Using an Awards System to Motivate Positive Behavior - Brief Article

Camping Magazine, May, 2000 by Marvin Domsky

Camper conduct, it's a topic that's sure to come up when camp directors gather to talk about camp. Today, many camp directors express concern about the lack of respect and inappropriate behavior exhibited by some campers. Tall Pines and Willow Grove Day Camps have found a way to stimulate good citizenship and motivate positive behavior. The camps' awards system rewards campers who meet a specific goal, and the campers respond enthusiastically. The camps have found that the system has helped to increase enrollment and bring campers back year after year.

The awards, which are presented in front of the entire camp, give campers the opportunity to achieve success and recognition in areas other than athletics or specific talent areas that camps traditionally reward. At these camps, the following activities could earn campers and staff special awards:

* Cleaning up an unsightly area Decorating a cabin

* Planting a tree, a bush, or flowers

* Painting a mural

* Making nature signs using natural materials

* Whitewashing rocks to designate a trail or path

* Singing a song or the national anthem at assembly time

* Doing a good deed for another person

* Taking part of an environmental project

* Doing a good deed for the camp community

How Campers Earn Awards

Staff, group heads, counselors, and the camp director can nominate and present the awards. At the weekly Friday Assembly, an Oscar-type trophy is awarded to the camp group that has performed one or more of the listed activities. At the end of the summer, individual trophies are awarded to everyone in the group that received the most "Oscars".

Individuals campers can also win awards. Counselors may nominate campers for a special achievement award anytime during the camp season. These awards can be given for to the most improved camper in a certain activity, a camper who has gone out of his/her way to perform a camp project such as special clean-up, or to a camper who exhibited good sportsmanship.

Other Types of Awards

Tall Pines and Willow Grove also give other awards and prizes to campers.

* Victory Award: Given to the individual or group for a special sporting event, theater performance, aquatic accomplishment, or winning a camp contest. Order of the Arrowhead: This award is given to a camper or counselor for extraordinary service to the camp for any reason deemed worthy of recognition. This person is presented with a replica of an original Indian arrowhead mounted with copper wire and attached to a leather lariat.

* Tootsie Roll Award: Tootsie Rolls or other small pieces of candy are given to campers who find unusual plants or insects. Tootsie Rolls may also be used to sweeten the disposition of a misbehaving child when he is brought to the director for a conference.

* Small Toy Awards: The camp also gives campers small tokens, such as cars, dolls, or small toys, to motivate behavior improvements.

Many directors may debate the benefits of an awards system, but these camps have found that present-day campers love to receive tangible recognition for their accomplishments. The child who catches the largest fish of the season and receives a fishing trophy goes home at the end of the day with as big a smile as does the camper who has received an award for his exceptional conduct on the bus or a van.

Marvin Domsky is the director of Tall Pines Day Camp and Willow Grove Day Camp. He is the president of Camping Consulting Corporation and a member of the faculty of the Gene Ezersky Camp Safety College.