Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 48
About This Presentation
Title:

Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

Description:

Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules MODULE 8: UNDERSTANDING YOUTH CAMPERS AND MANAGING YOUTH BEHAVIOR AT 4-H CAMP Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:174
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 49
Provided by: bga8
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules


1
Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules
MODULE 8 UNDERSTANDING YOUTH CAMPERS AND
MANAGING YOUTH BEHAVIOR AT 4-H CAMP
Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant
Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth
Development, March 2006
2
How to Use this Information
  • If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader
  • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
    contained in this presentation.
  • 2. Consider the Discussion Questions listed on
    the last page.
  • 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or
    other person responsible for
  • 4-H camping in your county/city) to review
    this information.
  • If you are a VCE faculty or staff member
    responsible for 4-H camping in your unit
  • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
    contained in this presentation.
  • 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp
    teen/adult volunteer
  • leader training.
  • 3. Use the Discussion Questions listed on the
    last page as a resource in
  • reviewing this information with your 4-H
    camp volunteers.

3
Overview
  • Causes of misbehavior at 4-H camp
  • Creating an environment for positive behavior
  • Verbal and nonverbal interventions
  • How you can influence misbehavior
  • Recommendations for homesickness
  • 4-H Use-of-Force Policy

4
Misbehavior at 4-H Camp
  • Providing a positive 4-H camp experience requires
    that 4-H camp paid and volunteer staff create an
    environment where youth can be successful at 4-H
    camp.
  • By providing a successful environmentone which
    helps youth to meet their needswe can also
    manage a majority of youth misbehavior.

5
Misbehavior at 4-H Camp
  • LESS SERIOUS
  • Not listening (directions, instructions)
  • Disrupting others
  • Annoying or interfering behavior
  • SERIOUS
  • Refusal to obey rules
  • Threatens to hurt (or hurts) themselves
    or others
  • Destroys camp property, equipment, supplies

6
Causes of Misbehavior
  • There are two main causes of youth misbehavior.
  • This first cause is biological, in which a young
    person may have some type of neurological
    disorder or organic impairment which impacts
    his/her behavior, speech, etc.
  • The second cause is environmental, in which a
    young person misbehaves because his/her needs are
    not being met or because the structure of the
    situation is not encouraging positive behavior.

7
Causes of Misbehavior
  • Environmental
  • Biological
  • Neurological impairment
  • Developmental delays

The average ADHD child is 30 behind in
age-appropriate self-control. In other words, a
13 year-old camper will behave like a 9-10 year
old.
STRUCTURE
NEEDS
8
Focus on Environmental Causes
  • Although managing biological causes of
    misbehavior are beyond the scope of a 4-H camp
    volunteers role and responsibilities at 4-H
    camp, there are several things that volunteers
    can do to manage the 4-H camp environment.

9
Environmental Causes of Misbehavior
  • All people use behavior to get what they want!
    When you see youth misbehavior, needs are not
    being met
  • Boredom (Lack of fun, Too much down time)
  • Anxiety/Confusion/Fear (Lack of safety and
    structure)
  • Perception that campers, volunteers and staff
    dont care (Lack of belonging)
  • No opportunities for choice/play (Lack of
    freedom)
  • No opportunities for success or recognition (Lack
    of worth)

10
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • As a 4-H camp volunteer, you have a role in
    creating an environment that encourages positive
    behavior rather than allowing misbehavior.
  • The following slides identify several things that
    you can do to foster positive 4-H camp behavior.

11
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H youth campers need to eat at meal times and
    drink plenty of fluids all day! At camp,
    dehydration (and poor eating) are major
    contributors to both camper sickness and camper
    behavior problems.
  • Encourage all of your campers to eat. If you
    learn that a camper is not eating, inform your
    Extension Agent (or other person responsible for
    your county/city 4-H camping program).

12
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H youth campers need to feel safe.
  • At camp, fear can come in different forms. Some
    campers are not comfortable with the outdoors.
    Aspects of the natural environment (such as
    insects, darkness, plants, wildlife, and weather)
    can be scary to some campers. Help campers to
    talk about and manage these fears.

13
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H campers may also fear other campers. Bullying
    is becoming increasing common in many different
    contexts.
  • Be aware of camp bullying. Confront bullying as
    soon as you are aware of it. Inform your 4-H
    Extension Agent (or other person responsible for
    your county/city 4-H camping program). (Bullying
    is addressed further in MODULE 16.)

14
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • One of the most important things you can do to
    help 4-H youth campers to feel save and to reduce
    misbehavior is to develop a positive relationship
    with campers.
  • Campers will respond better to a 4-H camp
    volunteer who they believe genuinely likes and
    believes in them.

15
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H youth campers need to know their expectations
    and the consequences of misbehavior. How do you
    want them to behave? Be familiar with the 4-H
    code of conduct and any other camp-specific
    expectations.
  • At the beginning of each program or activity,
    remind campers of important behavior expectations
    related to that program/activity. In other words,
    tell them how you want them to act.

16
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • When possible, involve 4-H youth campers in
    creating rules for their own behavior. For
    example, ask campers this question, What rules
    should we follow today (or this week) to help us
    to have fun and to make sure that no one gets
    hurt?
  • (NOTE This approach works particularly well for
    individual cabins or rooms in which a group of
    campers are learning to live together for the
    first time.)

17
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • When possible, post rules or expectations where
    4-H youth campers can see them.
  • When campers misbehave, be fair and consistent
    with consequences. Only give consequences that
    are within your limits of authority. Talk with
    your 4-H Extension Agent (or other person
    responsible for your county/city 4-H camping
    program) regarding how consequences should be
    managed.

18
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H youth campers need structure. Help campers
    to understand that their day is scheduled and
    that they have specific places where they need to
    be at all times.
  • 4-H youth campers need to know what is going on.
    Help campers to be familiar with their schedules
    (carry a 4-H camp schedule with you at all
    times).

19
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • Prepare 4-H youth campers for a change in
    activity. Give campers a 5-minute warning
    before the end of an activity or program. This
    transition time will help them to prepare for
    what is next.
  • Answer 4-H youth campers questions about all 4-H
    camp programs and activities. Help them to feel
    comfortable with what they are doing now and what
    they are getting ready to do.

20
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • Avoid too much down-time. Excessive free time,
    down-time or unstructured time is not a
    successful environment for many youth. Keep 4-H
    youth campers active and involved.

21
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • Many volunteers teach 4-H camp classes. If you
    are teaching a class at 4-H camp, be aware of
    your teaching environment.
  • Is there enough light?
  • Are there external or outside distractions?
  • When is your class scheduled? Will campers
    arrive at your class hungry or thirsty? If so,
    then consider providing water and a light snack
    before you begin teaching.

22
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H campers need to feel a sense of belonging and
    a sense of identity. Help campers to become
    involved in their different camp social groups.
    Create activities that help campers to learn one
    another's names. Remind campers to wear their
    name tags and any other symbol of camp identity
    and membership.

23
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • When you notice campers who are sitting alone,
    try to involve them with other campers. Ask
    someone to be their buddy for the day or for
    the week.

24
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • When possible, give 4-H youth campers choices.
    Allow them to decide when and how they want to be
    involved in 4-H camp activities.
  • A choice between 2 options is better than no
    choice at all. Youth who are given choices tend
    to feel that they have more control over their
    own lives.

25
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • 4-H youth campers need to be challenged and
    stimulated. Youth who are not challenged can
    become bored which can lead to misbehavior.
  • Be aware of your campers skills and abilities.
    If you notice campers that are not being
    challenged by an existing activity, consider
    modifying the activity or providing another type
    of activity.

26
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • Help 4-H youth campers to be successful and
    recognize their success. Give campers some
    individual attention to help them to complete an
    activity successfully (imagine hitting a
    bulls-eye in archery for the first time).
  • Recognize camper accomplishments. Saying great
    job or awarding a small prize can make an
    important impact on youth behavior.

27
Creating an Environment for Positive Behavior at
4-H Camp
  • Talk with your 4-H Extension Agent (or other
    person responsible for your county/city 4-H
    camping program) regarding existing strategies
    for creating an environment that will encourage
    positive behavior at 4-H camp.
  • Please share your own ideas for creating a
    positive 4-H camp environment!

28
What happens when managing the environment
doesnt work?
  • Sometimes a camper will misbehave even though you
    have done everything that you can to successfully
    manage the childs environment.
  • In such instances, there are several non-verbal
    and verbal interventions that can help you to
    successfully manage a childs misbehavior.

29
Non-Verbal Interventions
  • Proximity- get close to the camper who is
    misbehaving. Separate youth who might be
    misbehaving together by sitting in-between them.
  • Planned ignoring- watch the campers, but be
    careful not to reinforce acting out (be aware,
    but dont provide direct attention)

30
Non-Verbal Interventions
  • Eye Contact- Catch the misbehaving campers eye,
    and let him/her know that you are watching
  • Signal Interference- Put a finger to your lips to
    signal quiet. Extend your palm downward to
    suggest settle down.

31
Non-Verbal Interventions
  • Body Language- Stay in control and appear calm in
    all situations.
  • Remove distractions (and distracting objects)-
    Avoid confrontation while you move these items
    out of sight.
  • Model appropriate behavior!

32
Verbal Interventions
  • Affection- give a camper a sincere compliment.
    This is a very effective way to stop misbehavior.
  • Show personal interest- ask an open-ended
    question
  • Negotiate- If I get 5 minutes of cooperation,
    then Ill let you

33
Other Interventions
  • Quiet Time- Camper behavior often gets worse
    later in the week. This is not surprising, as
    many campers do not sleep as much at camp as they
    do at home. Many people (both youth and adults)
    become irritable or grumpy when they get tired.
    Consider a nap or quiet time as a behavioral
    intervention if you suspect that a camper might
    not be getting an appropriate amount of sleep at
    night.
  • Talk with your 4-H Agent (or other person
    responsible for your county/city 4-H camping
    program) regarding the use of quiet- time as a
    behavioral intervention at your camp.

34
Other Interventions
  • Time-Out- With this intervention, you remove the
    misbehaving camper from the situation and ask
    him/her to sit alone (near enough to still be
    supervised) for a few minutes (typically 5-10
    minutes max). When the campers time is up,
    remind the camper about the appropriate behavior
    and say, Are you ready to follow directions to
    join the group? If the camper is ready, then
    he/she is allowed to come back to the group.
  • Talk with your 4-H Agent (or other person
    responsible for your county/city 4-H camping
    program) regarding the use of time-out as a
    behavioral intervention at your camp.

35
Other Interventions
  • At times, your 4-H Agent (or other person
    responsible for your county/city 4-H camping
    program) or 4-H Center Program Director may
    choose to contact a campers parents/guardians or
    to take away a campers privileges. However,
    these interventions should not be used by a
    volunteer.
  • Talk with your 4-H Agent (or other person
    responsible for your county/city 4-H camping
    program) if you have questions about the use of
    these behavioral interventions at your camp.

36
Be Aware of How YouImpact Youth Behavior
  • Our own behavior, body-language, speech, and
    tone-of-voice can make a tremendous impact on 4-H
    campers behaviors.
  • As a 4-H camp volunteer, be aware of your own
    voiceyour volume and your tone. What happens
    when you get frustrated? Do you tend to raise
    your voice?

37
Be Aware of How YouImpact Youth Behavior
  • When helping 4-H youth campers to manage their
    behavior, be sure to lower your tone-of-voice low
    and stay in control. Remember, you can be stern
    without yelling.
  • Be sure that you know campers names and use
    their names when talking to themthis shows
    respect and gets attention quickly.

38
Be Aware of How YouImpact Youth Behavior
  • A persons body language is a symbol of power.
    Avoid being intimidating or threatening. When
    managing youth behavior, consider sitting so you
    and the youth are physically equal.
  • Make eye contact and help to control 4-H campers
    behaviors by moving closer to them (as opposed to
    yelling across a room).

39
Other Considerations
  • Too often, we often focus on what we dont want
    rather than on what we do want.
  • Tell campers what and why
  • Remember to communicate your expectations

40
Other Considerations
  • If a camper is misbehaving (particularly in an
    unsafe way or in an unsafe place), redirect
    him/her to increase safety.
  • Say, I need you to walk over to the bench and
    sit down so that I can help you with your
    problem.

41
Homesickness
  • A thorough description of homesickness and
    strategies for preventing and treating
    homesickness are provided in MODULE 19.

42
4-H Use-of-Force Policy
  • Corporal punishment is never allowed in 4-H camp.
  • In fact, you should never put your hands on a
    childin a behavior management situation--except
    to keep the child from hurting themselves or
    others.

43
4-H Use-of-Force Policy
  • Virginia Cooperative Extension staff (i.e.,
    Extension Agents, Extension Specialists, Program
    Assistants, Center Director, Program Directors,
    and 4-H Center summer camp staff members) and
    registered volunteers may verbally intervene in
    situations that might cause harm to a 4-H
    participant.

44
4-H Use-of-Force Policy
  • Virginia Cooperative Extension staff and
    registered volunteers have a responsibility to
    maintain a safe and orderly environment.
  • If physical intervention is necessary to prevent
    4-H participants from harming themselves or
    others, then VCE staff and registered volunteers
    may use physical restraint.

45
4-H Use-of-Force Policy
  • When using physical intervention, the amount of
    force used must only be the amount of force
    necessary to restrain the participant(s) and
    prevent harm or further harm from occurring.
  • Whenever less intrusive measures are possible,
    they must be used.

46
Discussion Questions
  • Identify a situation in which managing a young
    persons behavior was difficult for you. What
    did you do to manage the situation?
  • If the situation occurred tomorrow, what else
    would you try?
  • Which of the types of behavior management
    interventions mentioned in this module are most
    comfortable for you?
  • Which are the most unfamiliar?

47
Discussion Questions
  • As a 4-H camp volunteer, what other training do
    you need in order to properly manage youth
    behavior at camp?
  • What do you think is the most important thing
    that should be remembered from this module?

48
References
  • Divinyi, J. (1997). Good Kids, Difficult
    Behavior. A Guide to What
  • Works and What Doesnt. The Wellness
    Connection, Peachtree City, GA.
  • Fink, D.B. (1995). Discipline in School-Age
    Care Controlling the
  • Climate not the Children. School-Age Notes,
    Nashville, TN.
  • Garst, B.A. (2005). Virginia 4-H Camping
    Handbook. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
    Publication 388-562.
  • Huebner, A. Garst, B. (2001). Managing Youth
    Behavior. Workshop
  • presented at the 2001 4-H/FCS Inservice.
  • New York State 4-H Camping Program Crosiar, S.
    (2003). Youth Development
  • Foundations for 4-H Camp Staff A Training
    Manual. Cornell Cooperative
  • Extension.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com