Camp Is for the Camper: A Counselor's Guide to Youth Development.

This booklet provides an orientation tool and quick reference for camp counselors, and is designed to help them understand and enhance youth behavior and development. Chapter 1 discusses the camp environment, the camp counselor's responsibility as a role model, the benefits of camp for kids, establishing a positive relationship with campers at the first meeting, helping campers get comfortable during the first day and night, managing stress, symptoms of child abuse, and guidelines for appropriate counselor behavior with campers. Chapter 2 examines social trends affecting campers, relations and communications with parents, and the developmental characteristics of age groups. Physical, social, emotional, and intellectual characteristics and types of appropriate activities are listed for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17. Characteristics of young adults, adults, and senior citizens are also listed. Chapter 3 discusses reinforcing positive behaviors, courtesy and table manners, clues about behavior problems, homesickness, bed-wetting, aggression and violence, depression and suicide, attention deficit disorders, eating disorders, AIDS, and discipline. A behavior management guide lists behavior problems with prevention and intervention strategies and possible consequences. Chapter 4 examines group building, stages of group development, learning as part of the group process, and inappropriate group behaviors. Chapter 5 offers a checklist for counselor self-evaluation. (Contains an index.) (SV)