INTRODUCTION:

Your cabin is home for this week (or week-end). Not only your home, but home for your kids. Here are several proven tips on making it work.

I. SET YOURSELF—attitude! Alert! Inform yourself as to the what, where and when of this "Camp Week" in order to have confidence and lead.

II. SIZE UP YOUR CABIN!!

A. Who do you have...not only the individuals but the combination of those individuals and the chemestry they form together.

B. Remember—they are sizing up...

1. You!
2. The cabin.
3. The camp.

C. Start fair but firm—Set the pace THE FIRST NIGHT!

NOTE: The first night and day they will test you...to find your limits!

III. GAIN CONTROL—Take Over. Exploit the situation (new environment) to your advantage!

A. Authority is an attitude—a bearing—take the initiative. NOTE: Take your bed first! Don't let them "tell you" but rather "ask you". Caution! In the vacuum of leadership, leadership develops!

B. On the other hand, camp has no room for "little Napoleons" or would be "drill sergeants." This motive for authority or control is sick.

IV. FIND YOUR LEADERS.

1. Find your leaders, become their leader and lead them.
2. Show yourself sharp—gain their respect!
3. What do leaders respect? Who do they follow? Someone sharper than they are. All leaders are good communicators ... communicate!

V. WHAT HAVE WE HERE?

1. Let your campers know who you are and why you are here! Find out who they are, where they are from.
2. Learn their names FAST!
3. Dynamite combinations? Watch your combinations closely.

NOTE: Get some tape & write the camper's name on the tape and attach it to each bed. Helps to learn names fast.

VI. SHEPHERDING: Shepherd Your Flock.

1. Know where they are—who is up, who is down, who is in, who is out!
2. Look for opportunities to talk with your kids when they are alone!
3. Sit with them in services. Be alert. Know where they are at all times.

VII. HEALTH—Good health is essential to have a good camp. Food and sleep.

1. Push your campers to eat. Breakfast is a must.
2. Discourage sweets—pumping sugar & caffeine in the cabin!
3. "Try" to get the crew to sleep early. Good luck on this.

VIII. TONIGHT—The first night. This is THE night! Your test! Pass it!

1. Let them know what you expect your cabin to be. Courteous, cooperative, quiet at night, no one having fun at another's expense.
2. Ask nothing unreasonable.
3. You may have to unteach. Some kids have had miles to plan what they are going to do ... at your expense. Veteran campers can be tough!
4. Our cabin will be different!
5. When all else fails use ... "Common sense!"
6. Do not sweat the small stuff, unless it starts to get out of hand.
7. Discipline must be Fair, Firm and Fast. Don't let yourself get emotionally involved in the discipline, it's for the campers or cabin's good!
   1. Just enough discipline to do the job. Reasonable!
   2. Do not ever make a statement you cannot, will not, or do not intend to keep or enforce.
   3. Go after big issues—obvious wrongs.

8. Make all rules fair and reasonable.

IX. BUILD A TEAM—Build a little unit. A flock! Develop ownership.

1. You as their counsellor are the glue and spirit.
2. Agreement: "Kids, you work with me, I'll work with you!"

X. ONE OF THE BOYS—Don't be one of the guys—or a Big Buddy! Don't function at their level. If you do, it will come back to haunt you!

1. Be yourself.
2. Act your age.
3. Assume your position! Leader!

XI. CABIN CONTROL: Never leave your cabin to chase kids! When you leave, your control goes too. No cabin raids or retaliation for raids. Cabin raids can easily get out of hand. Once that kind of momentum starts it's hard to stop and can come to a painful end.

XII. FRIDAY NIGHT—The problem night! Caution! The last night can destroy what you have built all week! Friday night can blow up if you don't keep it under control!

Preempt "counter-productive" plans in a casual, firm way. Let them know YOUR plans.

TAKE CHARGE, YOUR CAMPERS EXPECT YOU TO!