Length:
320 hours of supervised field experience (8 weeks); in addition, 25 hours of initial classroom orientation, lectures, and workshops, and 8 one-hour seminars with course instructors.
Location:
Various summer recreation program sites in the greater New York area; Oasis Children's Services headquarters, Brooklyn, NY.
Learner Outcomes:
Create and organize age appropriate activities; practice active listening skills with campers, co-workers, and supervising staff; identify the specific needs and abilities of children in groups; adjust strategies for instruction and supervision based on the needs of the members of the group.
Instruction:
Participants in this program work as counselors in a summer recreation program under the direct supervision of professionally qualified staff. In addition to working with children on a daily basis, students attend lectures by course instructors and meet in groups with facilitators from the recreation program's professional staff to discuss assigned readings and their application to their experiences as counselors. They also keep a daily learning log in which they analyze and evaluate their experiences, and they assume full responsibility for planning and leading a minimum of two activities. The learning experience emphasizes the following areas: proper supervision of campers; active listening skills; components of a well run activity; strategies in dealing with children; developing capable campers; identifying child abuse and neglect; disciplining with dignity; the functions of play; sports and young children; risk management.
Credit recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/ associate degree category, or in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 4 semester hours in Camp Counseling, Outdoor Recreation, Group Dynamics; or 4 semester hours as an elective in Education, Physical Education, Recreation, or Educational Psychology; or 4 semester hours as Community Service; or 4 semester hours as a general elective (1/01) (11/06 revalidation) (8/11 revalidation).
