language summer camp organization

Tetiana SemyhinivskaAssociate ProfessorEnglish Philology and Translation

DepartmentNational Aviation University

Kyiv

PARTICIPANTS

The campers of the 2002 American Culture and Language Retreat were pedagogical students, young teachers from schools, universities and institutes, as well as young professionals and university students from throughout Ukraine.

PARTICIPANTS

The duration of the retreat was one week. The Session began on July 2nd and ended on July 8th.

This session consisted of 76 participants from 17 Oblasts throughout Ukraine.

PARTICIPANTS

director Facilitator

counselors

Juniorcounselors

campers

- The field office is the term used when talking about the camp headquarters and all the people who work in it, namely the camp directors and the facilitator. - The facilitator and director rotate on a duty roster of when they must stay in the field office. - The field office is open 24 hours a day except during meals and events, which involve everyone in the camp, such as Morning Activity. Whoever is on duty is in charge.

PARTICIPANTS

- They spend the rest of their time around the camp taking care of program needs that are determined in a daily field office meeting.

- A centralized location for the field office is best. Program and medical supplies are kept here.

- All emergencies, requests, or changes are brought first to the field office. It is important that everything go through the field office to insure an efficient and effective program.

Day One 3:00 PM Bus Meets Campers 3:30 PM Roll Call at the Crossing Counselors greet them — luggage to the side (keep

money with them) Check-In Table along the wall First Person checks names off list, designates room

and building Second Person gives schedule/writes room for camper Third Person (Director) takes money/gives nametag Fourth Person shows building/room, tells must be at

Mess Hall at 5pm

EXAMPLE OF THE CAMP SCHEDULE

5:00 PM Mess Hall -- Pre-Dinner (team breakdown/first cheers/song)5:30 PM Dinner (surprises)6:00 PM Camp Tour8:30 PM Team Challenge10:00 PM Team Meeting

8:00 AM Staff Meeting8:30 AM Morning Activity9:00 AM Breakfast10:00 AM Class One (until 10:50 am)11:05 AM Class Two (until 11:55 am)12:10 AM Class Three (until 1:00 pm)1:15 PM Lunch (until 2:15 pm)2:15 PM Free Time (until 4:15 pm)

Day Two — Day Five

4:30 PM Class Four (until 5:20 pm)5:35 PM Class Five (until 6:25 pm) - Day Four Press Conference before Dinner7:00 PM Dinner (until 7:45 pm)8:00 PM Team Challenge (until 9:15 pm) — Day Five Scavenger Hunt!!9:30 PM Team Meeting (until 10:00 pm)10:00 PM Optional Activity12:00 PM Lights Out

Day Two — Day Five

Rules and Regulations

Honor code regarding an alcohol policy!

Campers were told they could drink only during their free time after 10 p.m.

Regardless of their personal choice, they were told that their timely attendance was required and expected at all camp lessons and activities.

Campers were told to immediately report to the Crossing personally, or send a friend, if they were unable to attend a lesson due to illness or any other important reason.

Failure to appear on time or to skip any camp activity without a legitimate excuse resulted in a warning.

A curfew was set at 12 am. Participants were required to be in their buildings by this time and keeping the noise level at a minimum. During counselor orientation we selected small teams of counselors and junior counselors to make rounds from 11:45 to midnight reminding participants of the curfew.

TASK

DEAR PARTICIPANTS, SPLIT IN TEAMS OF 5.

YOUR TASK IS TO MAKE OUT CAMP RULES, CONSISTING OF 5-

7 POINTS.PRESENT THEM IN A FUNNY OR

UNUSUAL WAY!THE WINNER GETS A PRIZE!

SAMPLE CAMP RULES

1. Must attend all activities.2. Must arrive on time and prepared.3. Quiet hours/curfew.4. Speak only English!5. Be active!

CAMP TOURObjectives:

1. To familiarize campers with the facility2. To introduce class activities and meeting places3. To introduce counselors to students4. To begin group building among the campers5. To “set the stage” for the camp program

Duration of Tour

Allow 2 1/2 hours on opening day.Approximately 7 minutes at each station.

Camp tour The Camp Tour consists of several stations, each having a different activity or purpose.

At these stations, the counselors should give an overview of the class and explain what the campers must bring or wear to that particular class (i.e. for journalism - a notebook and pen; for sports - athletic clothes and shoes, and water, etc.).

Camp tourThe other stations should explain the purpose and expectations of the retreat, include name-games, and begin the process of team building. Participants were broken down into eight groups where a junior counselor was assigned to guide a group through the tour. The following is a list of activities that fulfill these objectives.

Logistics with the Director(camp tour)

The Project Director uses this opportunity to:- explain the function of the

field office, - review the schedule, - assign responsibilities, - solve any logistical problems, - and answer any questions

Birthday Line-up (camp tour)

Directions: Camp

Directions: Campers are instructed to lineup in order according to their birthdays. They must do this task without speaking. Any birthdays occurring in the weeks of the retreat are reported back to the field office so celebrations can be scheduled.

MY PIECES OF ADVICE 1.Keep the campers busy all the

time!2. Generate ideas, be creative!3. Stimulate campers!4. Be enthusiastic!5. Love you job!