Understanding Bullying Within The Camp Setting

What is Bullying?

Bullying is aggressive behavior by a child or a group of children who take advantage of the power they have to hurt or intimidate others.

Bullying can take many forms:

• Verbal abuse including taunting, gossiping, mocking, name calling, dirty looks
• Physical abuse including hitting, pushing, shoving, kicking
• Organized social rejection including exclusion from activities or groups
• Public humiliation
• Threatening racist, religious, or sexist remarks
• Frightening acts

What are the Harmful Effects of Bullying?

Bullying is not a normal part of growing up. Simply put, bullying hurts and children can experience both short and long-term emotional consequences when they are victims of bullying. Camp staff is trained to recognize both the overt and subtle signs that a child may have experienced bullying. Parents may also be the first to notice these shifts in behavior.

Warning signs may include:

• Feelings of unhappiness, loneliness, anxiety, and fear
• Sense of insecurity, both physical and psychological
• Withdrawal from friends and caring adults
• Reluctance to join in activities and fun
• Physical complaints including stomach aches, nightmares, loss of appetite

Bullying in the Camp Setting

Camp is similar to school and other settings in that bullying does occur. Children engaging in new activities, meeting new friends, establishing varying social groups at camp, and sharing living quarters with other campers present challenges to even the most well-adjusted child. The good news is that camps are well equipped to address bullying and help the bully deal with counterproductive behavior, too. Proven supervisory practices, activities geared to the developmental level of individual children, and the promotion of a spirit of inclusivity and caring help children to exert higher degrees of cooperation and self-control.

How Can Parents Find Out about Camp Policies on Bullying?

Informed parents are best prepared to select a camp that meets their standards for staff, programs, and safety.

Ask challenging questions of the camp director:

• What is his or her understanding of bullying?
• What procedures are in place to address bullying situations?
• Will parents be informed if a bullying incident occurs?
• How are staff members trained to recognize and intervene in bullying situations?
• How are campers instructed to recognize and deal with bullying?
• How are campers supervised between activities?
• Will the camp provide names of other parents prior to camp to ask about their child’s experiences with bullying at camp and the responsiveness of staff?
• Is your child’s camp ACA accredited?

A Special Word about Accreditation

American Camp Association accreditation assures parents that a camp has committed time, resources, and training to meet up to 300 research-based standards ranging from health and wellness to physical safety. Camper/counselor ratios also meet the recommended staffing levels for particular age groups. Good camps support and promote an inclusive, caring experience for all children, one that is heightened by careful attention to children’s well-being and security.