Know what you should and should not do!
Whether you realize it or not, what you do has a direct impact on the students you are interacting with. Here is a short list of suggestions on how you should conduct yourself when you are working with your students.
What you should do
What you should NOT do
What you should do
- Be supportive.
- Information they tell you may be initially upsetting, but do not be overly judgmental. Talk about the issues.
- Listen and lend understanding.
- You are not here to lecture, rather to listen. Take the time to hear the students’ side(s) of the story.
- Be confidant, but remember there are mandatory reporting obligations.
- Be supportive, be attentive. Provide sympathy, advice, counsel, but do not lecture or try to be a parent!
- Be a role model.
- Your behavior must be an example of what the student should strive for. Be reputable, honest, courteous, loyal, respectful, and caring.
- Know when you are in over your head.
- If the student tells you information that you cannot and/or should not deal with, know that it is time to seek additional help. Go to any Camp Director to find out how to deal with the situation.
What you should NOT do
- Do NOT try to “fix” everything.
- Your responsibility is as a role model and an understanding adult. If you try and “fix” the student, you are likely going to have a failed relationship. Just being there is often enough to make a difference to a student.
- Your responsibility is as a role model and an understanding adult. If you try and “fix” the student, you are likely going to have a failed relationship. Just being there is often enough to make a difference to a student.
- Do NOT ignore signs of abuse or other potentially harmful symptoms.
- You may see or have concerns about your student’s physical or mental health. This must be reported to the Camp Directors.
- You may see or have concerns about your student’s physical or mental health. This must be reported to the Camp Directors.
- Allowing disrespectful behavior is asking for trouble.
- You should be a role model and allowing this to happen does not model good behavior. The student may not understand that the behavior was unacceptable. Explain why it was wrong in private, but do not ignore rude behavior.
- You should be a role model and allowing this to happen does not model good behavior. The student may not understand that the behavior was unacceptable. Explain why it was wrong in private, but do not ignore rude behavior.
- Loaning anything (money, cell phone, food, clothes, etc.) is NOT a good idea.
- Any of these situations could lead to larger problems. Explain that the program does not allow these actions, but that you can help find an alternative.