It is not easy for parents to send their special needs children to an overnight summer camp. We understand parents’ concern about their child’s safety, especially if it’s for the first time. They might be worried about how their kid will manage everything alone. Or will the camp staff understand the kid’s needs? Despise it all, we also know that summer camps can offer a life-changing experience to special needs children.
If you’re a parent to a child with special needs and if you’re thinking about sending him/her to a camp for special needs kids, look for a great camp counselor when making your decision. Now, you must be wondering how do I find out whether my preferred camp counselor is the right choice or not?
Don’t worry. In this post, we will look at the five traits you need to look for in a camp counselor. Let’s explore:
● Positive role modeling
Remember, your kid will watch everything his/her camp counselor does, and will also try to imitate them in handling situations. Therefore, it becomes crucial for counselors to serve as positive role models at camp. You can interview to find out if your potential camp counselor can act as a positive role model for your child or not.
● Resilience
Life as a camp counselor is not easy. It is unexpected and unpredictable. For example, certain situations may come when they have to cancel the overnight camp and make a new plan. Or a camper may fall sick, which keeps them awake the whole night, and there may arise numerous unexpected situations.
Therefore, camp counselors need to have grit or resilience, which helps them to bounce back after a failure and prevent any change from affecting the campers’ experience. Also, even if they are not happy about conducting any activity or assignment, they must always show a positive attitude.
● Responsible
Being responsible is one of the most vital traits that every camp counselor needs to possess. After all, you will be entrusting your child’s safety to them for a few days. Also, they will ensure that your child has fun at the camp while taking care of their needs.
● Selflessness
Although this might seem like a no-brainer, it needs re-emphasizing. When working as camp counselors, campers always come first, no matter how tired they are and what time it is on the clock. In short, they selflessly offer much-needed support and care to your child.
Apart from this, you can also look for other qualities in a camp counselor, such as initiative, creativity, empathy, kindness, flexibility, a love for children, attentiveness, and more.
If you’re looking for a reliable special needs summer camp for your child, know that Camp Lee Mar has a team of experienced counselors and camp instructors to encourage, support, and help your child at all times. To know more, call us today.
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