CREATIVE THINKING IN SUMMER CAMPSMid America Camping Conference 2012

CreativityCreativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, a solution, a work of art, a novel, a joke, etc.) that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs. What counts as "valuable" is similarly defined in a variety of ways.

Are You Creative?

How would you rate yourself?

How does that relate to your comfort with being creative?

There is never one correct answer, creativity requires many

divergent ideas.

Creativity is decreasing in the US.

Creativity

Engineering Majors and Music Majors, they score the same on

creativity tests. It is not about art, it is about creating many ideas, and evaluating those ideas on the fly.

Luckily it can be taught

Divergent (no correct answer) and Convergent (find the single best answer) thinking

Circle Activity

Take your sheet of paper

You will have 60 seconds to turn each circle into

something different.

CULTURE OF CREATIVITY

Culture of Creativity

Campers

Counselors

Supervisors

Administration

Time and Space

Schedule must have time to allow for creativity to happen,

and to be implemented

Flexibility must be given to staff to allow for taking

advantage of creativity when it happens

So long as certain criteria are met (i.e. safety, schedule priorities, etc

Spaces should be designed to encourage hanging out and creativity

Start Small

Songs

Games

Activities

Themes

FotayFigure out the activity yourself. Give the kids a pile of game things and tell them it is for the game “FOTAY” but that you have forgotten the rules. Have them help them come up with the rules.

Leading GamesHow you train your staff is important:

•On Stage/Off Stage processing

•Make it Magical

•Get into it

Creative OutletsCampfires

Talent Shows

Sheriff/Newsguy

Ceremonies

Creativity Path•From Michael Brandwein “Super Staff, Super Vision”

•Question #1 What do people expect?

•Question #2 How can we mess that up?

Creativity AwardOnce a session award recognizing creative activities, problem solving, and staffing solutions.

Make it EpicFace paint/Colors/Team logos

Music/Anthems/Chants/Cheers

Secret Handshakes/Events/Tasks

Characters/Costumes

Story lines

Summer Staff Planning RetreatAnnually invite them to your camp to add their input to the changes you are considering for the summer.

•Brain Hurricane

•Story Boarding

•What If?

Facebook GroupDon’t let it just be about staffing needs. Post links to articles about the importance of summer camps, feed back from parents, and links to new ideas and activities.

Give Your Facility CharacterName things!

Show your depth and traditions!

TraditionTakes 3 years

GOALS

Real World ConcernsCan you afford it, is there a place for it, can you staff it, is it maintainable, etc.

Natural MaterialsWe try to have activities that are made with natural stuff rather than plastic. It is not always possible but it helps.

Group ActivitiesTry for stuff that encourages teamwork or group participation. Not individual activities. Minimize waiting, if there are people in lines they should be short, and people should have something to do.

Non Competitive Non competitive or competitively inconsequential. Cooperative is better.

EducationalWhy not combat summer learning loss?

Unique to CampIf you can do it at home, why come to camp?

FACILITIES

Game FacilitiesFacilities designed for one game or another.

Human Foosball

Water Balloon LaunchersJust a couple of posts in the ground and something to shoot at.

Sling Shot RangesLots of creativity

Mole Ball

Ricochet

Mountain Golf

Giant Checkers

Derail

Up 9 Square

Fort PawneeNatural Play Area

Ring GameEasy to pick up and play.

Analemmatic SundialMake it Interactive

Solar System Model

SlideDrain pipe, sleds and a hill

Places for Making FriendsIdeas to bring people together.

Big Red Chair

Spiders Web Hanging Out

The Pond

Gazebo

Living Willow Structures

Game Benches

Sleepy Hollow

Tree Climbing

Destination HikesA reason to get out and move!

The Middle of Nowhere

Seven WondersA hiking guide. 7 destinations around camp, each corresponding to a cool place. The signs have a “secret word” if you fill out the guide with all the secret words you get to write your name in the book.

Wolf DenAnother reason to go on a hike

THEMES AND HOLIDAYS

Adventure TrailsLow ropes courses with a storyline

Ikatik YadA truly backwards day

Uhari DayColor Wars with a twist

Big FunA theme for everything

BEG, BORROW AND STEEL

ConferencesCome to the MACC or any other opportunity to get together with Camp people.

Other Places•Children’s Museums

•Pumpkin Patches/Orchards

•Theme Parks/Disney

•National/State/City Parks

•Anywhere else you go

Use the InternetWatch videos, look at pictures, review games sites, and more!

Keep Files and PrioritizeYou can’t do it all this summer, and even if you could, you shouldn’t.

That Won’t Work at My CampBut it might if we do this instead

Be Willing to Share

Never Sacrifice What is Important