How to use this guide

How to read this page

  • Safety or facilitation boundary — act or escalate.
  • Home site or inclusion norm — Camp John Marc standards at TLC.
  • Reference or director context — not default camper policy.
Camp facilitation, not therapy

This page supports you as a counselor — volunteer or paid. Camper-facing skills and acronyms live in Shared language.

Read before season and revisit after hard blocks. If you are in crisis, use your camp’s emergency protocol and tap your unit lead or program director — not this page alone.

Escalation ladder

When facilitation is not enough — for campers or for you. Say the step aloud if it helps you stay calm.

  1. Co-counselor swap or brief pause (helpful move)
  2. Unit lead — coverage, debrief, unclear scope
  3. Camp nurse / medical — health or safety concern
  4. Program director — season leadership, burnout coverage, unclear scope

Full definitions: Escalation ladder in Shared language.

After a hard day

Ground yourself before the next block. A rough hour does not mean you failed as a counselor.

Name one thing that went OK. Take three slow breaths. Decide one helpful move — water, co-counselor swap, or five quiet minutes before rejoining.

Counselor script — say it to yourself, not aloud to campers.

Hold onto this

  • Tap unit lead if you need coverage or debrief — not venting at campers.
  • Camp facilitation, not therapy — for you or for them.

Related: Unit lead , Escalation ladder , Counselor wellness

Shared language: Helpful move , Pass is OK

Sources (1)

When a camper is dysregulated

Stay calm, reduce audience, protect safety. Facilitate — do not diagnose or treat.

Lower your voice. Offer pass or a quiet spot. One choice: sit here, walk with me, or see the nurse. No forced eye contact or public processing.

Counselor script — say it to yourself, not aloud to campers.

Hold onto this

  • Escalate to nurse when health or safety is unclear.
  • Unit lead when the situation exceeds your training or the group cannot continue safely.
  • Never promise secrecy if safety is at risk — follow camp policy.

Related: Camp nurse / medical , Unit lead , Escalation ladder

Shared language: Pass is OK , Body alarm , Helpful move

Sources (2)

Burnout signals

Irritability, dread before blocks, numbness, or snapping at co-counselors are signals — not character flaws.

Hold onto this

  • Rest, swap coverage, shorten your prep — use program director or unit lead.
  • Licensed care outside camp may be available through your sponsoring organization — see your printed handbook.
  • Camp TLC does not replace licensed care for counselors — paid or volunteer.

Related: Unit lead , Program director , Counselor wellness

Sources (2)

Homesickness & contact home

Homesickness often spikes when campers call home. Stay calm, offer pass, and escalate — do not become the parent on the phone.

Offer a quiet spot, co-counselor sit-with, or pass. Redirect to unit lead before promising a parent call. Camp contacts parents when there is a real concern.

Counselor script — say it to yourself, not aloud to campers.

Hold onto this

  • Limit unnecessary parent calls — more contact can increase homesickness.
  • Camp facilitation, not therapy — validate feelings without family processing in the cabin.
  • Challenge by choice applies: pass is OK without explaining why.

Related: Unit lead , Challenge by choice , Camp nurse / medical

Shared language: Pass is OK , Helpful move

Sources (2)

TFM language for staff (adult examples)

Same Notice → Pause → Move loop as campers — fictional scenarios, staff-only framing.

Notice: “My brain is saying I blew that activity.” Pause: one breath. Move: ask co-counselor for a swap, check the Run sheet, or tap unit lead.

Counselor script — say it to yourself, not aloud to campers.

Hold onto this

  • Use brain story / helpful move words with yourself — not CBT jargon aloud with campers.
  • See Shared language TFM terms for camper-safe phrasing.

Related: TFM , Shared language

Shared language: Notice → Pause → Move , Brain story , Helpful move , Maybe-not-true guess

Sources (1)