Santa Clara County 4-H Camp Manual Staff Positions:
(click on the position for explanation of duties)

Adult Director
Arts and Crafts
Camper's Choice
Campfire
Chaperone
CLOVER CAMP DIRECTOR
Cook
Family Head
Jr. Cook
Lifeguard
Nurse
Photographer
Recreation
Reporter
Safety Coordinator
Youth Director


General Information:
All staff members need to be aware of their responsibilities toward rules, family participation, preparation prior to camp,
work at camp, commitment as staff member.
Each staff member should be a role model for campers.
Each staff member should be given a list of responsibilities for before, during and after camp.
Each staff position must submit written and oral progress reports at staff meetings.
Staff members need to teach/inform each other about activities where their help may be needed including campfire songs,
reporter activities (gossip, E-hugs, etc.), recreation, etc.
Staff members should be given any past information that might be help including campfire song sheets, old camp annuals,
old menus, old campfire plans etc.
Camp directors should keep an inventory of resources.
Chaperones will be encouraged to participate in family activities. They should meet with family heads to discuss their role.

 

Adult Director

Number of Staff members: 2-3

Qualifications: At least 25 years old, experience working with camp

Responsibilities:

Select youth directors with committee, assist youth directors in selecting staff and family heads, work with campgrounds to secure facilities, work with youth directors, staff, and chaperones, attend all staff meetings

Before Camp:

  1. Get camp reservations, dates, contracts etc.
  2. Meet with camp about pool, dance, firewood, refrigerator, garbage, recreation facilities at main camp
  3. Work with youth directors in planning meetings
  4. Advise youth directors
  5. Visit camp to see status of facilities
  6. Prepare and send out camp applications and camper information. packets
  7. Prepare youth director and staff applications
  8. Select youth directors with committee (previous year’s youth directors, council V.P, and two leaders)
  9. Prepare chaperone applications, choose and orient chaperones.

During Camp:

  1. Attend nightly staff meetings
  2. Advise youth directors as they resolve problems and conflicts
  3. Assist youth directors if needed
  4. Supervise registration
  5. Ensure safety of all campers
  6. Write an incident report on any serious code of conduct violation.

After Camp:

  1. Make sure camp is cleaned up
  2. Assist youth directors in setting up staff wrap-up meeting/post camp party
  3. Gather all information for file and make sure all equipment is stored properly
  4. Evaluate camp
  5. Insure that suppliers are paid and volunteer expenses are reimbursed.

Arts and Crafts

Number of Staff members: 3 minimum

Qualifications: 7th or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports for each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, plan craft activities, lead craft activities at camp

Before Camp:

  1. Inventory craft boxes. Make arrangements for transporting craft boxes to and from camp.
  2. Plan a number of small on-going craft projects and activities (warm fuzzies, lanyards, etc.)
  3. Plan a couple of larger one-time projects and activities (tie-dye, tee-shirt painting, c
     
    andles, etc.)
  4. List and purchase needed supplies
  5. Teach family heads/staff how to do certain activities if necessary
  6. Inform family heads/staff what projects/activities will be available, any rules or other information that needs told to campers
  7. Make sample craft projects to show campers what they can make
  8. Inform directors of any special things campers should bring eg: shirts for tie-dye etc. (put in camper packet)

During Camp:

  1. Announce any special projects for the day at flag raising
  2. Inform staff of schedule at nightly staff meetings and daily family head meetings
  3. Set-up crafts area
  4. Supervise area clean-up after each scheduled craft time
  5. Assist members in making projects
  6. Keep crafts area clean
  7. Attend nightly staff meetings
  8. Be a role model for campers

After Camp:

  1. Organize, inventory, clean -up craft area/boxes
  2. Put a list of supplies in storage box and one in file
  3. Arrange for permanent storage of the boxes
  4. Clean-up camp
  5. Evaluate camp

Camper's Choice

Number of Staff members: 1-2 (may be Photographer and Safety Coordinator)

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, organize and schedule camper’s choice activities

Before Camp:

  1. Contact staff, chaperones, campers, other members 7th grade and above who have been to camp to see if they are interested in leading an activity. Publish T.T. article asking for campers’ choice activities.
  2. Schedule the activities
  3. Work with activity leaders to organize activities and arrange for purchasing and transportation of supplies as necessary
  4. Check with University Extension staff to see if they can present a campers’ choice activity
  5. Attend all staff meetings
  6. Determine how campers will sign up for activities (On camp applications? On camp "welcome" form?
  7. Work with activity leaders to determine if there are age, time, or number of participant restrictions

During Camp:

  1. Attend nightly staff meetings
  2. Be a role model for campers
  3. Explain camper’s choice rules at opening ceremony
  4. Announce daily camper’s choice activities
  5. Supervise daily activities
  6. Work with activity leaders

After Camp:

  1. Clean-up camp
  2. Note which activities were popular and which didn’t work well.
  3. Evaluate camp

Campfire

Number of Staff members: 3 (minimum) to 4 (maximum)

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, and plan activities for campfire each night (approx. 2hrs per night)

Before Camp:

  1. Make song sheets
  2. Learn and teach songs to staff/family heads (give them sheets)
  3. Plan songs for flag raising and lowering
  4. Make up games for "Suzy and Stanley", lost name tags, etc.
  5. Plan nightly activities for campfire—plan for approx. 3 hr.
  6. Make outline of activities for each night
  7. Purchase supplies if needed
  8. Rehearse campfire
  9. Work w/ other staff (reporter, recreation, etc.) that need time at campfire
  10. Plan activities for families to earn spirit points

During Camp:

  1. Attend nightly staff meetings
  2. Be ready to call flag raising and lowering each day
  3. Make wake up call each morning
  4. Start "Suzy and Stanley" each morning
  5. Inform families when skits will be done at opening ceremony
  6. At first campfire go over campfire rules (no flashlights on, dress warmly, bring flashlights, etc.)
  7. Be a role model for campers
  8. Attend nightly staff meetings
  9. Keep tally of family spirit points

After Camp:

  1. Clean-up and organize materials
  2. Give one copy of schedule of activities and songs to director for file
  3. Clean-up camp
  4. Evaluate camp

Chaperone

Number of Staff members: 1 chaperone per ten campers + one

Qualifications: Must be certified 4-H leader and twenty-one years old or older

Responsibilities:

Camp is a leadership training experience for the youth directors and staff thus chaperones should allow the youth staff to handle problems. Chaperones’ primary role is assuring camp safety and acting as an adult backup to the youth staff. Chaperones may drive campers’ luggage and supplies to and from camp and transport campers at camp.

Before Camp:

  1. Attend chaperone meeting
  2. Meet with staff and family heads

During Camp:

  1. Intervene immediately in situations where a camper’s safety is threatened.
  2. Refer less urgent problems to youth directors and staff.
  3. Participate in family and camper activities
  4. Lead a campers’ choice activity
  5. Assist staff and family heads in handling conflicts and problems when necessary
  6. Assist staff and family heads in leading activities when necessary.
  7. Take campers on hikes, drive to polar bear swim and/or dance
  8. Have fun and relax!

After Camp:

  1. Assist with clean-up
  2. Evaluate camp

CLOVER CAMP DIRECTOR

Number of Staff members: 1-3

Responsibilities:

Work with Adult Clover Director to coordinate Clover Day at camp.

Plan activities and things to do with the clovers while working through the other staff to coordinate the activities.

Cook

Number of Staff members: At least 2 adults

Qualifications: Cooking experience for large groups and knowledge of the camp facilities

Responsibilities:

Prepare menu, calculate proportions, purchase food and cooking supplies, prepare and serve meals each day at camp (approx. 100 people), work with staff/family heads. Supervise and train junior cooks.

Before Camp: (all to be done with Jr. Cooks)

  1. Inventory cooking supplies
  2. Prepare menu—have staff give input ( at least 2 months before camp)
  3. Calculate amount of food needed
  4. Work with camp and/or directors to coordinate milk purchase and refrigerator and freezer use
  5. Check to see "cook shack" is in working order
  6. Explain K.P., runners, and family table clean-up at staff meeting
  7. Attend staff meetings
  8. Purchase food and cooking supplies
  9. Arrange for transportation of supplies and food to and from camp

During Camp: (all to be done with Jr. Cooks)

  1. Prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
  2. Keep kitchen organized and clean
  3. Assist Jr. Cooks in giving K.P. directions
  4. Give Jr. Cooks an opportunity to lead and take responsibility in the kitchen as is appropriate
  5. Participate in family activities during free time

After Camp: (all to be done with Jr. Cooks)

  1. Clean up "cook shack", inventory supplies (one copy in box, one in file)
  2. Evaluate meals, menu, etc. with Jr. Cooks
  3. Give one copy of menu, recipes, and proportions, etc. to director for file
  4. Make sure all extra food and supplies are transported from camp and stored as necessary

 

Family Head

Number of Staff members: 2 per family, preferably 1 male and 1 female and 1 experienced w/ one less experienced

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, keep family united and organized, make sure everyone is included in activities and feeling part of the group

Before Camp:

  1. Make list of activities, skits, ice-breakers to use at camp
  2. Work with other staff to become familiar with the weeks activities
  3. Be familiar with all rules and be prepared to follow and enforce them
  4. Work with partner to prepare family activities
  5. Attend special family head training workshops

During Camp:

  1. Attend daily family head meetings
  2. Meet campers at parking lot—lead them down to campground (may need to lead more than one group down)
  3. Help campers get set-up and clean
  4. Lead ice-breakers
  5. Organize family for meetings, skits, family recreation
  6. Know where all family members are staying
  7. Make sure all members are present at meals before runner is sent
  8. Make sure all members are having fun, involved
  9. Be a role model for campers
  10. Attend daily family head meetings

After Camp:

  1. Clean camp
  2. Evaluate camp

Jr. Cook

Number of Staff members: 2-4

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with adult cooks, prepare menu, calculate proportions, purchase food and cooking supplies, prepare and serve meals each day at camp (approx. 100 people), work with staff, and adult cooks

Before Camp: (all to be done with Adult Cooks)

  1. Inventory cooking supplies
  2. Prepare menu—have staff/family heads give input ( at least 2 months before camp)
  3. Calculate amount of food needed
  4. Work with camp and/or directors to coordinate milk and ice cream purchasing and refrigerator use
  5. Check to see "cook shack" is in working order
  6. Explain K.P., runners, and family table clean-up at staff meeting
  7. Attend all staff meetings
  8. Purchase food and cooking supplies
  9. Arrange for transportation of supplies and food to and from camp

During Camp: (all to be done with Adult Cooks)

  1. Prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
  2. Keep kitchen organized and clean
  3. Give K.P. directions
  4. Take lead and responsibility in the kitchen as appropriate
  5. Participate in family activities during free time
  6. Attends nightly staff meetings
  7. Be a role model for campers

After Camp: (all to be done with Adult Cooks)

  1. Clean up "cook shack", inventory supplies (one copy in box, one in file)
  2. Evaluate meals, menu, etc. with Adult Cooks
  3. Give one copy of menu, recipes, and proportions, etc. to director for file
  4. Make sure all extra food and supplies are transported from camp and stored as necessary

Lifeguard

Number of Staff members: 2-3

Description:

Lifeguards are responsible for the pool safety of all the campers.

Lifeguards establish the rules and schedules of all pool-related activities in camp.

As always, you must remember that the campers are first and foremost, kids.

They make mistakes. Just be sure to enforce the pool rules,

give them warnings when they break them, and time outs if necessary.

Basic pool rules: No diving and no running on the deck.

Have fun with it! Just remember that you are responsible for

everything that happens on the pool deck. Go ahead a jump in the

water every once in a while, organize pool games with the kids, and

sit back in the sun for a nice tan. BUT, your responsibility as a

LIFEGUARD is to GUARD the LIVES of those in the pool.

Qualifications:

1. Current Lifeguard certification. - indicate your current certification of if you will need to attend training

2. Current CPR certification (professional rescuer preferred, but regular CPR O.K.)

3. Previous lifeguard experience preferred

Before Camp:

  1. 1. Establish Pool Rules
  2. Prepare menu—have staff/family heads give input ( at least 2 months before camp)
  3. 2. Plan Pool activities and schedule

During Camp:

  1. 1. Lifeguard all pool activity
  2. a) Campers swimming
  3. b) Clovers swimming
  4. c) Instructional periods?
  5. 2. Manage pool area
  6. Attends nightly staff meetings

After Camp:

  1. 1. Clean up camp
  2. 2. Evaluate Camp

Nurse

Number of Staff members: 1

Qualifications: Advanced first aide and CPR training, Registered Nurse or Paramedic preferred.

Responsibilities:

Administer medicine and first aid as needed.

Before Camp:

  1. Review all medical release and nurse forms for special medical issues.
  2. Make note of campers coming with medicine, allergies, or other health problems
  3. Meet with staff/family heads to go over any special rules, etc.
  4. Attend chaperone meeting and go over any special rules, etc.
  5. Work with safety coordinator to get emergency information
  6. Organize and stock first aide box as needed

During Camp:

  1. Collect medicine from campers as they arrive
  2. Go over medical release forms with parents if available
  3. Administer medicine to campers as needed
  4. Administer first aide as needed
  5. Participate in family activities
  6. Have fun and relax

After Camp:

  1. Inventory and organize first aide box. Leave one copy in box and one for file.
  2. Suggest improvements to first aide box and nurse forms.
  3. Evaluate camp

 

Photographer

Number of Staff members: 1

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, prepare camp album, and distribute camp photo.

Before Camp:

  1. Determine how camp photo will be taken and how it will be distributed
  2. Purchase film and supplies
  3. Determine how other camp photos can be purchased (cost and distribution)

During Camp:

  1. Attend nightly staff meetings
  2. Be a role model for campers
  3. Take photos of activities throughout camp

After Camp:

  1. Prepare camp album
  2. Make photos in album available for purchase
  3. Distribute camp photos and photos purchased
  4. Clean-up camp
  5. Evaluate camp

Recreation

Number of Staff members: 2-3

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings; prepare written progress reports for each meeting; work with other staff members; purchase supplies as necessary; plan and leads daily family activities; and plan other recreation activities.

Before Camp:

  1. Inventory camp recreation supplies
  2. Prepare family volleyball schedule, Ping-Pong, etc.
  3. Prepare daily family competitions—games, rules, supplies, point system, etc.
  4. Purchase supplies, prizes, etc. (volleyball, Ping-Pong balls, badminton supplies, football)
  5. For more involved activities explain rules to staff and family heads
  6. Work with campfire and/or reporter as necessary
  7. Explain rules for using equipment with staff and family heads
  8. Attend nightly staff meetings

During Camp:

  1. Inform campers of free time activities available—Ping-Pong, volleyball, etc. at opening ceremony
  2. Explain rules for using equipment at opening ceremony
  3. Lead daily family competitions, volleyball games
  4. Keep equipment organized and stored properly when not in use
  5. Keep score for family competitions -post scores each day and/or announce at campfire
  6. Announce family winners at closing ceremonies
  7. Be a role model for campers
  8. Attend nightly staff meetings
  9. Remain at camp first day of camp to help campers get settled and to lead games once enough campers have arrived

After Camp:

  1. Organize and inventory equipment
  2. Make arrangements for storage of equipment
  3. Put a list of supplies in storage box and one in file
  4. Clean-up camp
  5. Evaluate camp

Reporter

Number of Staff members: 1 -3

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports for each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, and prepare camp annual

Before Camp:

  1. Get lists of family names, staff members, family members, chaperones etc.
  2. Prepare and copy cover, staff pages, family list pages in advance
  3. Prepare Camp Most sheets
  4. Gather supplies for Gossip, 20 Years from Now, E-Hugs etc. (pencils, paper, cans)
  5. Arrange for use of typewriter/computer/printer
  6. Decide what "cans" will be part of the annual
  7. Inform staff about the annual, Gossip, 20 Years from Now, advice column, family pages to be made at camp etc. Encourage staff to participate in activities
  8. Have draft annual pages reviewed by directors
  9. Arrange for secret pals at camp

During Camp:

  1. Explain "cans" at Opening Ceremony
  2. Collect papers from "cans" 1-2hrs before campfire each day, decide what ones to read, have a few staff and/or directors assist if necessary
  3. Read Gossip, E-Hugs etc. at campfire each day
  4. Make sure enough paper and pencils are available
  5. Work on other pages for annual throughout camp
  6. Have families fill out Camp Mosts last day of camp
  7. Compile Camp Mosts and finish final touches for annual before dance on last night. Copy annual at dance.
  8. Pass out annuals at Closing Ceremony.
  9. Be a role model for campers.
  10. Attend nightly staff meetings.
  11. Explain and coordinate secret pals with campfire.

After Camp:

  1. Save one copy of annual for file
  2. Clean-up and organize materials
  3. Clean-up camp
  4. Evaluate camp

Safety Coordinator

Number of Staff members: 1

Qualifications: 7th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Attend all staff meetings, prepare written progress reports at each meeting, work with other staff members, purchase supplies as necessary, lead fire drill, tend campfire, be familiarity with emergency procedures

Before Camp:

  1. Inform local fire and police of camp dates and location
  2. Work with directors to get firewood
  3. Plan fire drill
  4. Be familiar with emergency procedures and escape routes as listed in safety manual
  5. Inform staff and chaperones of emergency procedures
  6. Inform staff of safety rules so they can enforce them
  7. Work with nurse and main camp staff on emergency procedures, locations of hospitals, fire department

During Camp:

  1. Attend nightly staff meetings
  2. Start campfire each morning
  3. Tend campfire during the day and put it out at night properly
  4. Inform campers of safety rules and enforce them
  5. Lead fire drill during first day of camp and surprise drill at another time

After Camp:

  1. Clean-up camp
  2. Up-date safety manual as needed
  3. Evaluate camp

Youth Director

Number of Staff members: 2

Qualifications: Previous leadership at camp and 11th grade or above

Responsibilities:

Pick staff and family heads with adult directors; assign families; lead staff/family head meetings; with adult directors evaluate chaperone applications, contact cook and nurse; plan schedule with staff; prepare articles for T.T.

Before Camp:

  1. Pick staff and family heads w/ adult directors
  2. Set up and lead staff/family head meetings
  3. Give articles to T. T. editor as needed
  4. Lead family head training workshops
  5. Plan schedule
  6. Work with staff to make sure they understand their responsibilities, role at camp and rules
  7. Work with adult director in leading chaperone meeting
  8. Make sure staff members are keeping up to date in planning their activities
  9. Orientated staff/family heads, nurse, chaperones, cook
  10. Make arrangements for name tags, T-shirts, camp photo
  11. Visit camp to see status of facilities
  12. Collect and organize camp applications and money
  13. Assign campers into families
  14. Prepare and send out camp applications and camper information. packets

During Camp:

  1. Leads nightly staff and daily family head meetings
  2. Organizes and leads opening ceremony
  3. Inform campers of all camp rules
  4. Make sure activities are running smoothly –assist staff as needed
  5. Resolves conflicts as they occur
  6. Be a role model for staff and campers
  7. Prepare written evaluation to be done by families as a group and by staff/family heads, chaperones, nurse, cook, directors individually
  8. One director should check campers in at registration and other should stay at camp to supervise staff helping campers set-up

After Camp:

  1. Make sure camp is cleaned up
  2. Plan and lead staff wrap -up meeting/post camp party to evaluate camp as a whole/go over evaluations
  3. Gather all information for file and make sure all equipment is stored properly
  4. Evaluate camp
  5. Meet with adult directors to evaluate and improve camp manual, applications, and other materials
  6. Help to choose next year's youth directors

 

 

Back to Home