Camp Director Institute

The Camp Director Institute is the culminating and synthesizing "event" of the American Camp Association professional development program. Participants will examine, refine, and demonstrate consistency between their camp philosophy and operational components through a small group presentation and critique process.

This is a six-day course for experienced camp directors. Participants must have six years experience as a director or completed the BCDC and have at least three years experience as a director with overall responsibility for the operation and management of a camp or conference center.

Goals
Within a safe, supportive and collegial environment utilizing formal presentations, small group discussions and individual work, the following goals provide a framework for the Camp Directors Institute. The CDI is designed to have participants:

1. Examine, interpret and defend their camp/conference center philosophy;
2. Synthesize the major components of the organized camp/conference center experience in relationship to their operational philosophy;
3. Examine their professional goals for growth and service;
4. Share ideas and concerns related to operational goals and strategies for success with other directors from a variety of camps/conference centers.

Outcomes
Participants who actively participate in and successfully complete the Camp Directors Institute will achieve the following outcomes related to individual and group development process, camp philosophy, professional development and camp operations:

Individual and Group Development Process

1. Participants will experience a sense of security and attendance to their basic needs.
2. Participants will experience and contribute to the emotional safety within the group. This outcome will be achieved by:
   • being clear on the agenda and process of the Institute,
   • having written guidelines and ground rules for group interaction established by the group,
   • experiencing learning activities where they "test out" their level of trust and safety within the group. Activities will be designed to be progressively more challenging and more demanding of individual and group provision and reception of critiques, ideas, etc., in "safe" and respectful ways.
3. Participants will think about and describe themselves outside of their professional responsibilities.
4. Participants will demonstrate willingness to re-examine their thinking and to "try out" new ideas and perspectives.
5. Participants will identify and share some of their outstanding talents, experiences, and skills, as well as areas of need/improvement and initiate networking with other Participants to strengthen all involved.
6. Participants will actively participate in a culminating group event to recognize individual and group accomplishments experienced through a CDI.

Developing and Implementing an Operational Philosophy

1. Participants will understand that the central purpose of the organized outdoor experience is to intentionally support the growth and development of its participants.
2. Participants will be aware of the broad spectrum of participant growth and development outcomes which historically and currently have been and can be a result or product of sustained outdoor experiences.
3. Participants will be aware of the influence that participant needs and societal forces have on selection and specification of growth and developmental outcomes for their constituents.
4. Participants will examine, select, and write clear and concise goal statements which describe the growth and development outcomes for their constituents.
5. Participants will examine, select, and write clear and concise operational philosophy statements which:
   • reflect specified growth and development outcomes unique to their constituents and their operation,
   • provide sufficient specification for use in program development, operation and evaluation, and
   • demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between operational components of the organized camp/conference center experience and stated outcomes such as:
     • types of activities
     • staffing patterns
     • generalists - specialist staff
     • centralized - decentralized decision-making
     • role and impact of support services such as site and facility, health and safety, food service, transportation, etc.
     • management style
     • time of year/scheduling/duration of sessions for conference center/camp
     • environment
     • business and risk management
6. Participants will present, critique and revise operational philosophies identifying the key strategic components from among those listed in B-5, c above.
7. Participants will identify, share and increase their awareness and application of various aspects of the management of conference/camp operations that are of critical importance and contribute to the long term stability of their camp/conference center.
8. Participants will create, present and critique visual implementation schematics/ models which clearly demonstrate consistency between actual operational components and stated operating philosophies.

Professional Growth and Service

1. Participants will state what it means to be a professional in the field of organized camp/conference center administration.
2. Participants will openly receive feedback in a private conference with the Institute faculty and dean.
3. Participants will evaluate the learning process that takes place during the Institute and have an increased awareness of the critical analysis process and related teaching methods as valuable approaches for adult learners.