Challenge: Read the Article (http://www.acacamps.org/bullying/bullying-prevention) and answer the following questions. This is a long article, and I understand that a lot of you do have more reading to do than you ever want to for school. But bullying is important. Please read it, or at least skim through it or bookmark it on your computer.
- What are you personally going to do at camp this summer to help prevent bullying?
- What are some suggestions you have that we can do as a whole at camp to prevent bullying?
Prize (to everybody that reads & responds) A Handmade Squirrel Friendship Bracelet.
I think becoming more aware of the interactions between campers is key for me. I'm a bit distractable, and I know last summer I should've recognized some camper issues sooner. Approaching girls as soon as I suspect a problem is also important. Most of all, I think it's best to encourage togetherness among the campers by doing cooperative activities. Being Arts Advisor, I may try to incorporate on some collaborative projects into the program with either an entire group or small groups within a group. Overall, if I see something, I won't give up until the problem has been handled. Bullying is awful.
ReplyDeleteAs for the camp, I think if there is a particularly problematic group, we need to do more to encourage cohesive interactions. We need to sit them down and discuss why bullying and not including others is unacceptable at camp. Maybe along with get to know you games during the first day we do some smaller team games to encourage the girls to get to know one another and make friends. Often times the bullied campers are ones that are easily recognied on the first day. Sadly, this probably isn't the first place it has happened to them. Attempt to get them involved. Watch girls that came together closely because often times they aren't the greatest at including others.
Overall,I think we need to be more proactive as a whole. We need to step in right away and not allow any bad habits to be made.
We all know girls gossip about each other and purposefully try to leave each other out and make each other feel bad in sublte ways. Sometimes I think this is almost worse because it can be hard to pinpoint and often the solutioin is to "just ignore it" which isn't always easy. I would make it my goal to pay close attention to this type of behavior (as well as the more obvious physical and verbal bullying of course) and stop it before it could have a huge affect on a camper's week. The magical thing about camp is that everyone is accepted and welcome, and that is it a safe place to have fun and be yourself. If that was ruined for a camper under my watch I would feel terrible and so I think the goal should be prevention.
ReplyDeleteAs a camp, maybe we could make it obvious on the first day/first night chat that everyone is welcome at camp, and that even though the other people you meet (both campers and staff) may be very different from yourself, it's important to be kind and open to one another no matter what. By setting a mood of a welcoming and fun atmosphere, any camper's intention of bullying will (hopefully) disappear. :)
~Shortz
I think personally I need to be more aware of what goes on between the campers in my group. I agree with Indy in that sometimes I get distracted and don't recognize camper issues as soon as I should. This summer I'm going to be more aware of the campers that seem seperated from the group, maybe doing some team-building activities if I have a older group of girls. There are also lots of nature activities that I could do with a group which would build teamwork skills. If I see something this summer, I will act immediately and resolve the problem before it gets worse.
ReplyDeleteAs a camp I think we all need to watch more closely; in the article I think it said that 60% of bullying situations at camps go unreported. CBH should definitely try to cut that number down this summer. Also, we need to be good models as a whole staff. I know it's already a focus and an expectation of the summer but there shouldn't be staff "clicks" and people gossiping about other staff. If we set a good example and don't bully within the staff, the campers will pick up on that. I think myself and all of the other staff this summer are up to the challenge, so let's be positive role models and stop bullying!
-Gingko
I am going to be an ear that is there for the campers, and step in when i see something or hear something. Be aa postive role model and not put anyone down.
ReplyDelete