Volunteer Staff Manual
Contents
WORKING WITH KIDS 27 Program Goals 27
Welcome to the Camp Quality Canada Staff team!
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Behaviour Management Outside of Camp
ABOUT CAMP QUALITY CANADA 5 Why we’re here
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Our History
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Behaviour Management
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Helpful Hints for Volunteers 31 Inclusive Programming 35
Where we come from 5 What we do
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APPENDICES
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Childhood Cancer vs. Adult Cancer
Our Programs 8
Types of Childhood Cancer
POLICIES & EXPECTATIONS 10 General policies
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Job descriptions
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Additional Resources 42
Camper expectations 10 Camp Quality Canada Policies 11 Job Descriptions
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Camper Expectations & Rules 19
HEALTH & SAFETY Risk Management
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Staying Healthy
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Emergencies 22 Medications and Treatments
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Pre-Camp Health Issues
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CHILD ABUSE POLICY 24 Duty to Report
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Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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Welcome to the Camp Quality Canada Staff team! There isn’t much that can truly prepare you for the wild, fun and fantastical week that awaits you. Nor can we really get you ready for how spending an entire year with the CQ family will change you forever. So instead of trying to do that, we’ve prepared this manual, and our volunteer training to get you started! Camp is an incredibly special place to everyone who’s a part of it. Each person, new or seasoned, brings something vital to the culture that makes each CQ camp such a special place for our campers. While Camp Quality has changed over the years since it was founded in Australia way back in the 1980’s, what remains is our commitment to the campers and families we all work together to serve. Camp changes kids lives, and you, as member of the CQ community, are one of the people who will make that change happen. You’ve taken on an incredible responsibility by opening this manual, and starting out on your journey as a youth development volunteer. Not only will you be taking care of someone else’s children and providing them with a fun week of camp – you’ll also be having a real and measurable effect on them that will last their (and your!) entire life. We hope you’re ready to have some serious fun, and to take the fun seriously as well. If there are some pieces of advice we can pass on to you to help you get ready, we’d like to offer the following: Ť
Get ready for anything! Camp is filled with surprises.
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Remember, you’re like a TV that’s always on, and kids are always watching.
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You are responsible for the most important person in someone else’s life – make them the most important person in yours as well.
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Take time to recharge when you need it. It’s a long week.
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Always have a trick up your sleeve!
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Be ready to make a LOT of new friends.
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Costumes aren’t just for Halloween.
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Remember that the only person anyone can be is who they are right now. But we can all grow and change.
There’s a lot more to it than that, of course. It will take some time to learn all there is to know about CQ, and we hope you’ll join us as we all continue to learn it. So rest up, get your sleeping bag out of the closet and prepare yourself for a truly magical time! Sincerely,
Brendan Turner Director of Programs
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Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
ABOUT CAMP QUALITY CANADA Why we’re here Where we come from What we do
Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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ABOUT CQ Our logos
Tag line: Uplifting experiences for children with cancer.
Mission Statement: We believe in improving the quality of life for children living with cancer, and for their families. We want them to find joy and hope through the healing power of laughter and optimism, shared experiences, and meaningful ongoing support.
Story line: As an organization, Camp Quality makes all who connect with it feel empowered. Empowered that we can do anything, be anything and achieve anything. We have the power to turn life’s challenges into adventures. At CQ, we provide childhood rites of passage to kids with cancer. And we create experiences where kids are no longer defined by their cancer. At CQ, every one of us feels confident to be who we are and to extend our perception of what is possible. Because together, we are empowered to do anything. To be anything. And to achieve everything.
Volunteer Staff Expectations: Camp Quality Volunteer Staff:
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Put campers first
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Are a team of individuals with great strengths and abilities
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Inspire confidence in others
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Work hard to ensure camp is inclusive of all
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Create a magical, fun and positive camp culture
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Know that helping kids to grow means respecting them for who they are right now
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Are willing to give and receive constructive feedback
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Address conflicts and problems in a constructive, open and direct manner
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Focus their time and energy on their role in the camp environment
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Make a real difference in the lives of the children and families we serve! Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Camp Quality Canada is part of an international family of organizations first founded in Australia in 1983 by Vera Entwistle. Vera’s mission was to provide a program of support for children with cancer and their families. The inspiration for the name came from a doctor who told Vera “No one can do anything about the quantity of anyone’s life, but all of us can do something about the quality.” Since 1983, Camp Quality has grown around the world, establishing camps in many countries, including: Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States and Canada. Camp Quality Canada was initiated by a group of dedicated volunteers in Southern Ontario with the first camp being held in Priceville, Ontario, in August 1988. Nineteen children attended the first camp, and in the years since, we’ve grown to accommodate over 250 campers each year, and v to grow. Since that first camp, the Camp Quality program has continued to grow throughout Canada. We now have seven Canadian camps and six puppet teams. The camps are named by the geographic area they serve:
Canadian Camps
Puppet Program Locations
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Southern Ontario (founded in 1988)
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Guelph Puppet Program (founded in 1991)
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Northern Ontario (founded in 1992)
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Alberta (founded in 1998)
Sudbury English & French Puppet Programs (1994 & 1999)
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Eastern Ontario (founded in 2000)
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Thunder Bay Puppet Program (2007)
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Northwestern Ontario (founded in 2002)
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Simcoe Region Puppet Program (2008)
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Manitoba (founded in 2005)
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Durham Region Puppet Program (2008)
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New Heights (National) (founded in 2007)
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Winnipeg Puppet Program (2011)
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Breaking Borders (National) (Founded 2013)
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Nanaimo Puppet Program (2013)
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Calgary Puppet Program (2014)
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ABOUT CQ
Our History
ABOUT CQ
Our Programs Each of our programs is intended to create positive outcomes for the children and families we serve. While the programs may differ in many ways, what always remains the same is our commitment to providing fun, meaningful and optimistic experiences for everyone we work with. Camp Quality Canada programs are delivered by amazing volunteers like you. With so many different programs, there are many opportunities for volunteers to join in the fun and share some of their valuable time with some incredible kids and families. Whether you have a week, a weekend or just a few hours to give, there’s a program that needs your help.
Camp Week (ages 4-18) Our signature program runs in 6 locations across Canada. This is a great week for patients, survivors and their siblings to enjoy a week away from home in a fun and supportive environment. Camp weeks are intended to provide the following for campers: Ť
Fun & Optimism
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Engaging Activities that kids love
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New friends who have shared their experiences
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Independence and self-discovery
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Building self-confidence by challenging themselves in a fun and supportive environment
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Partnering with staff and playing an active role in planning their camp week
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Being outside and enjoying a healthy lifestyle
Camp Quality Northern Ontario
New Heights (ages 14-18) New Heights is a program just for teens. We bring young people together from all CQ camps across Canada for a great opportunity to: Ť Learn about themselves and find their strengths Ť Build Self-Confidence Ť Meet and make new friends with other teens who share their story New Heights
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Ť Learn valuable life and leadership skills
Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
These shorter programs last between one and three days and are a great opportunity for families and campers to get an extra helping of camp during the year. The programs are intended to provide families with: Ť
A fun & optimistic environment
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A chance to ‘get away from it all’ as a family
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Time to meet other families and share experiences
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An extra helping of everything that camp provides, in a single serving size
Breaking Borders (ages 18-25) This adventure-based program sends young adult survivors and sibs on a different and unique adventure each year. As our most challenging program, participants push themselves to: Ť
Experience the Canadian wilderness first hand - rain or shine
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Plan and take the lead of the expedition
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Learn their strengths as well as their limits so they can build on them
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Gain valuable independence by exposing themselves to challenging and remote environments
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Build close bonds with others who share the journey
Breaking Borders
Puppet Program (grades v) Unique to Camp Quality, our Puppet Program originated in Australia as a fun way to teach children’s peers about how they can help a friend who is sick or has a disability as a result of having had cancer, or any serious illness. The program aims to: Ť
Help kids understand the importance of supporting one another
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Serve school curriculums as it incorporates important character education lessons
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Facilitate the re-entry of a child with cancer into the school environment
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Dispel many of the prejudices which may exist about people who have cancer
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Answer questions and concerns school children may have about cancer or disability
Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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ABOUT CQ
Family Camps & Fun Days (ages 0-99+)
POLICIES & EXPECTATIONS General policies Job descriptions Camper expectations
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Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Camp Quality Canada Policies
Alcohol & Drugs Ť
Taking, or being under the influence of nonprescription drugs while engaged in any CQ related activity will result in your permanent and immediate removal from all CQ programs.
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All prescription drugs must be kept with the medical staff while at camp and out of reach of all campers
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Drinking alcohol while engaged in the supervision of campers is also strictly forbidden. This includes during camp, travelling to and from camp, visiting campers, fun-days, family camps, puppet performances, and any other time that you are supervising campers in any way.
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At events where campers are not present, such as fund-raising dinners or volunteer events, as an adult representatives of CQ, it is expected that you not drink in excess or engage in conduct that reflects poorly on Camp Quality.
Smoking Ť
All Camp Quality programs are non-smoking. No paid or volunteer staff are permitted to smoke on camp grounds or in any place where campers might see or smell you. Please remember that campers are sensitive to the smell of tobacco and that it can last on your clothing for a long time.
Behaviour All staff are expected to behave in a respectful and courteous manner while on CQ business. This means: Ť
Not engaging in socially aggressive or bullying behaviour
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Never intimidating, threatening or physically harming a camper or staff member
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Being respectful of everyone’s spiritual beliefs and not promoting your own in the camp setting
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Respecting the treatment choices of the camper’s parents and physicians and not offering medical advice
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Not promoting curative diets - but supporting campers’ regular healthy eating practices
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Not openly engaging in exclusive or romantic relationships while at camp
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Treating others with kindness and respect at all times and use appropriate language for a camp setting
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Only using phones and electronics at times and places agreed upon by the Camp Director -never with campers
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CQ POLICIES
Providing a safe and welcoming environment for our campers is our top priority. These policies are all intended to help you to create such a place for both our campers and for everyone who attends CQ programs. Since camp is inherently spontaneous and exciting, we also rely on you to exercise your best judgement at all times while volunteering for any CQ program - whether you’re physically at camp or not. If you ever have a question or concern about any camp activity or issue, ask the camp leadership team for assistance. Always be aware that your actions directly affect campers who may be seriously ill, and as such you will need to be on your best behaviour. The following policies must be followed. Failure to do so may result in your immediate dismissal.
Appropriate Dress Please wear: Ť
Clothing and bathing suits that allow you to engage in active physical activities. i.e. string bikinis, etc. would not be appropriate for water sports. We also ask males not to wear brief-type bathing suits.
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Clothing that is appropriate to wear around children (i.e. no drug, alcohol, tobacco, violent or sexual designs)
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Clothing to protect you from the sun: Hats, shirts & sunscreen
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Activity-appropriate footwear at all times
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Your camp name tag, so others can remember your name
CQ POLICIES
Privacy & Confidentiality Protecting the privacy of our campers and volunteers is extremely important to us. We respect and support everyone’s right to control how their identity is shown to the world. To help us, please follow these guidelines: Ť
Do not speak to the media about Camp Quality in any way without the permission of the Camp Director
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Do not post or publish photos (online or otherwise) of campers or volunteers without first obtaining the permission of the Camp Director and the parents of the camper or the volunteer themselves.
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Personal information that can be used to identify campers or volunteers (last names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) must not be shared with anyone outside CQ
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Do not publicise or share any information about a volunteer or camper’s medical or emotional status
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You will be entrusted with very sensitive information, including medical information about a child. This information is to be used only to help you and other volunteers and staff provide care for that child. It is not to be shared with anyone not intimately involved in that care.
Your privacy is important to us as well, and any information we collect about you will only be used in accordance with our privacy policy (available on our website www.campquality.org via a link in the page footer). You have also agreed to give Camp Quality permission to publish photos and video of yourself for promotional purposes.
General Camp Rules Ť
Do not leave the camp property without permission from the Camp Director.
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Swim only during designated times when a lifeguard is present. Never alone, and never at night.
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Any activity area that is regularly supervised by a specialist activity leader (archery, woodworking, climbing, etc.) is only open when the activity leader is present and gives their permission
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Obey the signs posted at all activity areas
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Be sure the Camp Director is aware of any camp visitors
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Camp Quality Northern Ontario
Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Situations to Avoid Camp is a perfect place for building positive relationships between young people and adults - that’s a big part of the CQ experience! But there are some boundaries we need to respect, both for ourselves and the campers. Keeping yourself out of any of the following situations will not only protect you, but help to eliminate any concerns about inappropriate interactions with vulnerable children. Threatening a camper with any violent act, withdrawal of food, or other harmful exposure
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Disciplining a camper by yourself – always have another companion with you
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Skinny dipping
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Making comments about a camper’s body or sexuality
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Using sexual language
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Sharing sexually explicit images/videos/stories with campers
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Being alone with a camper in a secluded location, or in a room with the door closed
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A camper and one volunteer in the showers
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An intimate relationship with a camper - regardless of age
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Helping a child with personal hygiene with the door closed. If needed, have another volunteer staff member present. Staff must be of the same sex as the camper in this situation.
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Lying in bed with a camper
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Kissing a camper
CQ POLICIES
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Camp Quality Northwestern Ontario
Seeing Campers Outside of Camp One of the challenges that the year-long volunteer faces is maintaining the proper boundaries with their camper and family, while keeping the Camper-Companion relationship alive throughout the year. Here are some tips for maintaining a positive helping relationship with campers and their families: Ť
If you arrange outings with a camper, include their adult family members and/or other Camp Quality companions and campers. This way, you can avoid being alone with the camper.
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When getting together with your camper outside of camp, please be sure that you keep the parents or guardians of the camper(s) aware of your intentions, plans for the child, activities you will attend, gifts you plan to give, or written information you share.
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Campers and families may share details regarding the camper’s health and medical treatment with you, and may even seek your advice. Remember it is not within your capacity as a Camp Quality volunteer to offer medical advice or advocate treatments. Offer your ear to listen, and know your limitations.
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Our policy about not posting images of campers extends to activities you do together outside of camp.
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If your camper is in the hospital, or their condition changes, it is not for you or CQ to share that information publicly, esp. on the internet.
We know you will use your best judgment when interacting outside of camp with your campers, and we encourage Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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you to enjoy your time together. We are always available if you have any questions, and would love to help you enjoy your Camp Quality experience all year long!
Harassment Policy Camp Quality works hard to be an environment where all campers and volunteers feel respected and free from discrimination, harassment or intimidation. It is expected that all volunteers treat all of their colleagues in such a way that enhances this goal. It is also each volunteer’s responsibility to act as a role model to the campers and to ensure that they do not feel discriminated against, harassed or intimidated by volunteers or other campers. CQ POLICIES
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Comments, jokes, remarks, or gestures that may embarrass or upset someone relating to their age, gender, religion, race, physical appearance, physical ability, sexual orientation, culture or socioeconomic status, etc. will not be tolerated.
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It is important to note that not intending to harass, intimidate or discriminate is not an excuse for doing so. It is incumbent on each of us to think about the possible interpretations or misunderstandings of words and behaviours before speaking or acting.
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All acts of camper-to-camper discrimination, intimidation or harassment must be dealt with and reported to the Camp Management. All witnessed acts of staff acting in a way that is discriminatory, harassing or intimidating must be reported to the Camp Management.
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Acts of intimidation, discrimination and/or harassment could lead to dismissal of staff and campers being sent home.
If you feel you have been discriminated against, harassed or intimidated, it is up to you to make the person(s) involved aware of your discomfort. If you don’t feel comfortable, you can speak with a more senior volunteer who can help you, and find the best way to stop the behaviour. If the behaviour continues, speak with the Camp Director, any CQ National Office Staff or Board Member who will then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation.
CAMP PRO-TIP ‘Flow’ ‘Flow’ is a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe what others call ‘the zone’ or a state of complete single-minded engagement. This ‘Flow’ state is when time slips away and we become fully immersed in what we’re doing. People experiencing flow feel a great sense of personal control and agency over situations and of their life. Being able to experience flow is vital to our wellbeing and a key part of human flourishing. Luckily for all of us, the camp environment is a perfect place to get ‘in the zone’ and experience this level of engagement. For both you and your camper, here are some keys to getting in the flow zone:
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Finding the most challenging activity you’re capable of doing is a great way to find flow. If it’s too challenging, it’s frustrating - not challenging enough and it’s boring. Flow is that sweet spot in the middle.
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If it’s too easy, find ways to add a bit more challenge to an activity. If it’s too hard, find small ways to make it a bit easier.
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By keeping both you and your camper challenged, you’ll have more fun and feel better too!
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If you do everything for your camper, it’s likely that neither of you will be truly engaged, and you’ll be missing out on all the real meaningful experiences that camp has to offer. Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Job Descriptions
The Camp Organizing Committee Each Camp Quality location is under the leadership of a Camp Organizing Committee (COC). The COC meets year-round to plan and implement the camp program. The COC is also responsible for year round programming including reunions, fun days, ongoing family support, and fund raising.
CQ POLICIES
COC Role Descriptions Camp Director Ť
Oversees the whole camp in adherence to the policies of Camp Quality Canada
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Identifies and responds to issues of camper and staff safety
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Ensures that mechanisms are in place for timely and effective communication with all volunteers
Camp Secretary Ť
Works closely with the Camp Director in the administration of the camp
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Camp week duties include name tags, log book preparation, purchasing of office supplies, etc.
Camp Treasurer Ť
Manages all donations and expenditures for camp on a year-round basis
Volunteer Registrar Ť
Recruits camp week volunteers
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Provides volunteer staff with updates and communication
Camper Registrar Ť
Recruits campers
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Keeps in touch with campers and parents to inform them of camp events
Media Coordinator Ť
Coordinates all media during camp week and throughout the year
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Escorts media visitors while on camp grounds
Program Coordinator Ť
Provides and implements a safe, non-competitive camp program allowing for individual interests, success and growth of self-esteem to achieve program outcomes
Family Support Coordinator Ť
Year-round link between Camp Quality and the camper families.
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Maintains regular contact with families who are experiencing health/personal issues and challenges and extends support to these families through regular contact/visits. Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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Camp Week Volunteers Divided into three categories: Ť
Camp Staff
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Medical Team
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Companions and Super Companions
Camp Staff Role Descriptions CQ POLICIES
The Camp Staff are responsible for ensuring that the camp runs smoothly. They are tasked with organizing and running all activities, preparation of meals, and maintenance of the facility and the overall effectiveness of the camp week.
Camp Quality Manitoba
Kitchen Supervisor Ť
Responsible for overall kitchen management, including leadership to kitchen staff, menu planning, safe food handling practices, meal preparation
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Educates volunteers about the expectations of the Kitchen Staff in regards to food preparation and delivery
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Ensures camper and staff food allergies and special dietary needs are addressed
Kitchen Staff Ť
Supports the kitchen supervisor in the preparation of meals
Dining Room Staff Ť
Sets up and cleans up dining area for each meal
Lifeguard Ť
Provides a safe environment for everyone while using pool/waterfront
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Enforces all water safety rules and regulations and initiates first aid as needed
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Maintains current certifications
Photographer/Videographer Ť
Takes video and photos of all the people and activities at camp for inclusion in the camp Logbook and marketing materials
Programming Team Ť
Plans and implements a fun, safe, and adaptive camp program
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Takes responsibility for preparation, leadership and clean-up of activity
Camp Maintenance Staff Ť
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Oversees general maintenance of camp (i.e., washroom cleaning, garbage disposal, camp set- up/take-down, maintenance of equipment, etc.) Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Medical Team Role Descriptions The Medical Team is responsible for the health care of the campers. The Medical Team members are the ONLY personnel allowed to provide any medical care to campers. They are also a resource to volunteers in many areas of camper care including behaviour management, homesickness, bed-wetting, nightmares, sleep difficulties, eating problems, etc. While the primary focus of the medical team is camper care, they are of course available for emergent and urgent care of staff while at camp.
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Oversees a healthy, safe camp environment for all
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Responds to health issues of campers and volunteers during camp
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Knowledge of campsite facilities, local hospitals and emergency services
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Meets and assesses each camper upon their arrival at camp
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Adheres to the campers’ medication regimen from home
CQ POLICIES
Camp Doctor
Camp Nurses Ť
Educate volunteers on pertinent medical information and camper conditions while maintaining confidentiality
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Respond to all health issues of campers and volunteers during camp
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Knowledge of campsite facilities, local hospitals and emergency services
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Meet and assess each camper upon their arrival at camp
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Adhere to the campers’ medication regimen
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Complete/maintain relevant documentation
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Provide (at Camp Quality’s expense) any prescriptions ordered by the Doctor for campers
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Provide locked storage of all medications
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Carry a First Aid Bag at all times
Companion/Support Companion Role Descriptions The Companions and Support Companions are responsible for the day-to-day care of the children. The Companions are matched one-on-one with a camper and given the responsibility for that child’s overall well-being during the week. Support Companions are tasked with supporting the Companions. During the camp week they will be responsible for the care of many different campers in assuring companions do not ‘burn out’ and campers are well looked after.
Companions Camp Quality Southern Ontario
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Provide assistance, guidance, and companionship to their camper to help them make the most of their camp experience
Companions are responsible for their camper (with the support of support companions and the rest of the camp staff) 24 hours per day; this includes knowing where your camper is at all times Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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CQ POLICIES
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Join with campers in as many activities as the camper wishes, providing support/assistance as needed
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Are available to their camper for whatever they may need at mealtimes, activities, rest periods, etc.
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Encourage personal hygiene practices including teeth brushing, daily showering, hand washing, sunscreen application
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Work in conjunction with medical staff and COC to manage any concerns which may arise with your camper including behaviour management, health concerns, nutrition issues, interpersonal issues, and so on
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Are high quality role models for campers and peers and participate to the fullest extent possible in camp activities
Super Companions Ť
Adhere to the guidelines above (for Companions)
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Offer support to companions to ensure that camper needs are met. This may include:
Camp Quality Alberta Ť Providing break periods for companions based on the level of need of the camper and companion Ť Being observant and intuitive to the campers and companions and anticipating when assistance is needed Ť Providing daytime rest for companions who have spent night time awake due to camper issues or illness Ť Performing necessary cabin chores such as laundering soiled bedding or clothing
CAMP PRO-TIP Growth Mindset According to Developmental Psychologist, Carol Dweck, there are two types of mindsets; “Fixed Mindset” and “Growth Mindset.” In a Fixed Mindset, people believe their basic abilities, intelligence, and talents, are fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s it, then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. In a Growth Mindset, people understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort and persistence. They don’t necessarily think anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.” We can encourage a Growth Mindset in campers by using the appropriate types of praise: Praise Effort and Growth “I like the way you tried all kinds of ways to solve that problem until you finally got it!” “That was a hard climb, but you kept at it and got all the way up. That’s great!” “I think that was too easy for you, how about we do something a bit more fun and challenging?”
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Avoid Praising Fixed Abilities “Wow, you did so good on that - you’re smart!” “You’re an amazing climber, that’s awesome!” “Nice one! You did that without event trying.” “I’m so impressed, you’re the best!”
Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Camper Expectations & Rules Being clear with your camper from the very beginning of camp will help them to feel more comfortable making good decisions at camp. You can set your camper up for success by making sure they understand the expectations we have of them and by modelling appropriate camp behaviour. There are 3 key rules for campers at all CQ camps: 1. BE SUPERVISED
2. DON’T HARM
3. BE KIND
In addition to these, there are some more specific rules that we all must work together to follow: CQ POLICIES
1. No prohibited items: tobacco, drugs, alcohol, matches, weapons, pornographic or otherwise offensive materials. 2. Campers must not enter the cabins, washrooms, or other private areas of members of the opposite sex. 3. Respect everyone’s personal space and not touch or borrow anyone’s belongings without their permission. 4. Never be in the water or close to the water without direct supervision. 5. Stay with your companion at all times unless you have let them know where you’re going and what you’re doing. 6. Stay hydrated! 7. Keep all medications - even vitamins with the nurse 8. Treat everyone with respect. Companions and other Staff will not tolerate being sworn at, ordered around, threatened, hit, or abused in any way. 9. Become more independent (as is appropriate). i.e. organize yourself, make your bed, remember your medications, stay clean, make decisions and plan activities, etc. 10. Try hard to be helpful and cooperative 11. Wear sunscreen, shirt and hat to protect yourself from the sun. 12. Share 13. Wear your name tag at all times, and don’t take other people’s name tags. 14. Ask an adult if you’re unsure. Since campers will sleep in cabins with other campers, it’s also important to spend some time as a cabin group making sure everyone understands how to behave when you are sharing close space with others. Having campers work together to agree on some “cabin rules” is a good idea. By communicating clearly with your camper and other staff, and by talking things though before they become “big issues,” we can all work to make CQ a fun, welcoming, and safe place for everyone. Camp Quality Northwestern Ontario
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HEALTH & SAFETY Risk Management Staying Healthy
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Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Risk Management Managing and addressing risk is everyone’s responsibility. In any position, at any time, you will be called upon to make decisions that will directly affect the well-being of campers and staff. In order to provide some guidance in making those decisions, please consider the following: Ť
Risk Management is your responsibility. It’s always up to you to be sure that the activities that you engage in are safe for you and your camper. While we may bring in specially trained people to help with the more serious risks, that doesn’t mean that there’s any reason not to remain vigilant.
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Risk Management is an ongoing and constant effort. Not only do we have to be able to identify and avoid risks, but we must also learn from the endeavour. Make sure you let the camp leadership team know about any hazards you encounter, and give them feedback on how we can make camp safer.
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Risk is not just physical. Spiritual, social, and emotional hazards exist as well.
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Remember to take A.I.M.E. at risk:
* Identify the risks. For example; drowning, accidents caused by inexperience, collisions, and storms are just some of the risks associated with boating. * Manage the risks. It’s best to prevent accidents than to respond to them. For example; wearing PFDs, having properly trained boaters, following the rules of the water and avoiding bad weather can help mitigate many of the risks associated with boating. * Educate others about the risks. For instance, posting signs with the rules of boating, making sure to take time to go over the rules before the activity. Ť
Make sure you have proper training for the task you’ve been assigned.
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Spend some time before each activity making sure your camper know how to do it safely. All activities must have safety rules posted, so you can review them with your camper. If the rules aren’t posted, speak with the person running the activity.
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Be a proper role model. Rules exist for a reason, and your breaking them sends a very unsafe message to campers. If you can break one rule, why are any of them important?
Incident Reporting In the event that an accident or near miss takes place at camp, you must complete an incident report. Camp Directors and Medical Staff have access to these forms, and can help you fill them out. It is very important that you record as much information as you can remember as soon as possible - not more than 24 hours after the incident. Depending on the type of incident, this report could be the evidence you need to show that you behaved appropriately and to the best of your ability during the situation. An “incident’ could mean, an injury or close call, serious emotional distress, including threats of suicide, threats against other people at camp, abuse of any kind, breaking camp policies, or breaking any laws that govern the province where the camp is located. In any case where you may feel the need, you can also contact the CQ office directly at 1-866-738-8011
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HEALTH & SAFETY
* Assess every situation. Get the “big picture”of what’s going on. For example; while boating, you would look at the water, the boat, the campers, other boats, the weather, etc.
Emergencies As much as we work diligently to keep everyone safe, accidents and unforeseen circumstances still happen at camp. In order to prepare you for these, each camp location has established local emergency procedures for their camp. You will be trained on these at camp, and will run through the general procedure with all staff and campers present. Once you have been trained, you will know what to do in the event of fire, severe weather, missing person, medical emergency, Dangerous person or animal on camp grounds If you are uncertain of what to do should any of these occur, speak to the Camp Director so that you are prepared.
Staying Healthy Staff, companions and the medical team work together to ensure the campers’ experience is a safe and healthy one. Staff and companions are the eyes and ears of the medical team – they rely on you to bring concerns about campers’ health to their attention, and are there to help and provide advice in any way they can. HEALTH & SAFETY
Eating and Diet Concerns Due to various treatments, your camper may have a large or small appetite. The key to watch out for is any change in appetite. A change in appetite could indicate that your camper is not feeling well...even if they do not tell you. Try to be aware of changes and notify the medical team of any concerns.
Infection/Immunity Issues Since some of the children are at camp with a lower than normal immune system, it is important to minimize the spread of germs. Frequent hand washing and maintaining good personal hygiene practices are the best ways to prevent the spread of infection. If you are unwell or potentially contagious, notify the medical staff. If you notice signs of infection in your camper (fever, fatigue/tiredness, cough, rash, etc.) notify the medical staff.
Avoid stress and sickness Getting adequate sleep at a summer camp is not always easy. However, we are providing a camp for children that may need the extra rest. Make use of the after lunch rest period for resting, and follow lights out times. Also watch your camper for signs of tiredness and offer or insist on extra rest.
Sun Safety Playing outdoors and swimming are a big part of camp. Sun safety applies to all campers and volunteers, not just those made more susceptible to sun exposure by treatment. Wearing shirts, sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses whenever appropriate will help keep everyone sun safe. Remember: SLIP on a shirt, SLAP on a hat, and SLOP on some sunscreen!
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Medications and Treatments All personal medication is to be checked in with the medical team. Although it is recommended that you bring your own prescribed and generic medicine, it must all be checked in with the medical staff for the safety of the campers. The volunteers and medical team do their best to follow the child’s home routines and parent’s wishes regarding medications and other treatments. The medical team will let you know when you need to bring your camper for medications or otherwise.
First Aid
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Children on chemotherapy or other medications may have toxins in their bodily fluids that could harm you. You may not know if a camper is on these medications.
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Seemingly minor problems, like a fever, feeling tired a lot, losing appetite, or bruising easily can be symptoms of much more serious issues.
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ANY medication given to a camper has the potential to seriously harm them. Even over the counter, non-
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A Nurse or Doctor should be close by at all times at camp and away. If there isn’t one near you (that can respond within 1 minute), you should speak up and resolve the situation.
prescription or naturopathic treatments. These are only to be given by the medical team.
Staying Hydrated Keep yourself and your camper properly hydrated - water intake is very important, esp. on hot days!
No Nuts Please! Keep all nuts and products containing nuts away from campers and out of camp.
Camp Quality Alberta
Pre-Camp Health Issues If you are ill, or have been exposed to someone who is in the time leading up to camp, you need to speak to the camp Medical Director to ensure that it is safe for you to come to camp. Remember that something as mild as a cold or the chicken pox could be life-threatening to some of our campers. It’s always better safe than sorry.
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HEALTH & SAFETY
We ask that all first aid - even of a minor nature, be performed by a member of the medical team. If you ever have a doubt about your camper’s well-being, take them to see a medical team member, like a Doctor or Nurse. Keep in mind that:
CHILD ABUSE
Adapted from Winning Kids Inc® (2009) & Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (2010)
Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult. Abuse is primarily categorized as physical, sexual, emotional, or involving neglect.
Types of Abuse Physical Abuse Physical Abuse is any deliberate physical force or action that results, or could result in injury to a child. It can include punching, slapping, beating, shaking, burning, biting or throwing a child. It is different than what is considered reasonable discipline.
Behavioural Indicators HEALTH & SAFETY
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Afraid or reluctant to go home, or runs away
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Shows unusual aggression, rages or tantrums
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Flinches when touched
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Has changes in school performance and attendance
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Withdraws from family, friends and activities previously enjoyed
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Poor self-esteem (i.e. self-mutilation, extreme risk-taking behaviour)
Physical Indicators Ť
Injuries to a child for which there is no explanation, the explanation does not fit with the injuries, or the story keeps changing Injuries at different stages of healing
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Injuries that have a pattern or look like they may have been caused by an object (i.e. hand, stick, buckle)
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Bruising in unusual places such as ears, trunk, neck or buttocks
Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult or an older child. Coercion (physical, psychological or emotional) is intrinsic to sexual abuse. It can take many forms. This includes sexual intercourse, exposing a child’s private areas, indecent phone calls, fondling for sexual pleasure, allowing a child to look at, or perform pornographic pictures or videos, or engage in prostitution.
Behavioural Indicators Ť
Engages in age-inappropriate sexual play or exhibits age-inappropriate sexual knowledge (i.e. through drawing or play)
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Has unexplained gifts, new clothes or money
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Forces or coerces another child to engage in sexual play
Has changes in school performance and attendance
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Directs sexually intrusive behaviour to adults
Is secretive about “new” friends, activities, phone calls or internet use
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Flinches when touched
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Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that attacks a child’s emotional development and sense of self worth. It includes excessive, aggressive, or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Emotional abuse includes constant criticizing, teasing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, ignoring or isolating the child. It also includes failure by the parent or caregiver to provide their children with love, emotional support and guidance. Ť
Mental or emotional development lags
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Overly compliant, too well-mannered
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Isolated and has no friends or complains of social isolation
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Excessive neatness and cleanliness
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Behaviours inappropriate for age
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Extreme attention-seeking behaviours
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Fear of failure, overly high standards, reluctant to play
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Poor peer relationships
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Fears consequences of actions, often leading to lying
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Physical Indicators Ť
Bed wetting and/or frequent diarrhoea
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Frequent psychosomatic complaints, headaches, nausea, abdominal pains
Extreme withdrawal or aggressiveness, mood swings
Neglect Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic need for food, clothing, shelter, sleep, medical attention, education and protection from harm. This can occur when parents do not know about appropriate care for children, when they cannot adequately supervise their children or when they are unable to plan ahead.
Behavioural Indicators Ť
Forges for, hoards or steals food
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Physical Indicators Ť
Developmental delay or setbacks related to a lack of stimulation
Injuries where medical care has been unusually delayed or avoided
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Injuries resulting from a lack of supervision
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Poor school attendance
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Inappropriately takes on a caregiver role for a parent or siblings
Medical or dental needs that are consistently unattended to
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Tired or unable to concentrate at school
“Failure to thrive” in a child where no medical reason has been found
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Appears sad or has flat affect
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Reluctant to go home; speaks of being or appears to be left alone at home a lot, unsupervised
Clothing consistently inadequate for weather conditions
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Persistent hunger
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Does not respond to affection or stimulation
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Poor or inadequate nutrition
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Poor personal hygiene
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Behavioural Indicators
Reporting Child Abuse Duty to Report Ť
In Canada if someone knows of or suspects that a child is being abused, that person has a legal responsibility to report the known or suspected abuse
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If a person has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child may be in need of protection, that person must report the suspicion and the info on which it is based to a Children’s Aid Society (Ontario’s Child and Family Services Act)
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You only need to suspect; you do not need proof
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It is a direct report and an ongoing duty to report
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It takes precedence over any duty of confidentiality
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It doesn’t matter if CAS is already involved
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Applies to any child; however, the age of the child differs across Canada
HEALTH & SAFETY
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Most provinces define a child as a person under 16 (Ontario)
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Quebec, Manitoba & Alberta define a child as a person under 18
Reporting & Response If a child discloses abuse: Ť
Believe in the child; listen calmly, reassure and comfort the child
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Do not ask leading questions
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Record the facts afterwards (discreetly)
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Report the disclosure immediately to the Camp Director
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Report to the Children’s Aid Society or proper authority Ť
The person who received the disclosure or suspects abuse must make the report
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Protect the confidentiality of both the victim and the accused
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Cooperate with the investigation, but leave the investigation to the authorities
What happens when a report is made? A child protection worker will determine if an investigation is warranted, and, if so, an investigation will begin. If the investigation reveals a reason for CAS intervention, the family and the child will be offered the appropriate services. Information given to a Children’s Aid Society is confidential.
For more information: Ť
Alberta Children & Youth Services - www.child.alberta.ca/
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Manitoba Family Services - www.gov.mb.ca/fs/
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Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) - www.oacas.org/
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WORKING WITH KIDS Program Goals Behaviour Management Outside of Camp
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Program Goals There are a lot of great things that kids and adults get out of camp. For over 100 years, kids in North America have been going to summer camps to escape the city, learn about nature, build social skills and grow as people. This ‘intentionality” behind summer camps is not likely to change - nor should it. Camp will always be a great place for kids to grow. At Camp Quality, we continue this proud tradition with our own program goals. Based on concepts found in Developmental and Positive Psychology and seasoned with CQ’s own special flavour, our program goals are for campers to: 1. Be exposed to the joyful and optimistic CQ culture 2. Explore a variety of unique activities as an individual 3. Engage in physical & creative play with other campers 4. Receive both structured and unstructured opportunities to socialize with their peers 5. Learn about the world around them & their own personal strengths 6. Complete truly challenging activities and projects and build self-confidence 7. Exercise, eat healthily and see adults modelling a healthy lifestyle 8. Partner with an positive adult companion and be actively engaged in planning their week at camp
WORKING WITH KIDS
The best part of camp, and the part that makes it such a magical place, is that how campers achieve these goals is up to you, and most importantly, them. The camp program is designed with these things in mind, and there are plenty of opportunities for campers to grow in all of these ways, but you can play a very special role as your camper’s own personal program director.
‘All About Me’ Forms To help you understand your camper better, we ask each parent and camper to complete an “All About Me Form” that you should be given before you meet them. The form will let you know a bit about your camper and their interests, as well as some more in-depth information given by their parents. Parents are also asked to let you know what they’d like to see their child get out of the camp experience. Each form has a very basic questionnaire on which parents give some perspective on their child’s mastery of each of 7 skills. These will be useful to you in being able to anticipate your camper’s behaviour and to provide them with suitable challenges and opportunities which will help them have a fun, exciting and meaningful camp experience. This form is confidential. You must not show it to others, including your camper. Parents have invested a lot of trust in giving you this insight. 28
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Behaviour Management When we try to understand why children misbehave, we often need to look past the behaviour to factors which may be affecting the child and manifesting as an undesirable behaviour. ŤImmaturity - While we make certain assumptions about maturity based on age, many factors affect maturity and a child may be more or less mature than expected. ŤBoredom - Children with visual or auditory problems often act bored or “tuned out” because they are not taking in the information given. Gifted children sometimes need greater motivation than other children do. If a child is bored, consider if the activity is suitable or needs modification. ŤCuriosity - When children have opportunities to satisfy their curiosity, there is less opportunity for misbehaviour. Promote and encourage curiosity as a way to keep children involved.
ŤFamily Problems - Sometimes, children may need to talk about their family situations and/or changes that have occurred as a result of their Camp Quality Breaking Borders cancer. Your job is to listen in confidence and in a very caring manner. However, if you suspect that a child is being abused please speak with the Camp Director immediately and follow the child abuse reporting procedures. Ť
Personality Conflicts - Not everyone is compatible. If you recognize a personality conflict which is affecting a camper’s ability to function optimally or enjoy the camp experience, investigate what can be done to remedy the situation and seek assistance.
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Physical Discomfort or Illness - Hunger, fatigue or the onset of illness can cause children to be short tempered or easily upset. If you have any doubts about your camper’s health, discreetly but promptly approach the medical team.
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Reinforcement - Positive reinforcement goes a long way to preventing negative behaviours. Conversely, children who are frequently punished for negative behaviours require more and more frequent attention, as the child recognizes that misbehaviour equals attention. Reinforce positive behaviour with praise to help the child learn positive behaviour patterns.
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Testing Limits - Children who have been seriously ill tend to feel a loss of control over their own lives. Additionally, parents and authority figures may have been reluctant to enforce rules or set limits with an ill child. As a result, the child may push limits and test adults to see if the poor behaviour will be corrected or confronted. Consistency, providing choices, and clear expectations are all positive ways to address this behaviour.
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Too Many No’s - Too many negatives are easy to ignore. If you say no, provide a clear reason, and use “no” sparingly. Alternately, offer choices (Instead of “No swimming at rest time”, try “This is rest time. Would you like to spend it in our cabin or under the tree?”). Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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ŤFamily Behaviour - Some children will repeat behaviours learned at home without knowing that such behaviour may be unacceptable in other places. Explain clearly the rules and expectations of camp. Be tolerant of the time it may take to learn different habits, but if the problem persists after you have addressed it, seek further assistance.
Positive Behaviour Management Techniques Ť
Set clear expectations from the beginning. Give campers the benefit of knowing what is expected and why.
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Be an example of the behaviour you expect.
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Be consistent in what you expect and how you react (consequences).
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Intervene quickly – allowing an unacceptable behaviour to persist makes it that much harder to correct later.
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Give choices – make them reasonable and appropriate to the situation.
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Reward the positive/appropriate behaviour and, within reason and if it is safe to do so, ignore the inappropriate.
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Be fair. Make sure expectations and consequences are equal for everyone, taking into consideration age and developmental stage.
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Consequences should be appropriate to the child and the situation and consistently applied. Never set a consequence that you do not or cannot follow through on.
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Should it be necessary to discipline or speak with a child regarding poor behaviour, do so discreetly and in a way which does not single out the child. But always in the presence of another adult - even if they’re not directly involved.
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In addressing poor behaviour, always speak to the behaviour and not the child (i.e. rather than “You are rude”, try “Your behaviour was not polite”). Remember to promote the idea of a Growth Mindset - it’s easier to see that you can change your behaviour than it is to change who you ‘are.’
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Positive Reinforcement works, and there’s nothing complicated about it. Letting campers know that their actions are positive makes them feel better about themselves, and who doesn’t like to feel better!?
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If you have a problem and you are unsure how to handle it – ask for help!
WORKING WITH KIDS
CAMP PRO-TIP Challenge by Choice Challenging campers is essential to creating a meaningful camp experience - it’s fundamental to what we do. But forcing or pressuring campers to do something can be traumatic. Not only that, but for many of our campers, the cancer experience has taken away a lot of opportunities to choose or do things for themselves. Giving choice to campers is a good antidote to that, and it’s central to a positive camp experience. Not wanting to do something, or wanting to do something else does not mean that the camper is “acting out” or “disobeying.” Instead of pressuring campers, or commanding them to do something, seek to understand what level of challenge they are willing to accept and take things from there. You can also ask why they don’t want to participate and provide campers with more explanation of the activity if you feel it will reduce any anxieties. In the end, remember that the choice is theirs. Not participating in activities can be just as much of a learning experience as participating in them. What seems simple to one person can be a challenge for another. Praising a camper’s effort is always appropriate when they accomplish something that they were not initially comfortable with. Remember that the feeling of accomplishment is greater when it comes from within, as opposed to being the result of external coercion. 30
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Camper-Centered Activity If there were any single thing that we’d like you to know, it’s that Camp Quality is here for one group only: Campers! As a volunteer, you have the unique opportunity to learn from and share fun experiences with young people. But please, never take opportunities to learn or enjoy activities away from the campers. It’s far better that a camper does something themselves, than that it’s done ‘right.’ In order to help keep Camp Quality “Camper-Centered”, we provide each companion with an “All About Me” form that your camper has filled out before camp. You can use it as a guide for what type of activities your camper would like to do at camp and give you some ideas about things you can talk about. We also match campers with companions to help ensure that everyone can make the most of their CQ experience! When you first meet your camper, be sure to spend some more time asking all about them and their interests. Chances are that they’ll be interested in something that gives you the opportunity to share something of yourself as well! Whether it’s how to fish, or draw a picture of a moose; the skills and knowledge you possess can enrich a camper’s experience and provide lasting memories.
Helpful Hints for Volunteers Words of Wisdom from Campers, Parents and Volunteers
Ť Most campers and parents would tell you that while empathy (identifying with and understanding another’s feelings) is always welcome, feeling sorry for the camper(s) is probably misplaced. Ť
A kid with cancer is first and foremost a kid.
Ť Cancer is not an ‘adult’ thing. Nor is going to the hospital, or having friends who have passed away. These are all experiences that our campers have gone through, and they’re kids -they never Camp Quality New Heights stopped being kids. But what may have stopped for some are the opportunities to just be a kid, instead of a ‘cancer kid.’ Ť
Please don’t spoil, or ‘baby’ campers. It might make us feel like we’re helping, but taking away challenges from children can be harmful to their development as people. We all have to learn to overcome things, and the positive and supportive camp environment is a great place to do that.
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Our campers need reasonable limits and expectations set, consistency, and appropriate consequences for behaviour.
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Cancer and its treatment can have many physical and mental consequences for campers. An awareness that these exist, and how they can affect a camper’s participation in camp activities is helpful. If your camper might not be able to participate in certain activities, find variations or alternatives that allow them to be involved see the Camp Pro-Tip on Inclusive Programming.
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Roll with the punches – programs may start late, a camper may feel unwell, etc. Have a little ‘bag of tricks’ in mind to occupy spare time.
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Ť This may be a first time away from home for campers – a little homesickness is normal, and often remedied with distraction and keeping busy. Listen attentively to campers feelings, but try not to dwell on it.
Tips for Companions and Support Companions As you can see, you are being entrusted with quite a responsibility – the care of someone’s child. While this is indeed a great responsibility, it is one we know you can handle, and one in which you will be fully supported.
WORKING WITH KIDS
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While it is necessary for your camper’s safety that you know where they are and what they are doing at all times, this must obviously be balanced with camper age and developmental stage. For example, a 5 year old camper must always be in your sight, but a 17 year old may need some independence, and an agreement to go to an activity with another companion/camper, or eat a meal at a separate table with a group of friends may be reasonable.
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Campers should never be left alone even at night/when sleeping – ensure your camper is looked after by you or in conjunction with other companions/volunteers from your cabin.
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Pertinent information on the camper’s care and condition will be shared with you by the Medical Team and likely also by the camper’s parents. If you have any concerns in this regard, or any aspect of your camper’s care and well-being, remember there are many resources available to you, including the medical staff, the COC, and experienced volunteers.
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During rest-period times, your camper may not want to sleep. Have a few quiet activities available for these times, and make sure you get some rest too.
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Try to be aware of things like morning and bedtime routines, especially for younger campers, and do your best to maintain home routines at camp.
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If your camper does not feel well enough to participate in activities, check with the Program Coordinator who may be able to help identify a lighter activity, and make the Medical Team aware of changes in camper health.
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Missing home is to be expected, especially in young and first time campers. Make sure they know it is OK to miss home (and try to avoid the term ‘homesickness’ – it’s definitely not an illness). Try to keep campers busy, discuss the fun things you did that day and things to look forward to. Missing home usually means home life is good, which is certainly positive. If you need extra support, talk to the COC, experienced volunteers, and the Medical Team.
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Bed-wetting may be common for your camper. The parents should tell you if this is so – but some are too embarrassed to mention it. If this happens, be discreet. Enlist a support companion to help with the linens, and help the child get changed and cleaned up. Make sure the child visits the bathroom prior to going to bed and reassure him/her that you will go with them to the bathroom should they need to go during the night. If this is a continuous problem, check with the medical team for bed-wetting aids.
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Always at night, when it is necessary for the camper to go to the bathroom, go with the camper to see them safely back to bed.
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The Medical Team is on duty 24/7. Unexpected events like nighttime nosebleeds, vomiting, etc may happen. Take your camper to the medical cabin, or send a Support Companion to get a nurse. They are there to make campers as comfortable as possible day or night!
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If your camper sleep-walks, or has issues getting out of bed at night, they should sleep on a bottom bunk
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Many things can affect a child’s appetite at camp: new foods, mouth sores or nausea from treatment, excitement. There are alternatives available by speaking to the Kitchen Supervisor, COC, or Medical Team. If you are concerned about a camper’s eating/appetite, speak to the Medical Team.
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Camp week is a marathon – pace yourself and help each other. There is no shame in asking for assistance – we have Support Companions for a good reason!
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Outside of Camp Contacting Your Camper - For Companions Ť
Read your camper’s All About Me form and profile
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Call the parents and your camper and introduce yourself. Speak to the parents first but be sure to speak with your camper afterwards.
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Depending on geography/proximity to your camper, consider meeting the camper/family in person prior to camp, if this suits the family.
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Introduce yourself and allow them to ask you whatever questions they may have.
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Discuss packing Ť
Ask them to label all clothing and luggage.
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Remind them of things not to pack (electronics, weapons, money)
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Does the camper like a teddy bear, blanket, reading a book, etc.?
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Any night time concerns (waking, bed-wetting, nightmares)
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Ask about diets or special eating habits.
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Gently remind parents that they are not able to visit during camp week, and that it is requested parents only call the camp in cases of emergency. If a parent is apprehensive about this, suggest that you will check in with them part way through the week.
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Remind parents that any medications should be packaged in original containers and with the child’s name. These will be given to the medical team.
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Verify travel plans to and from camp. Remind parents of the time and place of departure for the transportation to camp if that is provided.
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Ask about any current medical concerns (medical team will have specifics – this would be more in relation to your day to day care of the camper i.e. sun sensitivity, need to drink more fluids than average, etc), behavioural concerns, and if they anticipate any other concerns such as homesickness, etc.
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Ask if they have any other questions and give them a way to contact you between now and camp should the need arise.
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Ask about favourite activities, costumes (if needed). Get excited about camp! One week prior to leaving for camp
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Call your family/camper see if everything is OK; ask if there have been any changes/updates since your last talk.
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If your camp has pick up points, please be sure you arrive at the transportation venue early so that you greet the camper, help with luggage, and are there to reassure the family of your genuineness and care for their child.
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Things to ask/discuss with your camper/camper’s parents:
Year-Round Camper Support Camp Quality is a support system for children with cancer and their families. Each camp has its own method of supporting the children and their families during times of need. In order to assist with this support, we encourage volunteers to contact your campers following camp in as many ways as you can and to continue your friendship with them. While this most directly applies to companions, in their one-to-one role and relationship established at camp, often other volunteers connect with a camper(s) during camp week, and your continued contact/support is also encouraged, if this is the case The reason for maintaining year round contact/support is to assure the camper and the family that there is another source of help for the child, should they need an extra shoulder to lean on.
Keeping in Touch As the camper’s friend, the effort you put into keeping in touch will be cherished and remembered. Here are a few ideas for keeping in touch: It is absolutely essential that you make your intentions to parents very clear and with the appropriate amount of detail before engaging in any of these activities and get their explicit permission before engaging in any of them. Even something as minor as texting a camper may be taken the wrong way by some parents.
WORKING WITH KIDS
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Do activities of interest to the camper
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Visit in their home
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Take the camper to the movies, BBQs, museums, tourist places, zoos, etc.
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Join with other campers and companions and do activities as a group never alone with a camper
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Talking on the phone
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Sending messages
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Send birthday/holiday cards
Successful Year-Round Camper-Companion Relationships
Camp Quality Southern Ontario
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Companions make a commitment to being consistent and dependable, to maintaining a steady presence in the camper’s life. They recognize that the relationship may be fairly one- sided and take responsibility for keeping the relationship alive. They acknowledge that youth often test adults to determine whether they will actually stick around; successful companions regularly initiated contact and ensured that meetings were scheduled, rather than waiting to hear from the camper. Successful companions exhibit an attitude of caring.
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Companions involve the camper in deciding how the pair will spend time together. Although youth are often somewhat uncommunicative, successful companions take the time to learn about the campers interests and provide them with options for how to spend their time, rather than planning everything without input from the camper. It is important to remember that, similar to adults, children’s moods and energy levels differ each day. Therefore, it is helpful to be flexible about the plans you may have made.
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Companions pay attention to kids’ need for “fun.” Not only is having fun a key part of building a relationship, but it provides campers with valuable opportunities that may not be available otherwise. Children can learn a lot when doing fun activities.
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Companions respect the camper’s viewpoint. Effective companions are open and flexible; they listen to what the camper has to say and pay attention to what the camper thinks is important.
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Companions get to know their camper’s families, but do not become too involved with them. Successful companions have found it helpful to meet and interact with their camper’s parents. At the same time, companions have to guard against involvement with the family to an extent that could be detrimental to their relationship with the camper.
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Companions focus on the camper’s strengths, ensuring that the camper experiences success and a sense of self-mastery. It is better to build from strengths rather than from a weakness.
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Finally, successful companions seek and use available resources such as the support and guidance of the COC. These companions recognize that it can be helpful to talk with the COC, especially when they are struggling with issues arising from the match, or stressful times such as illness or death. It is normal for most companions to experience some frustration, especially in the early stages of the relationship. Help and advice from the COC can benefit companions (and consequently campers) tremendously.
Important: In the course of your relationship with the camper/family, you may at some point notice warning signs of things like depression, fear, sadness, or family problems with your camper. It is your responsibility to report any such problems or warning signs that you may notice to the COC. The COC will then work with you and the camper’s family to ensure that the issue is addressed. Please remember that this is done for the camper’s benefit and that by you reporting the matter, you are NOT betraying their friendship. You are being a good friend by recognizing it and wanting to help. (Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada)
Inclusive Programming Camp is a perfect place for kids to ‘just be kids’, but for some kids who have disabilities, this can be a challenge. Most camp programs should already be inclusive, but sometimes you may need to adapt. To help you plan activities for differently abled campers, here are some handy tips on how to make things more accessible: Change the Rules: Something as simple as being able to hold the ball in your hands, removing time constraints, or being allowed an extra bounce might be all you need to ‘level the playing field’ for kids with disabilities. Modifying the rules for everyone means everyone is being treated equally - without singling out one kid to receive ‘exceptions’. Change the Equipment: Beach wheelchairs, bow stands for archery, tandem bicycles, balls that make noises for baseball, or card with large print are only a small portion of the adaptive equipment available. Remember that the adaptation should be available to anyone who chooses to use it. Everyone can find some benefit from many of these enhancements. Change the Difficulty: This can be done two ways: by training a higher skill level, or by lowering the overall challenge - the later being a faster, although sometimes less rewarding option. Either way, the challenge should match the skill level of the participant and hopefully be difficult enough to engage them. Change the Space: Sometimes making an even paying field means changing the playing field. Paved paths or shorter courts can make all the difference without having to change much more about an activity.
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WORKING WITH KIDS
CAMP PRO-TIP
APPENDICES
About Cancer Additional Resources
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Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
About Cancer Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. In children, cells divide and grow relatively rapidly as they grow. As adults, this process slows for the most part, just replacing old dead cells, repairing injury, etc. When these normal cells have completed their function, they die and are replaced. Cancer cells are missing the mechanism which tells them to stop growing and dividing. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they push out or invade healthy cells and tissues. This process affects the function of normal cells and tissues. Cancer cells can often travel to other parts of the body from where they began. In this manner (called metastasis), cancer can invade and debilitate several systems, organs, or tissues. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times though, a person’s DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like toxins, or by mechanisms not yet known to doctors and researchers. Cancer can form a solid mass called a tumour in a tissue, organ, bone, etc. Cancer can also start in the blood or lymphatic systems. In this case, the cancer cannot be seen as a solid mass, but travels throughout the circulatory systems (leukemias and lymphomas). A cancerous tumour is referred to as malignant. Non-cancerous tumours are referred to as benign.
Childhood Cancer vs. Adult Cancer
Camp Quality Eastern Ontario
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In the majority of childhood cancer cases, the cause cannot be linked to a specific exposure or event (i.e. sun, cigarette smoke). Most environmental factors contributing to cancer take years to accumulate and are therefore not causes in childhood cancers. In most cases, no specific cause can be attributed - this makes them idiopathic.
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Very rarely is childhood cancer hereditary.
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Childhood cancers are often seen when that part of the child is doing the most growing (i.e. bone cancers in teens, brain cancers in early school age children).
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Children’s cancers occur most often in the supporting structures of the body (bone marrow, muscle, bone, lymph nodes, brain, and nervous system). Adult cancers are more often in linings of solid organs.
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Treatment options are generally more effective in children than in adults. This can be attributed to the extensive resources placed into research on childhood cancer as well as fact that most children are generally quite healthy aside from the cancer. As such they can tolerate stronger treatments than their adult counterparts who often have pre-existing medical conditions.
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Survival rates overall in children with cancer sits somewhere around 75-80%. This is much lower in adults. Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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It is important to recognize the significant differences between adult and childhood cancers. While a few types of cancer can occur in both children and adults, the majority by far exist only in one group or the other. Below is an overview of the key differences between cancers in adults versus cancers in children:
Types of Childhood Cancer Leukemias Ť
The most common group of childhood cancers.
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Cancer of the blood cells and bone marrow - the body makes an abundance of abnormal white cells that do not perform their proper functions.
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Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) accounts for 1/3 of childhood cancers, occurs most often in children 2-5 years old, and has an excellent survival rate.
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Treated with chemotherapy over several years, and in some cases, bone marrow transplant.
Lymphomas Ť
General term for a group of cancers that originates in the lymphatic system – includes Hodgkin and NonHodgkin’s Lymphomas.
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Can spread to the bone marrow – often grouped with leukemias for this reason.
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Treated most often with chemotherapy, sometimes in conjunction with radiation, and rarely bone marrow transplant or surgery.
Bone Cancers (Osteosarcoma, Ewings Sarcoma) Ť
Solid tumors occurring most often during adolescent growth spurts.
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Majority of tumors occur in long bones (arms, legs).
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Treated with surgical removal, chemotherapy, possibly radiation, and bone reconstruction.
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May have amputation or reconstructed area.
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Cure around 65-70%, unless metastasis (spread) has occurred.
Rhabdomyosarcoma Ť
Soft tissue cancer which starts in muscle tissue and can occur anywhere in the body.
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Symptoms and treatment depend on location of tumor, but usually a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
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Survival rate varies drastically with location, stage and type of tumor.
Brain Tumors RESOURCES
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Most common type of solid tumours in children, second most common cancer after leukemia.
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Symptoms, treatment, and outcomes vary widely depending on the location of the tumor in the brain and how fast it is growing.
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Symptoms can include disruption of the senses (i.e. sight), balance and mobility issues, learning and memory or behaviour problems, and a whole host of other symptoms.
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Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and more recently, bone marrow transplant.
Wilms’ Tumor Ť
Solid tumor of the kidney usually seen in very young children.
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Treatment consists of surgery and a short course of chemotherapy.
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the experience. Ť
Some children may have one kidney removed, necessitating a greater vigilance for high fluid intake at camp.
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Outcomes are excellent with a near 90% cure rate.
Neuroblastoma Ť
Most often in babies and toddlers.
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Solid tumor that begins in the nerve tissue in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis.
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Treatment and outcome varies greatly with location and stage of tumor at diagnosis.
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Treatment may consist of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplant.
Retinoblastoma Ť
Cancer of the eye, most often in infants.
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May affect one or both eyes.
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Treatment used to be primarily surgery to remove the eye and replace it with a prosthetic eye. Now, chemotherapy, radiation, laser therapy and cryotherapy are all used to attempt to preserve sight and the eye itself.
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Outcomes are good with greater than 99% survival.
(With information from 100 Questions About Your Child’s Cancer by W.L. Carroll and J. Reisman)
Treatments Radiation Therapy Ť
Most common type of radiation delivers a beam of ionizing radiation to the affected area.
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Used in the management of localized cancers which cannot be treated successfully by surgery or chemotherapy alone.
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Can be used to treat/cure, but also for symptom management, like shrinking a large tumor to manage pain.
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Every attempt is made to focus the radiation on the cancer cells, but inevitably damage also occurs to surrounding ‘good’ cells which can cause side effects like skin irritations or burns, fatigue, etc.
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Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the cancer cells’ ability to grow or multiply.
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Chemotherapy kills fast growing cells, but does not discriminate between the fast growing cancer cells and fast growing healthy cells such as hair, skin, lining of the gut, etc. This is what causes all the nasty side effects we hear about like hair loss, vomiting, etc.
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Chemotherapy can be given in different ways. The four most common methods are: intravenous (IV), oral (PO), intramuscular (IM), intrathecal (IT).
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Chemotherapy may be used to: Ť
Prevent the cancer from spreading
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Destroy cells that have spread beyond the tumor
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Decrease the size of the tumor
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Relieve symptoms, such as pain from the cancer Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
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Chemotherapy
Surgery Ť
Surgery is used in many solid tumor cancers to remove all or part of the tumor.
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Surgery may be done immediately, or after other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor.
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Surgery may also be required to treat or repair effects from the cancer itself or its treatments (i.e. devices to assist in chemotherapy delivery, cosmetic repairs, feeding tubes, repair of organs such as bladder or bowel).
Bone Marrow Transplant Ť
Used to treat several forms of cancer including leukemia, neuroblastoma, certain brain cancers.
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Involves destroying the patient’s own unhealthy bone marrow and replacing it with healthy bone marrow.
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A patient’s immune system is completely destroyed in preparation for the transplant, and can take weeks or months to rebuild after transplant. During this time patients are hospitalized and isolated.
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Transplanted cells can come from a family member, a matched donor, or in some cases, the patient’s own marrow (stem cells) that have been ’washed’.
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This is a trying time for the patient and family – the isolation combined with the risk and possible consequences of even minor infections or rejection takes a toll.
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Long term effects of transplant (graft versus host disease) may be present and can affect the skin, gut, lungs, etc.
Steroids Ť
There are several reasons why steroids might be given during treatment for cancer. Some of these are:
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To help prevent sickness and nausea
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As part of the treatment to kill cancer cells
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To reduce allergic reactions (for example before a blood transfusion)
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To help headaches because of brain tumors
Gene Therapy Ť
Experimental therapies that use genetics to stop the production of cancer cells.
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Some strong theories about how these would work, but the area is very complex.
Experimental Therapies RESOURCES
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The use of viruses, the bodies own immune system, and a variety of other methods for treating cancer are being used in a variety of trials.
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Experimetal therapies can take many years to become mainstream.
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In some cases, patients are put on trials in conjunction with more proven treatments.
Venous Access Devices (Portacath, Hickman Line) Some children at camp have (or have had) an implanted device to aid in the delivery of intravenous medications and treatments. There are many variations on this type of device, but here is a quick summary:
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Portacaths are quarter-sized devices implanted under the skin with a catheter into a major blood vessel. They are somewhere in the chest wall, and are visible on a bare chest as a circular bump under the skin. Care should be taken not to bump the device as it will hurt, but otherwise no real care or maintenance is required at camp. Camp Quality Canada | Volunteer Staff Manual
Swimming is allowed. Ť
Hickman, Cook, and other brands are names for lines (catheters) inserted through the upper chest wall into a major blood vessel. The line comes out of the skin and is visible externally (usually about 4-6” hangs down). These lines require more care (by the medical staff) such as flushing and bandaging. Swimming is not permitted and care should be taken to keep the area clean and dry. Should a tear or leak occur in the line, notify the medical staff immediately.
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PICC lines are similar in care and function to the Hickman and other external lines, but these are more temporary and come out of the upper arm.
Side Effects Most side effects of childhood cancer are a result of the treatments rather than the cancer itself. Here is an overview of some which you may notice in your campers, and suggestions on coping at camp. One of the great things about Camp Quality is that campers understand the effects of cancer and treatment on children, and are empathetic and accepting of their peers.
Hair loss Ť
Hair loss is related to chemotherapy, and so a few children on treatment at camp, or who have recently finished treatment may have little or no hair. This is temporary, and the hair grows back normally after the chemotherapy is finished.
Appetite changes Ť
Some treatments cause kids to lose their appetite (chemotherapy), where others cause kids to be very hungry seemingly all the time (steroids). This also results in fluctuations in body weight, or weight gain in specific areas. For example, steroid use causes a round, puffy face (this also goes back to normal when treatment is stopped).
Body Temperature Ť
Some treatments may affect the ability of a child’s body to regulate body temperature.
Mobility issues Some campers may have amputations, balance issues, weaknesses or paralysis in certain limb(s) as a result of the location of their tumor. Sensory deficits like vision or hearing problems may also be present, as well as learning or behaviour concerns. These can be treatment or disease related.
Immunosuppression Ť
Chemotherapy and steroids both drastically affect a child’s ability to fight infection. They are prone to catching infections, and have a lot of difficulty fighting them. In the next section you will find ways to help campers stay healthy at camp.
Sun Sensitivity Ť
Kids on treatment (and for a while after) are even more prone to sunburns than the average camper – the next section provides suggestions on sun safety at camp.
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Late Effects Ť
Over 80% of kids with childhood cancer will be affected by some kind of long term medical after effect. IN some cases, these won’t be recognized for decades after the child is ‘cured’.
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Cognitive impairments, cardiac problems, secondary cancers and disfigurements are some of the more common ones.
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Some late effects, like heart failure, or secondary cancers can be fatal, for this reason, cancer centres have long-term follow-up clinics for their patients.
Family Issues Ť
A childhood cancer diagnosis affects the whole family. It puts stresses and worries on the parents, both financial and emotional. It also affects siblings who may have to give up some degree of normalcy and parental attention, and who also worry for their ill brother or sister.
Social/Emotional Issues Ť
Children diagnosed with cancer have to do a lot of adult things before they are meant to. They may spend months or even years in some cases in hospital, away from school and friends. Free time and activity may be limited, and they often feel they are treated differently. Low self-esteem, difficulty socially, learning problems, etc. are not uncommon in this group. Camp hopefully offers an accepting environment where they can be themselves and learn to overcome some of the challenges in their life.
Additional Resources Ť
Childhood Cancer Canada (Candellighters), www.childhoodcancer.ca
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Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), www.pogo.ca
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The Hospital for Sick Children, www.sickkids.ca
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The Canadian Cancer Society, www.cancer.ca
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Families of Children with Cancer (FCC), www.fcco.org
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Active Living Alliance for Canadians Living with Disabilities, www.ala.ca/home
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