Summer camp directors are often asked, “What do you do the rest of the year?” The truth is that there is a lot of work that goes into being ready for campers on the first day of camp. Of all the tasks, none are as important as staff training.
At Keshet, we make a large investment in training and orienting our camp staff. We draw on the expertise of the entire team at Keshet—special education teachers, social workers, behavior specialists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and experienced camp professionals—as well as experts from the community. Our goal is to make sure that every one of our 125 summer staff are confident, prepared and safety-minded.
This year we are also emphasizing the theme of Showing Up for Your Camper. This message isn’t about attendance; it is a mission to be at our best every day to give campers the experiences they deserve.
Keshet’s camp staff training is exceptional. Some of the features for this year include:
Joint Inclusion Training with JCC Chicago
In the spring, camp supervisory staff from Keshet and JCC spent a day with special education advocate Emily Golinsky of Bright Moose Training. Emily is a familiar face at Keshet and provided everyone with an actionable overview of disability and inclusion basics along with helpful scenario and behavior interventions. This training was funded by a grant from JUF.
Elevated All-Camp Kick Off
When all Keshet camp staff get together to kick off the summer, they will be joined by Sam and Parker of Elevation Nation. They will inspire our staff through interactive workshops focused on empathy, communication and resilient leadership to help counselors build meaningful connections and create a supportive experience for every camper.
Deep Dives into Disability & Supports
Every aspect of Keshet’s training prepares counselors to understand and support the individual strengths, needs and goals of each camper, creating an environment where every child can feel successful, included and connected.
Safety-Care Trained Leaders
Every Keshet supervisor is trained in Safety-Care as a proactive way to de-escalate any behavioral challenges. Our staff is equipped to respond in ways that protect each camper’s safety, dignity and sense of belonging, even during challenging moments.
Best of Both Worlds
For our programs that take place at other camps, Keshet’s counselors also participate fully in those trainings. They come into camp with a solid background in inclusion and individualized support as well as knowing the ins and outs of our partner camps. In fact, this year’s Avodah and Gesher overnight staff have two full weeks of training!
More, More, More
When we asked the returning staff at Keshet Camp North, Camp South and On-the-Go what they wanted to get out of staff training, they said, “MORE”—more strategies, more resources, more fun, more info about campers. We heard this and have designed a new training week guaranteed to set them up for success.
Training and learning doesn’t finish when camp begins. Our supervisors provide daily coaching and in-service workshops throughout the summer.
At Keshet, great camp experiences start with thoughtful and intentional preparation. This work ensures that all campers work with staff who are committed to helping them feel understood, successful and part of the community from the very first day of camp.
