quality time training teens in risk management issues as the parts of their brain that help evaluate and access risk is not fully developed until age 25.

INTRODUCTION

We face physical dangers every day. It is usually pretty easy to identify physical dangers (slippery rocks on the waterfront, strangers on campus, faulty equipment, etc). Youth are usually resilient enough to overcome slight physical injuries (such as a twisted ankle or skinned knee) but emotional injuries can last a lifetime.

This lesson plan has three activities:

  • Happy Camper
  • The Big Event
  • Worst Possible Case Scenario

WHAT TO DO-

Happy Camper- review the camp rules with the group. Give each teen a balloon and ask them to blow it up (not too near the popping stage because balloons have to last, but not too small either because the program needs to be challenging). Ask them to tie a knot in the end of the balloon. Have each teen cut out a set of balloon feet and write their name on the bottom of the feet. Insert the knotted end of the balloon in the slit between the toes of the balloon feet. Ask the teens to draw a face on their balloon, the more creative, the better. You may want to have a sample “camper” to show them. Tell them, “ From now on this balloon is known as your camper. You are responsible for your camper for the remainder of this weekend training.” Introduce the camp “sheriff and deputies.” Review the following rules with the group:

  1. This camper is your responsibility! You need to take care of him or her at all times. Know where your camper is and make sure he or she is safe and cared for.
  2. If you’re busy you need to get a reliable counselor to supervise your camper.
  3. The camper goes where you go (if you go to the bathroom the camper goes with you).
  4. If your camper accidentally pops then you are considered neglectful - your camper is dead!
  5. If you see a camper unattended, then it is your duty, as a responsible person, to take the camperto the sheriff or one of the deputies.
  6. All confiscated and dead campers go to the sheriff and are put in a holding area. The holding area is considered the morgue, hospital or a crisis center set up for those campers who were left unattended or killed. Once a person loses their camper they will never get him or her back.
  7. If a camper is in the sheriff’s care then one of the following scenarios has occurred:
  • The camper has wandered off to the waterfront and has drowned .
  • The camper wandered off into the nature trail and is lost in the woods (parents are in the crisis center)
  • The camper has been kidnapped by a stranger (parents are in the crisis center)
  • The camper wandered off onto the archery range and has been seriously injured by a stray arrow.
  • The camper is dying of neglect

Note: This activity will need to be processed at the end of the training:

Sharing-

  • What did you like or dislike about this activity?

Processing-

  • What decisions did you have to make while participating in this activity?

Generalizing-

  • What did you learn about being a counselor through this activity?

Applying-

  • Did this activity make you think differently about safety at camp? Why or why not?

Clover Camp Account- In advance, make copies of the camper roles and cut them into strips. Make sure you have at least one strip for each youth and/or adult at the training. Place the strips in a paper bag and ask each person to draw a strip. Tell them that they will be playing the role of the person described on their slip of paper. Ask everyone to stand up. Tell them that you will be reading an account of camp, titled “Clover Camp Account,” and they are to close their eyes and imaging participating in the event described as the person on their slip of paper. If they hear anything in the story that would make their person feel uncomfortable or unsafe, they should sit down. Read the story slowly. At the end of the account, there should be very few, if any people left standing. Use the risk management issues listed at the end of the account as a guide to facilitate a discussion about risk management concerns at camp. Debrief with the following questions:

Sharing-

  • How did this activity make you feel?

Processing-

  • Was it difficult or easy to think about the event through someone else’s eyes?

Generalizing-

  • What did you learn about risk management through this activity?

Applying-

  • Did this activity make you think differently about safety at camp? Why or why not?

Worst Possible Case Scenarios- explain to the group that camp has some special risk management issues. Risk management is about identifying risks and planning how to reduce or avoid those risks. As counselors, they could be held legally accountable if they are found to be negligent or abusive towards a camper. Divide the group into smaller groups of 4-5 people. Give each group a Risky Business Scenario Card. Allow 5-8 minutes for each group to read and discuss their scenario and answer the questions. Ask each group to share their scenarios. After each group finishes their scenario, read to them the Results Card for that scenario. Finish the activity with these processing questions:

Sharing-

  • Was this activity difficult or easy for you?

Processing-

  • Have you ever had similar experiences as a camper or counselor in the past?

Generalizing-

  • How does being aware of risks relate to real life and not just this activity?

Applying-

  • Did this activity make you think differently about being a counselor? Why or why not?

ENHANCEMENT: Divide counselors up into their cabin groups and ask them to come up with their TOP 10 CABIN COMMANDMENTS. Provide poster board and markers for each group to write and decorate their commandments (or rules) for their cabin. Ask each group to present their cabin rules to the entire group. If appropriate, these rules should be posted in their cabin the week of camp and reviewed during their cabin meeting the first day of camp.

RESOURCES:

List risk management resources here?

Clover Camp Role Play Slips

Youth who is afraid of water / A 12 year old first time camper
An 8-year old first time camper. / Parent of an 8-year old first time camper
Parent of a camper who does not own a car / Adult whose first language is not English
Youth who is in the foster home system / Adult who is a registered nurse.
Youth who is a vegetarian / Youth with food allergies
Youth who has never been away from home. / Youth who has first aid training
A female camper with a conservative religious background that does not allow her to wear pants or a swim suit. / A youth with ADD
Youth who has a learning disability and cannot read well / Adult who is a single parent with three kids
Youth who is shy / Youth who came to camp with a broken arm (arm is in a cast/sling)
Youth who is allergic to bee stings / Youth who lives in two different households because his parents are divorced and share custody.
First time counselor / Youth who is a new member of 4-H.
Youth who is hearing impaired. / Parent of a child who receives food stamps
Youth who receives free or reduced lunch / Youth whose parent is deployed in the military

Clover Camp Account

Every year, youth look forward to one full week at Clover Camp. It has been a tradition for the last 75 years and it provides wonderful opportunities for youth to learn about the environment, participate in recreational activities, and learn to get along with others. Clover camp serves youth ages 7 through 14. Youth ages 12 to 19 serve as counselors, and there are about 4 or 5 adults who plan the camp each year. Camp is held at one of the state 4-H campsites, which is about an 1 ½ drive from the Extension Office. Camp has a large cafeteria where all the meals are served. Campers get 3 square meals a day (1 meat and 2 vegetables) with either plain or chocolate milk. Canteen is available once a day. Classes are held in the big classroom above the cafeteria. Assemblies and a talent show are held in the auditorium. Every camper and counselor is expected to participate in the talent show. A dance on the last night of camp is also held in the auditorium. Counselors serve as the DJs.

Other camp activities include volleyball, softball, kayaking, swimming, and archery. There is also an arts and crafts class where campers select a kit, read the instructions, and complete the craft. Swimming, kayaking, and fishing are offered at the waterfront. Mr. Smith always serves as the life guard. He teaches swimming at the local YMCA. Archery is set up on one end of a football field and there is a volleyball court on the other end. Often, campers will organize an impromptu soccer game in the middle of the field, especially if no one is playing volleyball. Basketball used to be offered, but the cement court is full of cracks and not really safe for running. The adults like to have regular scheduled activities, but also like for the campers to have a couple of hours of free time each day so they can play or take a nap in the cabin.

In order to go to camp, campers have to complete a registration packet and pay $200.00 dollars. Scholarships are available to youth who cannot afford it. Their parents have to fill out a scholarship request, and the camp planning committee makes the decisions based on need. The agent sends a list of everyone going to camp so they can arrange their own carpool transportation to and from the camp. Counselors have to have attended camp as a camper and fill out an application. There is a counselor meeting 2 weeks before camp, but not all counselors are able to make it because of other summer activities, but they are excused if they write a letter to the agent explaining why.

Nightly campfires are always fun. The fire circle is located on the waterfront and has bleachers for everyone to sit on. Campfire includes songs, skits, and of course, ghost stories. The counselors always act out the scary story of the Legend of Chief Clover and it is always great fun. One of the club leaders serves as the camp nurse. She has six children of her own, so she knows a lot about taking care of kids.

Last year, there were more boys than girls signed up for camp, so one of the unoccupied girls cabins was used by the boys. The adults decided to put 2 extra counselors in the cabin so that the boys wouldn’t be tempted to prank the girls.

Every year, there are always one or two parents who are late to pick up their child. It is so frustrating for the adults, so this year, the adults decided to tell the parents that if any of them are late picking up their children, then their child will not be able to attend camp the next year. They also put one male and one female counselor who both have cars in charge of staying with any of the campers whose parents are late. If the parents are more than 1 hour late, then the counselors will need to drive the campers home.

Risk Management Issues Discussion Guide

  • Adults planning activities without including a risk management plan
  • Adults planning activities without including counselors/youth input
  • Appropriate ratio of adults to youth/ campers to counselors
  • Location of adult at night
  • Qualified health staff/nurse
  • Alternative activities/foods for youth with special needs
  • Safety at all activity locations
  • Archery range too close to other activities
  • Activities for youth with learning disabilities
  • Activities planned with sensitivity to developmental age of youth (dance, ghost stories)
  • Health forms for all participants
  • Confidentiality for youth that are low income
  • Handling funds in appropriate way that is auditable
  • Safe transportation for youth to and from camp
  • Standard check-in/check out procedures
  • Emergency plans in place and practiced (fire/tornado drill)

Scenario
(give one to each group) / Worst Possible Case
(read/discuss after each group shares)
Scenario #1: Sneaking out of the cabins the last night of camp has been a tradition for years. Counselors loved the thrill of “getting away with something” even though it was harmless. Plus, it was the last night, and they wouldn’t all be together again at camp until next year. Earlier that day, they made plans to meet at the dock at 4:00AM in the morning so that they could toilet paper the camp staff cabins. It would be fine, after all, the campers and agents would all be asleep, and wouldn’t be waking up for an hour or two. Are there any risks? If so, what are they? / Worst Possible Case for Scenario #1: While the counselors were toilet papering the staff cabins, one of the campers got sick and woke up the other campers. The campers got scared when they found their counselors missing and woke up their 4-H agent. In addition, while toilet papering the staff cabins, one counselor fell in a hole and twisted her ankle and had to be taken to the emergency room, along with the sick camper. Sneaking out of the cabins after lights out is a violation of camp rules and grounds for a Review Board. The Review Board resulted in the counselors not being able to return to camp in the role of counselor.
Scenario #2: Last year, the senior male counselors decided to do a CIT induction for all the male counselors in training. It was hilarious! And no one complained last year. On the first night of camp, they got all the male CITs into the bathroom. They tied their hands with duct tape, gagged their mouths, and shoved them in the shower with their clothes on under cold, running water. It didn’t hurt anyone, and the staff and adults never found out. They planned on doing the same thing this year, and made sure they had all the supplies packed in their duffle bags.
Was the induction ceremony harmless fun?
Are there any risks? If so, what are they and what is the worst that could happen? / Worst Possible Case for Scenario #2: Turns out, one of the male CITs finally opened up about the incident to his mother when she asked him about going to came the next year. When he said no, and began to get upset, he told her what happened. His mother immediately called the 4-H agent, and the 4-H agent immediately reported the incident to the Child Abuse Hotline (which he was required to do by law). The male counselors were investigated by the sheriff’s department and charges of abuse were filed. The male counselors were found guilty and sentenced to 100 hours of community service. As a result, they had to quit the varsity sports teams because they could not make the practices due to the time they had to spend doing community service. The charges were on their record, and they also were turned down for scholarships and their 1st choice college. Some of them also had a hard time getting part time jobs.
A review board was conducted through the 4-H program, and the counselors lost the privilege of being a 4-H member, and were barred from all 4-H events, including camp.
Scenario #3: A camper confides that he/she has been abused by a family member and proceeds to tell you the gruesome details. You are not sure if you should believe it or not.