Feedback From Rockbridge Property Staff
The theme that emerged was "Be the Boss." By this we mean that WC bosses should be ready to lead their team, similar to the way we encourage leaders to be leaders and not "Buddy Leaders."
1. Bosses should own the job of their team and lead them in doing it
well. The approach should be "we are going to clean cabins today, and
this is why we are going to do it and this is how we are going to do
it", instead of "Today Jana wants us to clean cabins and she wants us
to...." or "Today, we will weed the beds around the Springs Center",
not "Robert (camp staff) wants us to...... " Some of this is simple
attitude, but we are also going to be intentional about trying to train
WC bosses this spring so they show up ready to lead in the job. I think
that WC bosses have always embraced the idea of leading their team
spiritually and even emotionally, but I think it would serve them well
to also clearly be the leader in the job tasks.
2. The fifth WC boss should be like a work crew general. He/she should
feel empowered to really lead the entire work crew, not just fill in for
the other bosses when they need a break. They are the boss of bosses.
Some examples:
They should have an understanding (and maybe even a chart) of who is
working when throughout the day. This would include their normal jobs
and also how they are working to help program. It would also include
routine things like quiet times and setting up for WC meals.
The program team should always come to the fifth boss when they need
help with program--it is his/her job to decide who can help with the
opera or club. If the program needs flour bombs for the field game Day
3, they should let the 5th boss know and let him/her decide who will
make them and when. The program team should not go to the dining hall
boss about setting up decorations for a theme meal. It may be that
there is a really tight turnaround already for that meal and it would
make more sense for the ODC to come in and help. Neither the Program
team, the DH boss nor the ODC boss have the information or authority to
make that decision--only the WC General would even think to do it.
A few 5th bosses have been committed to an mid-afternoon meeting for the
entire WC several times a week. They put their foot down and were
willing to work with camp staff to make sure that jobs still got done.
Agree upon a bedtime from day one for every WC kid and enforce it. This
is a simple obvious thing, but is hard to enforce. The bosses
communicate early on to WC kids whether they are bosses or buddies by
enforcing a bed time.
When decorating the dining hall for a meal know whether the property or program team is on point?
Prop prep? Water balloons, flour bombs, etc. Think two days ahead and decide whether summer staff or work crew can best meet these needs.
Feedback from Saranac
Feedback from Lake Champion
1) Utilizing the 5th "Head" WC boss for days off and being sure good communication plan/pathway is in place (i.e. changes in meal times for ODC and HK WC often not delivered.)
2) Collaborating with Camp Director about program philosophy and
discussion of the how the revised "Foundational Principles for Success" might affect program and WC schedules. Same in reference to devotional plan for kids.
3) Planning ahead for "Sabbath" - what is the team's philosophy? Is it best used for fun, rest, worship etc...
Feedback From Bosses
Brian Griffith – Pits @ Saranac
So what made work crew successful for you?
· Your relationship with the other work crew bosses is so important. I recommend Work Crew Bosses add the other WC Bosses into their weekly prayer schedule. If you pray for them leading up to the assignment, you will love them better during the assignment.
· It's important that people lead out of their gifts. I am not an organized person. Rawls like organization and being in charge. It was an absolute gift when he organized schedules, days off, and a variety of other administrative tasks when we served together. It gave him life. It gave me life. And we were more effective as a team. Too often teams don't utilize each others strengths.
· Personally, I think WC Bosses expect too much out of WC kids. I could go into more detail but I won't. Let's just say that these kids are busting their butts, for free, they often don't even get enough food, they live in a crap hole, they work harder than their bosses... and I still hear people complaining about them! It amazes me. I think it is important for WC Bosses to realize their job is to serve the kids, lead by example, and demonstrate Christ to each one of them as their Boss. A WC Bosses job is not to tell kids to work harder... although, sometimes that will need to be said. I think I did a good job of reminding kids why they are serving, I think I did a good job of working harder than any kid, and I think I was able to balance a necessary authoritative leading style while always being compassionate and sympathetic to their needs.
· WC Bosses manage WC kids work, but we are also responsible to help manage their spiritual lives too. WC Bosses need to help kids learn scripture, learn to study the bible, pray with them, etc. Amazingly, I do not think this happens enough and sometimes it doesn't happen at all! If kids are doing well with Christ, they will do well in the kitchen, dining hall, or wherever!
What principles or keys did you focus on as you approached the assignment?
· Time with the Lord is always important, but especially important before going into an assignment. This can't be stressed enough.
· Memorizing scripture is also very helpful. You will rely on those verses more than you realize.
· Exercise leading to an assignment is important. It's the hardest month of your life, you better be in shape for it. I started training for a half-marathon to get in shape to be pitts boss. It will help you stay healthy and energetic in weeks 2 & 3.
Do you have a copy of the letter you sent to kids?
· I don't have the letter but Rawls and/or Rob O'Donnell would.
How did you handle dress code?
· They should be expected to dress with high standards. We put the details in the letter we sent out.
· No religious t-shirts. I don't like it when kids where shirts with scripture, or crosses, or whatever. It makes us look like a church camp.
· This is more important for girls to handle because the majority of the problems come with the girl's dress code.
· I don't know why keeping their jobs a secret is such a big deal. I always argued that we should tell them what jobs they were likely to have, so they could come better prepared.I always lost this argument.
Music?
· I'm in the minority on this as well. I understand why we take away electronics, but I disagree. At Saranac there are two phones and they are constantly being used by campers. We make WC kids wait in line for 30 mins during their rare 30 minute break to talk to their parents. Then, they barely get to talk to their parents while making a camper wait during his or her free time. I can't believe more parents don't complain. A great question to ask kids at the end of each week is how many times did you talk to your parents. They almost always say zero. Zero! That's because they can't call them when it is convenient and their parents will be home. It's crazy. (Okay... my rant is done.) In conclusion, give kids their phones and just explain that it is a privilege and not a right. You can take the phone away if it becomes a problem, but give them a chance first.
· Let them keep their ipods too. Is it really the end of the world if they listen to secular music?
Curfew?
· When campers are in the cabins, WC is in the cabins.
· I don't think that WC and SS need to have the same curfew.
What property relationships were the best to maintain?
· WC Bosses need to have a good working relationship with the property staff in their field of responsibility.
How did you work time off for bosses?
· At Saranac we were able to schedule it in a way that allowed each WC Boss a full day off (12pm to 12pm). If you have a 5th WC Boss it is easy. Even if you don't, kids can pick up the slack. The Bosses aren't that important. It always gave my kids a great sense of satisfaction when they did a good job without me.
What was the key to your role as pits boss?
· Every kitchen has a procedure listed on the wall. Follow them. It sounds simple but few people actually follow the recommended procedure.
· Also, you have to be strict, hard working, picky, and really push them on the first week. You have to be almost over the top. Even though it is midnight, do more than you have to do. Then starting the second week you can ease off because they will already be trained with a mind for excellence. Too often WC bosses want to be liked or friends with the WC. This can be a slippery slope. They will like you if you help them get the job done.
Holly Hermes – Housekeeping at Lake Champion and Saranac
I like the principle of surrendering all of your rights for the month - everything we get in return for work (sabbath days, time off, snacks, use of camp) is all a privilege and should be unexpected! No sense of entitlement!
Scripture memory should be a part of work crew.
Devotionals should be discussed in small groups or with bosses on a regular basis.
We assigned kids jobs based on their leaders/staff recommendation - not necessarily their preferences.
We tried to have lunch together as bosses - or just sit at the same table during meals so we could have fellowship time and get on the same page.
Days off happened when the 5th work crew boss would fill in for us on a rotating basis. Sabbath consisted of mostly free-time and one structured activity after dinner - like movies, guitar hero, etc.
No one is done till everyone is done (housekeepers and grounds crew assist the dining hall when possible).
PRAY together everyday!
So much of kids spiritual growth on work crew happens in their time with the Lord and then their discussions with work crew bosses. I made an effort to get one-on-one with kids to ask deep questions and cast vision for their return home.
Curfew, dress code, and music were all addressed in the letter they got before coming and then again in our initial meeting. All were strictly enforced - better to start this way and then ease up instead of trying to tighten the belt on week 3.
It is important to maintain the relationships with the property staff directly above you in your specific job. The fifth work crew boss was able to attend the A-team/property meeting everyday and then relay info to the rest of us - which was great!
WORK ALONGSIDE KIDS - we lead by example - this can be hard, but it is SO effective and rewarding. BE WITH kids - great conversations happen sitting on the beach on sabbath day (which is their day off - not ours). It is so important to serve them well during their time off by loving them and having conversations with them. DO CONTACT WORK with them.
What an incredible privilege to live life-on-life with kids for a whole month - their leaders would LOVE to do this with them - so we should honor their leaders by making the most of every moment we have with them.
Be a boss when you're working, be a friend during time off, and be Christ to them always.
Courtney Coombs – Housekeeping at Saranac
What made the HK boss role work for you?
First, I loved being the HK boss. I was responsible for 10 kids - 6 girls, 4 boys. Within the group there were two strong leaders among the boys, and all the girls were pretty strong. When the kids do their jobs, I assigned 2 kids per building (2 girls - east, 2 girls - main, 2 boys - high peak & big slide, 2 boys - west) they work by themselves, so you really need kids you can count on and trust to do their jobs without your constant supervision - especially the boys as you can't go and check on their work. I did my best to delegate jobs to the kids, but also worked alongside them so they didn't see me as a dictator, it also encouraged good conversation. So, in short, the kids made the HK boss role work for me.
What were the key?
The key is selecting the kids for the role. Like I said above, you need to have at least two strong, responsible, motivated girls and guys to be the leaders among the group.
How did you approach the job from a spiritual and relational standpoint?
We tried to meet as a group once a day to talk about Jesus, and share testimonies. This got harder as the month continued. Housekeepers tend to have more free time than other jobs, as a result of that they tend to get misc. jobs assigned to them. One thing I would do differently is to protect that time, because that's why kids do work crew, to grow in their relationship with Christ, and fellowship with one another, they're going to serve, but those other two things were easy to lose in the shuffle. And because it was a small group, the relationships came naturally. I did plan some events for only the housekeepers, just to build that community between them.
How did you make sure your kids stayed connected to the rest of the crew?