The role of a camp director: nothing basic about it.

Gordie Kaplan, the facilitator, raised his hand and waited for silence. After all, that is how a crowd of noisy campers is quieted at camp. One by one, the hands around me went up and the noise lowered to a whisper before disappearing. A vague memory of summer camp and raising the Girl Scout sign came to my mind.

We gathered in small circles and tossed a ball of newspaper to one another, saying our name as we tossed. Eventually, we graduated to saying the name of the person we tossed the ball to.

So began the Basic Camp Director Course (BCDC) at the American Camping Association national conference in Orlando. Camp signals, camp ice breakers, camp talk, camp people. All gathered because of a deep passion not quite defined, a longing to know more, to meet others like them, and to be better camp directors.

"The life of a camp director is a lonely one," Gordie began. "That's why we've brought you together, so you don't feel alone anymore."

Indeed, for many, networking turned out to be the single most important element of the course. This group of camp directors discovered they were as diverse as their campers. They represented 22 states and five countries, various religious beliefs, different races, and varied social and economic backgrounds. They directed camps for boys and for girls, for children with cancer and children with disabilities. Some have directed camp for many years. Others are about to direct camp for the first time. Some opened their dream camps last summer. Others hope to open theirs soon.

The primary goal of the Basic Camp Director Course is to provide participants with an overview of the 13 core areas of the Organized Camp Body of Knowledge. Throughout the course, we learned about philosophies and objectives, health and safety, organizational designs, staffing, budget and finance, camper growth and development, evaluation, working with special populations, programming, marketing and public relations, food service, and much more. Many participants found they already knew at least as much as the speakers in some areas. They simply hadn't taken the time to think about and reflect on that knowledge.

"I know it's important to have a camp philosophy," one camp director said. "Ours was written by someone years ago. I haven't reviewed it recently to make sure it really reflects what our camp is today."

Working in small groups, directors discovered who ran similar programs, worked with similar clientele, and most importantly, what they did that works.

What did they learn overall?

"...more about who I am, as a per son and a camp director."

"...ever' though I have to make the decisions myself; I don't have to go through it all alone. I have peers with whom to share ideas and solutions."

"...great program ideas."

"... better ways to approach staff problem solving"

".. that everyone feels somewhat overwhelmed by the administrative aspects. "

"...ways to keep involved with the kids. "

"...things I won't even begin to process until they come up at camp."

As managing editor of Camping Magazine, my objective for the course was to learn more about what camp directors need to know in order to run their camps successfully. I learned the most from the questions they asked. As a result, future issues of the magazine will address more of the practical nuts and bolts operations of camp.

I also gained a deeper understanding of the complex life of a director, as well as an appreciation for the many hats a camp director must wear each day. There is nothing basic about being a good camp director. The above list of characteristics is just the beginning. Many of the people I grew to call friends in those few, short days are blessed with the ability to create a special, safe, and beautiful world worthy of a child.

RELATED ARTICLE: What is a camp director?

  Jack of all trades
      organizer
    morale officer
    people person
      diplomat
      mediator
      listener
     role model
    administrator
      motivator
    decision maker
     communicator
       trainer
        host
  financial manager
       friend
     confidante
     visionary
   disciplinarian
   legal advisor
   compassionate,
  flexible leader
with a sense of humor

List composed by BCDC participants.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tips from the BCDC:

To minimize the spread of communicable diseases:

1. sleep campers heads to toes

2. have everyone wash hands for 10 seconds with liquid soap

3. turn your dance into a space dance; there must be space between dance partners

4. eat meals outside in small groups

-- Linda Erceg

Are your campers writing home about dull days? When is your writing time? Chances are, if campers are writing at a slow, boring part of the day, that's what they'll write home about! Try a recap of the fun times just before letter writing.

--Edie Klein

More tips to come in future issues of Camping Magazine!

Camp directors interested in taking the BCDC may contact ACA's education department for the next available course.