The camping features of this issue are designed to offer helpful information to make your summer more profitable.
D. To campers They are your responsibility for a week or more. They are looking for a friend. They want a counselor who will help them grow, become inde pendent, and make wise decisions. They want a counselor who will en joy camp experiences with them. They are looking to see if Chris tianity works — if it is demonstrat ed in your life — if what you say agrees with what you are. They want a counselor who is friendly without partiality. They want firmness with love, for this is security. They want to be noticed, to belong, not lost in the shuffle of a large crowd. Your campers want someone to understand them, to listen to them, to give en couragement for a job well done. They watch your every move. Noth ing you do will go unnoticed. You are teaching continuously by your attitudes and example. SERVING YOUR SAVIOUR At camp you lead a varied exist ence. You are mother, dad, instruc tor, friend, and pal, all at the same time. You set the pace for the camp period. You try to guide your camp ers’ energies along constructive lines. You try to be alert and sensitive to Penny’s individual needs, realizing that all of camp is a learning ex perience. You are alert to the health and safety of your campers. Watch for signs of fatigue, shown by irrita bility. Perhaps Mary needs extra rest hour. Be alert for such signs as sore throats, watery eyes, and runny noses. Some of these are often the prelude to childhood diseases. Ob serve y o u r campers for bites, scratches, or cuts. Send or take casualties to the camp nurse. A few moments of precaution may avert a serious illness or prevent the spread of contagion. Is all this part of counseling? Ready to quit before you start? Evaluate your God-given abilities honestly. Then recall Paul’s words: “ I can do everything God asks me to, with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength and power” (Phil. 4:13, Living Letters).
uppermost and the objectives of your camp always in mind. Show a friend ly, co-operative spirit and demon strate enthusiasm. Ask for no spe cial favors or considerations. Be a good advertisement for your camp— and for your Lord. B. To other staff members Be friendly, helpful, and loyal to each co-worker. Some are quite dif ferent in personality from you, but show appreciation for everyone’s contribution. To help insure that camp will be an enriching experi ence for you, refrain from unfavor able discussions of personalities and from complaining. Demonstrate one ness and unity in Christ. “ By this shall all men [and all campers] know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Be understanding of the problem of maintenance people, the kitchen staff, and the business manager. Avoid cliques. Be friendly to all. Avoid competing with other leaders for popularity among the campers. Often the most popular counselor does not have the most lasting in fluence on campers. Sometimes it’s the quiet, conscientious staff mem ber, who spends time with each of his campers, who is remembered long after camp ends. C. To parents You may be asked to keep in touch with your campers’ parents by letter or card each week. If so, assure them that Paul is being well cared for. Tell them when Paul passed his swim ming test or completed his project in the craft shop. Many parents have fears when they send a child to camp for the first time. They want to know that their child is well, enjoying himself, happy, making friends, eating well, and having a good time. Christian parents are concerned also about their child’s spiritual progress. Your reassurance will mean much to par ents. Consult your unit leader or direc tor before writing about a camper’s problems. A Parent Questionnaire may aid you in writing parents and may help you understand why Paul’s parents sent him to camp.
your own limitations. You need to discipline your time and your hours of sleep, so you are physically fit to give your best for God each day. You need to guard jealously your time alone with the Lord each day. Many legitimate duties can easily crowd out this important time. But no amount of services or Bible mes sages can take the place of your own quiet time. You need a daily infilling from the Lord, so that the life of Christ may flow out through you to your campers. There will be constant demands made on you. The time you had set aside for writing a letter may be the time when Joe wants to talk with you. So you set aside the un finished letter to engage Joe in con versation, because God has trusted you with the life of the 12-year-old boy for the week. By example, you are showing Joe that God has time for him too. You may be called on to impro vise, to substitute in an activity, or to try something entirely new to you because of some emergency. There may be sacrifices of your time, of self, of personal pleasure. But the rewards far exceed the sacrifice. To see the glow on Jan’s face after a campfire meeting, to see the change in Jim’s life, are worth it all a hun dred times. “ For even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to . . . give. . . .” This verse may come back to you often as you minister for Him. Think of the five people who have had the best influence on your life. What qualities in these people were outstanding ? A r e these qualities which should be found in a Chris tian camp counselor? KNOWING YOUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES A. To your director You are responsible for your job of counseling. This means you are to live up to the responsibilities out lined in your Job Analysis. You are to be prompt at all meetings and in completing reports. You are to ob serve all camp regulations cheerfully and encourage others to do the same. Keep the welfare of your campers
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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