Before Camp

April

Decide on a theme for the program. Coordinate this with the camp director.
Contact potential presenters for each age group. They can be recruited from participants who sign up for camp on their own, but it helps to personally invite the people you would really like to have at camp as presenters.
Make sure educators know what is required of them: Preparing lessons for four mornings, basically from 9:00 or 9:30 until lunch time (12:00). Classes should dismiss in time for students to get to the dining hall in time to sing and pray and hear announcements.
Check in to see what material/ information presenter needs to be successful
What material will they present? Is it appropriate for camp/specific age group?
Encourage new presenters to come to camp early on arrival day early so they can get familiar with the camp and the education director can spend some time with them before orientation

Continue to contact potential presenters for each age group. They can be recruited from participants who sign up for camp on their own, but it helps to personally invite the people you would really like to have at camp as presenters.
Make sure you register at least one week before early bird deadline to get the full administrative benefit
Contact potential group leaders ahead of camp
Prepare group leader training material (manual): Update and make sure it gets printed. In the past, the registrar used to print some of this material, but since 2018 the program staff is responsible to print any educational materials
Prepare HDK material for morning service in units. Copies of “As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen” are available, but they have been used a lot in the past, and some people will prefer something they are less familiar with.
Clarify who should order pens and notebooks, also whiteboard markers and erasers

Assign group leaders and co-group leader pairs
Make sure that all group leaders have been informed that they were chosen as group leaders and that they are okay with it. Not all teens like to be group leaders.
Evaluate if it’s possible to have the group leaders arrive one day early (transportation might be a problem, but those who come from the same area could share rides)
If possible and appropriate, organize a group leaders training workshop
Assign Unit Parents to lead HDK in the morning (better to check with them first, or at least talk to them before they are announced as Unit Parents during Orientation). You will need to consult the cabin assignment lists for this.
Prepare your part of the announcements for Orientation Night- work together with camp director on this

Arrive at camp early, ideally the day before camp starts
Make sure there are working lights, white boards, markers, erasers, and enough benches in each lecture room. Communicate with General Affairs Director as soon as possible if additional benches need to be moved to lecture rooms
Greet presenters and group leaders when they arrive if possible
Make sure all presenters know which cabin or lodge they will teach in
Encourage presenters to meet with their group leaders. Encourage them to take the initiative and set up times, maybe meet over a meal
Make sure group leaders have pen, pencils, notebooks for their group before presentation starts
Hold meeting with group leaders before dinner. If there is a group leaders workshop beforehand, make sure to connect to the group leaders who could not attend
Hold meeting with presenters after orientation
At Orientation Night, announce Unit Parents to lead HDK in the morning, give them HDK material (before making the announcement, check with Registrar if any parents changed unit in the last minute; this sometimes happens)
At the end of Orientation Night, introduce presenters and group leaders, announce groups, and instruct them to leave the Rec Hall and meet in their groups

Meet with group leaders at the flagpole each morning at 7:00am for stretching, inspirational reading, 7 minute prayer with co-team leaders (pray for team, each member by name)
Meet with team leaders after evening program. Time to check in and make sure everyone’s teams are doing well. Give some guidance and feedback.
Prepare early for Candle Light Prayer to be held in the evening of the second or third full day.
Prepare early for panel discussion to be held on second-to-last or last day. Identify the right people to give testimonies and ask them to prepare, give them plenty of time.
Communicate with camp director(s) regularly about how things are going
Check that all the presenters and group leaders are doing okay
Check with participants to see if they are happy with the presentations and are connecting

Send thank-you messages to presenters, group leaders and assistant group leaders
Write a report about the educational aspect of camp. Good points, challenges, ideas for future improvements