STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE - Camp Green Acres

80 Pages·2016·2.18 MB·English

STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE
2018
Includes:
ALL-STAR SPORTS CAMP,
CEDAR CREEK RIDING CAMP & SPECIALTY CAMP

This Staff Handbook is Copyright 2018, with All Rights Reserved. This handbook may not be copied
or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Green Acres Day Camp Inc.
© 2018 Green Acres Day Ca mp Inc., 11123 Kennedy Road, Markham Ontario L6C 1P2 [phone]

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Welcome To Camp Green Acres .........................................................................................................4
Our Programs .....................................................................................................................................5
Camp Lingo!........................................................................................................................................6
Head Staff Roles..................................................................................................................................9
Unit Head (Uh)...................................................................................................................................10
Assistant Unit Head (Auh).................................................................................................................10
Important Dates 2018........................................................................................................................13
Job Descriptions - Very Important!!!...................................................................................................14
Overview Of Counsellor Responsibilities...........................................................................................15
Heat And Sun Safety.........................................................................................................................18
Extreme Heat Policy..........................................................................................................................18
Responsibilities: Specialty Supervisors & Assistants, Sports Instructors, Creative Specialists - Very
Important............................................................................................................................................19
Your Job As A Counsellor ..................................................................................................................21
Your Job As A Specialist/Instructor....................................................................................................24
Swim Staff..........................................................................................................................................26
Riding Instructors/Staff......................................................................................................................27
Staff Tuck Shop .................................................................................................................................29
Health Centre.....................................................................................................................................29
Camp Office.......................................................................................................................................29
Staff Responsibilities In The Camp Transportation System...............................................................30
If You Are Going To Be Absent From Camp.......................................................................................33
Job Evaluations .................................................................................................................................33
Health & Safety Awareness At Camp Green Acres In 4 Steps..........................................................44
Green Acres Policies For Alcohol, Drugs, Internet, Cell Phones And Harassment............................46
Staff Policies......................................................................................................................................47
Internet Policy Statement...................................................................................................................48
Staff Alcohol & Drug Policy................................................................................................................49
Progressive Discipline.......................................................................................................................50
Grounds For Dismissal......................................................................................................................51
Dress Code Policy.............................................................................................................................52
Public Contact....................................................................................................................................52
Health And Safety Policies.................................................................................................................53
Workplace Violence And Harassment Prevention Policy And Progam..............................................54
Staff Illness........................................................................................................................................60
Accident Occurrence Report Policy...................................................................................................62
Completion Bonus And Absences......................................................................................................63
Staff Breaks - ****New And Important................................................................................................64
Your Safety At Camp ........................................................................................................................65
Emergency Procedures.....................................................................................................................66
Caring For A Child With An Anaphylactic Allergy...............................................................................69
Staff Recs..........................................................................................................................................71
Camp-Wide Thursday 'Theme Days'.................................................................................................72
Other Good Times To Look Forward To.............................................................................................73
Daily Schedule (Traditional Camp)....................................................................................................74
Friday Modified Schedule (Traditional Camp) ...................................................................................75
Dismissal Times.................................................................................................................................76
All-Star Sports Camp Schedule.........................................................................................................77
One Week Specialty Camps (Mycamp) Schedule.............................................................................78
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To Bring Or Not To Bring!...................................................................................................................79
Partners In Parenting – How We Deal With Behaviour Issues..........................................................83
Dos And Don’ts Of Dealing With Campers........................................................................................84
Parent Communication......................................................................................................................86
How Parents Should Contact The Camp...........................................................................................87
Camp Song: Where You Belong ......................................................................................................89
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WELCOME TO CAMP GREEN ACRES
This is your summer and we want you to get the most out of it!! Working at camp with children can
be both challenging and rewarding. It is the staff who bring the enthusiasm, creativity, dedication
and co-operation to camp everyday that are also the most successful and the happiest. We are so
proud to have so many staff who come back every year and refer to us as “their home away from
home”! We hope that you have an amazing summer job experience with us and keep coming back
year after year!
This handbook will help you get started on your journey. It communicates our commitment to great
leadership, great staff and great programs. To be a part of Green Acres is to work hard, enjoy your-
self to the fullest, learn new skills, become part of a close cohesive team and build friendships which
last a lifetime.
Welcome to the Green Acres Role Model team. We wish you a successful and memorable summer!
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OUR PROGRAMS
Camp Green Acres - A Traditional Day Camp:
Campers are grouped together by age and gender and with the leadership of amazing counsellors,
together they bond and grow and experience all that GA has to offer. From swim, art, sports,
performing arts and outdoor adventures, Traditional Campers always have something new and
exciting to do.
The goal is for each camper to grow in knowledge, self-respect and self-esteem, skill development,
leadership and co-operation.
All-Star Sports Camp - For Campers Who Love Sports:
Campers choose one major sport for their morning activity and two minor sports for their afternoon
activity. Raptors Campers (SK/Gr. 1) will be given a weekly schedule and have the opportunity to
participate in 10 different sports. Campers also have a daily recreational swim.
Cedar Creek Riding Camp - For Campers Who Love Horses:
The riding program provides a balance between riding instruction, stable management, general
activities and more. Campers are taught how to ride and care for their horse.
MyCamp – 1-WK Specialty Camps - AUGUST ONLY:
Campers register for weekly specialty camps in the following streams: STEM, Performing Arts, Fine
Arts and Outdoor Adventure. Campers are grouped based on their Specialty Camp. Specialty
Camps run in the mornings, while the afternoons are filled with a recreational swim and two Choice
Activities.
Learn to bike - SK to Gr. 2 - Weeks 7, 8 and 9:
A specialized program designed to teach children how to ride a bike through the use of games, fun
skills training and balance bikes. It’s amazing to see how most campers will be riding on there own
after a couple of days!
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CAMP LINGO!
G.A.: Camp Green Acres.
Unit: Units are divided by grade levels. A unit is comprised of
several groups or cabins of children.
Cabin: Small group of campers, all girls or all boys, who stay together
every day with their counsellors.
Unit Head: Supervisor of a particular unit.
Chipmunks: Chipmunk Unit is comprised of our youngest full day campers,
who are in nursery school.
Beavers: Campers completing Junior Kindergarten in the Beaver Unit.
Buffaloes: Campers completing Senior Kindergarten in the Buffalo Unit.
Bears: Campers completing Grade 1 in the Bear Unit.
Eagles: Campers completing Grade 2 in the Eagle Unit.
Seniors: Campers completing Grades 3 and 4 in the Senior Unit.
Grads: Campers completing grade 5 and 6 in the Grad Unit.
Alumni: Alumni campers are part of the Grad Unit. They are
completing Grade 7.
LTP: Leadership Training Program. These are teenagers who are
completing grades 8 and 9. They help out in cabins or at
specialties as part of their training.
CIA: Counsellor Initiated Activity. Period in the day that the
counsellors must plan and run for their cabin.
Rec Hall: Each unit has their own rec hall, which is a building used to
store bags and lunches, meet for attendance in the morning,
lunch, and end of day. A home base for units to visit
periodically throughout the day.
Snickle Snackle: Freezie snacks given out at the end of every day to each
camper.
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Attendance Roster: Folder handed out each day to every cabin to take camper
attendance. Each team of head staff will also be provided with
a Staff Attendance Roster for each unit.
Thursday Theme Days: Every Thursday is a dress up day at camp. Themes are
incorporated into activities throughout the day.
Unit Program: One Thursday per month, there is a themed program that
each unit plans and executes for their campers for two periods
in a day.
Camp-Wide Program: Themed program for all campers and staff to participate
across Traditional Camp. Takes place in Week Four and Eight.
Whale: The Whale Pool is the largest pool at camp.
Dolphin: The Dolphin Pool is the smaller pool at camp.
Slides: The Water Slides Pool is our pool with three water slides. All
campers will have the chance to participate in swim at the
Water Slides.
Whale Shelter: Shelter across from the Whale Pool where swim meetings
with your unit take place.
J&B: Jewelry and Beadmaking (specialty).
Dynamo: Dynamo Duck, Green Acres’s Mascot.
Senior Counsellor: Staff completing Grade 12 or higher.
Junior Counsellor: Staff completing Grade 11.
Apprentice Counsellor: Staff completing Grade 10.
Creative Specialist: Staff member working at our One Week Specialty Camps.
Bus Captain: Staff who is responsible for all duties on the bus. This includes
supervision, in-person parent contact, attendance, safety, and
activity organization.
Bus Crew: Staff on the bus who are there to assist the Bus Captain.
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Bus Staff: Staff on the bus who has to employment responsibilities, but
still must follow all camp policies on the bus, as they are
representing camp (i.e. no phone usage, always engaging in
positive camper interactions, etc.).
Big Bus Loop: Area where the large buses arrive at camp in the morning and
are unloaded.
Small Bus Loop: Area where the small buses arrive camp in the morning and
are unloaded.
Car Pool Loop: Area where campers who are dropped off at camp by car
arrive and are unloaded.
Car Pool Camper: Rather than going on the bus, these children are driven to and
from camp every day via their own transportation.
Big Cheers: Extra special message sent to staff members by other staff or
campers for an extra special job.
Staff Recs: Recreational events planned on a weekly basis. All staff
members who are employed at GA at that time are invited to
come out.
CCA: Camper’s Choice Activity – campers in the Senior and Grad
Units are given a period each week where they are free to
choose from a variety of activities.
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HEAD STAFF ROLES
Eddy Bogomolny - Founding Director
Eddy founded Green Acres over 50 years ago. His experience and keen sense for details continue
to ensure that everything going on “behind the scenes” and on the front line at camp are running
smoothly. He is a fabulous resource for whatever you need.
Lori Bogomolny – Camp Director
Lori is responsible for just about everything that happens at camp. You can use her as a resource
whenever you like. There is no right or wrong time to talk with her. She is here to help with every
aspect of your camp experience. Lori is excited to welcome you to our staff team, to grow and learn
with you and provide you with guidance and support at every turn, and most importantly, share with
you the best summer ever! [email protected]
Darren Greenspoon – Camp Director:
Darren’s responsibility is to make sure that everyone who participates is having fun!! Darren’s spirit
and contagious enthusiasm makes working with him a blast. Darren works on all aspects of camp,
including parent communication, swimming, busing, hiring and programming.  He is a great
resource bringing experience as a teacher, coach, department head and camp swim director.
[email protected]
Kathy Fleming - Assistant Camp Director:
Kathy oversees all camp staff and programming, making sure that the summer will be fun and
exciting for everyone! She is here as a great resource to all staff, bringing her experience from
being a parent and almost 15 unbelievable years at Green Acres. Kathy is fun, understanding and
creative and will always make the time to help you out or just to chat!! [email protected]

Sandy Griffiths - Camp Administrator and Camp Office Manager:
Thanks to Sandy, our camp office is always organized and able to support our camp staff. Sandy is
always willing to help, but remember, the office is a very busy place (especially in the morning,
lunch and afternoon busing times).
Rowan Weisbach – Camp Administrator:
Rowan works with Sandy to ensure that staff and campers are where they should be! Rowan is a
great liaison for any administrative needs, MyCamp and All-Star changes. She will also be
organizing camper birthday treats at camp.
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Unit Head (UH)
The unit head is responsible for the overall success of a specific unit at camp. To ensure the unit
runs smoothly, the Unit Head must plan their unit’s pre-camp, develop systems to ensure campers
are well-supervised and staff are motivated and doing their jobs to the best of their ability (both with
their campers and within the unit). The UH is responsible for staff evaluations and placement
decisions within the unit. The Unit Head is also ultimately responsible for the effective planning and
execution of all unit programs (unit days, morning assemblies, overnights, extended nights) –
therefore overseeing and being a resource to the Assistant Unit Head. The UH must also ensure
that their Rec Hall and surrounding grounds are cleaned, maintained and well-equipped.
The UH serves as the leader of their unit, providing resources to their staff, aiding in conflict
resolutions between campers, staff and parents, supervising the Assistant Unit Head in their roles,
and being an active member of the head staff team. The Unit Head of any one unit, is also expected
to be a resource and disciplinarian of all camp staff. The Unit Head will have daily interactions with
all their staff and cabin groups, ensuring proper communication of information, that schedules and
programs are appropriate and that campers and staff are experiencing a fun, safe and positive
camp session. Spending time getting to know their staff and campers is essential to the role.
Chipmunks: Megan Studiner
Beavers: Cassie Lowy
Buffaloes: Sydney Bielas
Bears: Tracy Eichler
Eagles: Melissa Gonik
Seniors: Malorie Appel
Grads: Devon Oziel
LTP: Chasen Simmons
All-Star: Matt Lezon & Courtney Mlotek
1-wk Specialty Camps: Hayley Eidelman
Cedar Creek: Jacqueline Sharp
Specialty: Daniel Spinello & Hayley Eidelman
Camper Relations/Leisure Buddies: Amy Getzler, Aviva Goldberg, Sari Mogul
Swim: Kristyn Steinke
Assistant Unit Head (AUH)
The AUH will assist the UH in the running of the Unit wherever needed. More specifically, the AUH
supervise the staff, is there to help you develop systems and deal with any challenges you are
facing (cabin management, conflict resolution, camper behaviors) as well as program planning for
the unit. The AUH will be co-ordinating all unit programming (unit days, morning assemblies,
overnights, etc.) with the staff. The AUH will make sure that staff are happy, feeling good about their
jobs and are motivated throughout the summer.

Your Head Staff are there for you! Go to them if you need advice about your job, your campers
or your co-staff. If you need supplies, you must get them through your head staff. They are there
to help you with whatever you need. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!
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