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Bnot Jersey Girls Handbook
Summer 2018
(A comprehensive counselor guide to a safe fun and unforgettable summer)!
EXPECTATIONS & GOALS
Upon accepting this job we expect everyone to give 100% of themselves in every area at all times. We know you will be great, now’s your chance to prove it!
We’ve worked endlessly to plan a summer of a lifetime, now all we need is YOU to make it #1! We love you and we can’t wait to create the most amazing memories together! We’re so excited for all the fun to begin, and we know that as a team this summer is sure to rank top rate!
Here is your opportunity to have an effect on someone! Your efforts, energies and input will not go unnoticed! As a counselor in Bnot Jersey Girls you stand as a role model for all of your campers, co-workers and everyone around you.
A little girl hanging up a new calendar exclaimed, “It’s going to be a beautiful year.” A friend said, “How do you know?” A year is a long time, you never know what will happen.” “Yes,” the girl said, “but a day is not a long time. I will take one day at a time and make it beautiful. Years are only days put together and I will see that every day gets something beautiful in it.” “If you really do that,” replied the friend, “It will surely be a beautiful year.”
Wishing each and every one of you, our dear counselors, much hatzlacha this summer in camp Bnot Jersey Girls!
Love,
Esther Dayon & Rachel Avram
USEFULL TIPS
- THINK before you speak and do! Everyone has feelings and is sensitive to the way you behave. People will learn from you! Telling a child to be quiet can hurt! Showing favorites hurts more.
- LOVE!!! Every camper should feel more loved when she leaves camp then she felt when she came in the morning. If you learn one thing from this manual learn to love! You will only be loved back!
- STAY POSITIVE!!! It might be hot out or a very busy day but that same day can be sunny and full of energy! It’s your choice how it will turn out. Talk about how awesome camp is. Make a big deal out of everything & make it happen. If you talk about something coming up on the calendar and rev it up, and count down the days it will add so much more excitement to the activity etc. Kids are happy with an ice cream cone, imagine how happy they should be with all we do! Your campers should be on a high! Don't forget to smile!
- WHAT TO SAY? WHEN TO SAY IT? Try not to embarrass your campers. If they did something wrong you could approach them quietly in a loving manner. Never accuse a camper or blame them for something unless you saw it with your own eyes. Don’t pick sides. If you're not sure how to handle a situation please come to us, we're here to help. Obviously don’t speak badly about any of your campers. All the parents want to know is that their child is safe and happy! Always be reassuring when speaking with a parent. Be confident in telling them positive things about their child.
- DO, DO & DO! You are here to work and give your campers a good time! What’s more fun swimming with or without counselors? Playing with your counselors or letting them watch? Going on a ride with your counselor or alone? Do you want to be a good counselor?
- BE A “MENTCH”: Baruch Hashem we have an unbelievable air-conditioned facility that has so many things to offer. Please make it your priority to watch over it. Take responsibility for the actions of your campers. Balls should be played with in the gym or outdoors.
- MAKE A KIDDUSH HASHEM: We are so lucky that we can enjoy the summer going on so many special trips and outings. Remember to set the tone for your campers. We should always be viewed as the girls who go on trips in a dignified and refined manner. We should stand out from the crowd. Words like please and thank you should be frequent utterances. When traveling on buses, you are expected to take control of your group and make sure they stay seated and don’t use extremely loud voices. Please situate yourselves spread out at the front, middle, and rear of the bus so that you can control what is going on. It goes without saying that arms and heads must stay inside the windows.
THE DAILY ROUTINE
- ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY:
All absences and lateness will be deducted from your salary on a pro-rate basis. Each absence equals one days pay and each late equals half a days pay. If you plan to be absent or can't come for any reason, it is your responsibility to find a suitable replacement. The camp must approve of your replacement ahead of time.
- BUS COUNSELORS:
Nobody is allowed to get off the bus anywhere unless otherwise indicated on your attendance sheet of the day. It is your duty to make sure the bus remains under control. Voices should be kept down and everyone must remain sitting at all times!!! Garbage must be thrown away!
Before getting off the bus at camp or at your home you MUST check the entire bus for any sleeping children or valuables. As always, if any issues arise please notify the head staff so we can handle the situation.
Bus Emergencies:
Bus counselors will be held responsible to perform emergency evacuation bus drills and record results in the logbook.
In case of emergency when riding a bus:
Concerning Bus counselors AND counselors -When the evacuation alarm goes off, all people in the bus must evacuate in a quick and orderly manner using front and back exits. Once outside the bus, the bus counselor/counselor should take attendance for all campers in their charge. The camp director must be notified and will take account for all staff members. If someone is unaccounted for the camp director must be informed immediately and will advise of any further measures that should be taken.
- ARRIVING IN CAMP:
K-4th grade counselors: By the time your campers begin to arrive you must be waiting for them with SMILES in the gym. Each group will have a designated spot for them to line up. Morning songs and cheers will soon begin and of course your motions and voices should be seen and heard.
5th-9th grade counselors: By the time your campers begin to arrive you should be waiting for them upstairs in their designated rooms.
- PRAYING:
5th-9th grade counselors are expected to supervise and make sure that their campers are praying and the room remains quiet so that everyone can concentrate.
COUNSELORS OF ALL AGES MUST PRAY AT HOME!
- TAKING ATTENDANCE:
Your attendance sheet must be attached to you!!!!
You must always know where every one of your campers is at all times! No camper should ever be found roaming without his/her group or be found lost! For this reason you should take attendance before and after each activity. There is absolutely NO COUNTING HEADS allowed!!! It is suggested that campers be assigned a buddy.
If a child tells you they are being picked up early or by dismissal, you must notify the office. You have no right to take a child home without notifying the parent and the office. You may not let a child go to her friend’s house without a note and without telling the office. Even if a child tells you they are going to their friends house you must check with the office and have consent from the parent. Train your campers to tell you by lunch time about any plans they might have for after camp so that it doesn’t cause havoc during dismissal.
If a child is absent it would be so nice of you to call that night to make sure she’s feeling o.k. and to tell her she was missed. If a child is absent for 2 consecutive days you must call her to check in and notify the camp mother of her absentees. The supply room manager can make a card for you to send home to her.
If at any time in or outside of camp, someone is unaccounted for, the counselor whose camper is missing must immediately inform the camp director and follow any instructions given.
u IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
When an alarm goes off, EVERYONE in the building should immediately evacuate in a quick and orderly manner. Campers should line up in the field along the fence. Once outside counselors MUST take attendance of their campers. The camp director will account for all staff members. If someone is unaccounted for the counselor who is in charge of the missing child should immediately inform the camp director! Everyone should remain in place until further directions are given!
- RESPONSIBILITY:
- SCHEDULE:
Preschool counselors alike must make sure the day runs smooth and everything in your power is done to enhance the schedule and make it as fun and safe as possible. During the course of each and every activity throughout the day you are expected to HAPPILY AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE! (Ex: swim, in the classroom, gym time, outdoors, trips, show time…
- SWIM:
- RSS:
- DISMISSAL:
CAMP RULES:
- FOOD POLICY:
We do not allow any foods containing nuts or traces of nuts in camp or at any camp activities. All snacks sent to camp must be sealed in their original packages and anything containing nuts must be confiscated. Remember to be sensitive to the child and try to arrange to give her another snack. Telling the office to notify the childs home so that they don’t send such snacks again would be a great idea.
All counselors must pay for all canteen products they wish to have.
- CAMPER DRESS CODE:
- CAMPER CELL PHONE POLICY:
- COUNSELOR DRESS CODE:
- COUNSELOR CELL PHONE POLICY:
The head staff members will take away your phone if you are found using it. Of course playing videos and or unapproved music is unacceptable. We especially don’t want to have to take away anybody’s belongings, so please make it easy for us and stay off your phones! You may never allow a camper to use your cell phone. Please come to the office with your camper if they need to make a call. REMINDER: You may not speak to any parents regarding their child or any other child without consent from the office.
- AFTER CAMP MEETINGS:
- THANK YOU: