For some reason, “practical” jokes seem to just burst out all over in some camps. Someone starts it and creates a good laugh. Another one picks it up; then there is some retaliation: do him one better. And so it grows and grows. The “joke” is usually at someone else’s expense. Very often it involves some destruction of property.
If the joke is on you, accept it and then let it die without any retaliation. Most of these jokes are only a low way for one person to take out bad feelings towards another person. They do not belong in camp.
Some camps have a tradition of playing jokes on the counselors.
Remember these guidelines:
- Is it for the camper’s benefit?
- Does it show the camper how to be a good sport?
- Can it be done in an element of building unity as you play together?
- Is it mild, painless or not destructive?
- Is a counselor the focus of the joke? The campers NEVER should be.
- Was the joke “planned” ahead of time with the people involved? Did you get their permission to poke fun at them?
An example would be a campfire skit where someone gets a little wet at the “punch line”.