Camp is a special time of year for all of us at Kids in the Game. For our campers, it’s the chance to be part of a team, explore their interests, develop new skills, and make lasting friendships. Our camp teams consist of Assistant Directors, Division Leaders, Specialists, and Counselors – all of whom are an integral part of helping us run safe, fun, and impactful camps across New York City.
In June 2021, our team came together for our first big (virtual) gathering to officially launch the camp season. Check out the video below to learn more about who we are, our mission and values, and how our summer camps help us make a positive impact for our kids and local communities.
Our camp staff participate in at least 5 hours of virtual core training along with 3 days of in-person training all before the first day of camp. Our training program helps to ensure that you’re equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to have a successful and personally fulfilling camp experience. That means knowing the fundamentals of our policies and procedures, health and safety protocols, our approach to purposeful play, and how to be a role model and mentor to others.
Virtual Camp Training
If you’re looking for a refresher on our core training content or a recent hire who needs to complete the core training requirement, we’ve got you covered.
Core Training Videos: Every camp team member is expected to participate in the four core sessions listed below. Whether you’re a counselor, specialist, or division leader, you’ll need to complete our core training to understand the basics of Kids in the Game programming and what makes our camp different from the rest.
How to Make Up Missed Training Sessions:
If you were hired after June 15th or were unable to log in for our virtual trainings in June, our expectation is that you’ll make up the missed training during your first week of camp. Every core training session has content you need to know to be a rockstar in your role at camp, keep kids safe and engaged, and contribute meaningfully to the camp experience for the kids and your fellow coaches.
First, watch each of the videos above (about 45-60 minutes each), then complete the short post-survey to confirm your understanding of the training content. Each survey should take 2-3 minutes. Access the surveys using the buttons below.
Post-Workshop Surveys:
If you’re a camp specialist, you must also complete the Specialist Workshop Training. During this session, you will learn the basics around how to prepare activity plans for your specialty areas, collaborate with counselors to increase “time-on-task,” as well as support and implement themed activities.
Whether you’re running an indoor arts class or outdoor games activity, it comes in handy to have a running list of creative games and activities that you can use to keep kids energized and engaged. That’s why we’ve put together a set of resources that you can reference when you need to find a quick icebreaker, team time game, or sports activity where everyone can be involved.
Scroll through and download the resources in the menu below to learn more physically active, age-appropriate games for kids ages 4-13. You’ll always have a game ready to go!
New addition: Download our Summer Camp Theme Guides!