Transcript Slide 1

Putnam County 4-H Camp Staff
Training 2008
Our Mission…
The 4-H Camping Program of the West
Virginia University Extension Service will
provide youth with the opportunity to
acquire knowledge, develop life skills and
form values that enable them to become
self-directing, productive and contributing
members to society.
One of our main objectives…
Is to provide participants with a safe and
secure environment both physically and
emotionally where they can participate in
educational, recreational and social
experiences that offer opportunities to
understand and appreciate cultural
diversity and tolerance for others.
How can we accomplish that
mission and objective?
By ensuring that campers have an environment
where:
• Their developmental needs are understood and
met
• Bullying is not tolerated
• Negative situations can be recognized, and
death with quickly
• Positive development is the name of the game
• Campers have proper supervision
• Campers feel safe in event of an emergency.
Basic Needs of Youth
• Recognition
• Affection
• Accomplishment
• New Experiences
• Security
Basic Needs of Youth
• Recognition
– Recognition is essential for everyone’s feelings of selfrespect and self-worth.
– Every accomplishment, no matter how great or small,
should be acknowledged –
– either formally, or informally
– Acknowledge the progress made, not just the finished
result.
Basic Needs of Youth
• Recognition
• Affection
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Understanding
Support
Caring Adults
Family & Friends
Basic Needs of Youth
• Recognition
• Affection
• Accomplishment
– Tasks & Goals
– Youth Involvement
• Planning, Leading
& Evaluating
Basic Needs of Youth
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Recognition
Affection
Accomplishment
New Experiences
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Adventure
Excitement
Challenges
Education
Basic Needs of Youth
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Recognition
Affection
Accomplishment
New Experiences
Security
Belonging
+ Loved
+ Accepted
= Sense of Protection
Ages & Stages of Youth
• Divide into four groups – draw a picture
• 6-8 year olds
9-13 year olds
14-17 year olds
18-21 year olds
• Brainstorm
How they grow?
How they interact?
How they learn?
How they react?
AND THE LIST GOES ON…
Why is it important to discuss bullying within the
camping environment?
• Childhood aggression can lead to higher incidences of
depression, school drop-outs, substance abuse, early
parenthood, delinquency and criminal behavior.
• Bullying will effect 10 – 15% of youth in a group environment.
What differentiates bullying from
teasing?
• One child must be more powerful than another
(physically or mentally)
The student who is bullied has difficulty defending
himself/herself. He/she is vulnerable, lacks support, and there
are often long-term consequences.
• There must be intent to harm
• The behavior is reoccurring and intense
Common forms of bullying
• Hitting, kicking, pushing, spitting, excessive tickling
• Teasing, name calling, intentionally getting someone into
trouble
• Spreading rumors, telling lies, deliberately isolating someone
• Taking or stealing things from someone
• Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do
• Sexually harassing someone
• E-bullying
Teen and college age camp staff are powerful in
helping with
the fight against bullying.
Why?
Young kids put it like this…”We are more likely to
listen to someone our age than to what an ‘old
person’ has to say.”
Hazing Defined:
Any activity expected of someone
belonging to or joining a group that
-humiliates
-degrades
-abuses
- or endangers
This does not include activities such as carrying
the chairs or cleaning up the meeting room,
unless an atmosphere of humiliation,
degradation, abuse or danger arises.
Examples of hazing common
to 4-H Camp
• Singing a song and making someone run around the
table if their elbows are on the table. A gentle reminder
is all that is needed.
• Wearing clothing or accessories intending to humiliate
• Being made to sing or do or other humiliating things for
your mail or retrieve an item that has been lost.
• Failing to speak up about any of these types of incidents.
If it doesn’t feel right to you, then it isn’t.
LET’S LOOK AT POLICY!
“Provide participants with a safe and secure
environment both physically & emotionally where
they can participate in educational, recreational, and
social experiences that offer opportunities to
understand and appreciate cultural diversity and
tolerance for others.”
2005 WV 4-H Camping Operations Manual
Bullying and hazing are NOT tolerated at Putnam
County 4-H Camp!
The Snake that can bite !
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If you have to ask if it's hazing, it is.
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If in doubt, talk to your Camp Director or
Extension Supervisor. If you won't pick up the
phone to tell your Agent or another counselor
what you are doing, you have your answer –
its hazing. Don't fool yourself!
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If you haze, you have low self-esteem.
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If you allow hazing to occur, you are a 'hazing
enabler’.
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Failure to stop hazing can result in death..."
Will Keim, PhD.
Recognizing Child Abuse
Unfortunately counselors need to be aware
that some children come to camp with
negative experiences at home.
Counselors must be able to recognize the
signs of child abuse, and respond
appropriately.
Child Abuse Defined:
Damage to a child for which there is no “reasonable”
explanation. This includes but is not limited to
-non-accidental physical injury
-neglect
-sexual molestation
-emotional abuse
The damage can be the
result of a physical or a
verbal threat against the
child.
IDENTIFYING ABUSE
What might I see?
abused
demonstrate
behaviorally
before
verbal disclosure
EXPRESSION VARIES BY AGE
8-10 Years of Age
-Nightmares and other sleep troubles
-Bedwetting
-Explicit sexual knowledge, behavior,
or language unusual for age
-Withdrawal
-Loss of appetite
-Extreme change in temperament (mood swings,
change from happy child to sullen and angry)
Southern Nevada Area
Health Education Center
Above 11 Years of Age:
- Depression
- Withdrawal
- Poor self image
- Chemical abuse
- Self mutilations
- Delinquent behavior
- Eating disorders
All Ages
- unattended broken bones
- bruising
- burns
Southern Nevada Area
Health Education Center
AT CAMP ?!?!?!
As a volunteer camp counselor or an
extension professional, you are required to
identify and prohibit any of these acts of
aggression in a 4-H camp or program
environment.
In the case of child abuse, particularly a
camper that is suspected to be the victim of
child abuse, the agent in charge is
mandated to report the case immediately to
Child Protective Services:
HOTLINE NUMBER
1-800-352-6512
Certificate of Completion
By signing this certificate, I certify that I have
completed the “Providing a Safe Camping
Environment” Training
Name:
Date: