How to Succeed the First Day
There are several basic principles for you to follow in order to get off to a good start, even if you are NOT assigned to a specific group.
As soon as campers arrive, go out & greet them cheerfully and welcome them to camp. Help the family feel at home by helping them know where to park, where to go first, and so forth.
After registration, be available to help carry the luggage to the camper’s cabin.
Make sure to introduce yourself & help the campers learn your name. It is even more important for you to learn each of their names. Take the time, it’s worth it. If you have trouble remembering names, ask the camp staff for ideas or games that can help you.
You are needed in the cabin. As the camper comes to your “home away from home”, greet him with a big smile, hello and introduction. Let him choose his bed, help them make it up, put away suitcases, and introduce him to all the others in the cabin.
Now you have a problem. “What do we do?” You can’t leave the cabin because more are still coming through registration. Here are some ideas.
What to Do During Registration Time
1) Have a simple game to play in the cabin. It can be a group game like “20 Questions” or “Guess what I’m thinking of”. It can also be a paper and pen game like “Tic-Tac-Toe” or “Hang Man.” Or, borrow a game (board game, cards) or puzzle from the camp supply. Be ready with these extra resources BEFORE the campers start arriving.
2) Send campers off two by two. Send an old camper with a new one. The objective is to have the “old timer” introduce the new one to all the buildings and places in camp. Of course, you are hoping that a new friendship will develop.
3) Have craft supplies ready. Make a cabin logo. Create a cabin cheer, a name, or a goal for the week. Fix up the area outside the cabin by raking, lining the path with stones, etc.
4) If it’s teen week, use #2 (and forget the rest). Teens will want to do little more than talk and find out who is here again this year.