American Camp Association’s Guidelines for Parents

From the American Camp Association website

Questions To Ask Camp Directors
When looking through the various summer program brochures, you are bound to have questions pop into your head regarding the facilities, safety, activities, location, and so on.  In writing everything looks picture perfect and all you are reading sounds great.  But are you getting the information you need as a parent?  Take away all of the pretty pictures and unending lists of activites and what is left?  The American Camp Association is a group of camping professionals who have come together to share their knowledge and experience about summer programs to ensure program quality.  The ACA has been in existence for over 100 years and is highly regarded.  On their website the ACA created a list of questions which they recommend parents ask Camp Director’s when looking at a summer program (http://www.campparents.org/safetytips.php). 

GYV staff have added our responses to the questions

What is the camp’s philosophy and program emphasis?

The Global Youth Village promotes respect as a standard for human interaction. Program activities help participants discover a common ground for understanding people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, by encouraging core human values such as peace, justice, tolerance, ethics, service, and equity.  Workshops promote skill building and leadership development. More information on GYV’s philosphy can be found at: Philosophy and Goals.

What is the camp director’s background?

The ACA minimum standards recommend directors possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years, and have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience.

Mary brings 22 years experience to the GYV, playing a key role in fundraising and youth recruitment throughout the year. During the summer months, she trains staff and oversees program quality and content. A native of Philadelphia, Mary received her Bachelors degree in Sociology and French from Trinity College in Washington D.C. She taught for several years at the pre-school and elementary levels, but has dedicated most of her life to training teens and young adults. Mary is fluent in French and “knows a little bit of Indonesian,” as she directs many of our U.S. State department sponsored programs with Indonesia. To watch a video featuring Mary go to Who We Are: Our Team. 

What training do counselors receive?

According to ACA at a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for supervision.

At GYV, the summer starts with a 9-10 day training program for all staff.  Legacy staff share our signature methods for program design and delivery, group building, and lesson planning.  Staff training addresses the following areas: Human Relations, Intercultural Relations, Professional Skill Development and other components such as: facility set-up, curriculum planning, risk management, health care, and orientation specific to individual responsibilities.  To find out more go to: Staff Training.

What is the counselor-to-camper ratio?

ACA standards require different ratios for varying ages and special needs.  To find specific ratios go to their website at: How to Choose a Camp: Safety Tips.

At GYV the counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:3.

What are the ages of the counselors?

ACA standards recommend that 80 percent or more of the counseling/program staff be at least 18 years old. Staff must be at least 16 years old and be at least two years older than the campers with whom they work. 

At GYV, staff range in age from 21-45+  with 90% being above age 22. We attract very high caliber teaching due to our well-know currciulums and the unique opportunity the diverse population provides.  

 What are desired qualities in camp staff?

Every summer, Legacy recruits between 25-30 staff members to deliver our life-changing summer programs. The success of our programs is based on a comprehensive staff selection process.  We attract a diverse group of highly enthusiastic, idealistic, practical and committed adults who want to make a difference in the world.  We look at the combination of skills and how the team is constructed in order to offer a wide array of activities ranging from skill building workshops, to afternoon recreational activities, to cabin life and engaging all campus programs.  Please feel free to review the criteria for the various staff positions.

What percentage of the counselors returned from last year?

 The GYV staff return rate is 30-40%

Information provided in part by the American Camp Association.