All staff members, new and returning, participate together in four full days of orientation and training prior to the first day of camp. To help staff understand camp through the eyes of campers, staff members meet a camp bus on the first day of training and experience first hand what it is like to be a new camper coming to camp for the first time. Once at camp, their first training day is modeled around a regular camp day in order to provide them with a framework for understanding camp from campers' perspectives.

Staff training provides staff with opportunities to:

• Develop a full understanding of the Camp Kinneret child centered philosophy
• Learn songs, games and camp traditions
• Learn and practice positive group management skills
• Role play and prepare for common child centered interactions
• Become a cohesive staff team

On Going Training and Planning
Throughout the summer, staff gather weekly on Tuesday evenings to evaluate, discuss, train and plan. These required weekly meetings are a key to ongoing quality and safety throughout the summer.


Staff Supervision

Staff members are supervised by an active six person camp Leadership Team comprised of experienced camp professionals and educators. This team is headed up by our director Ryan. Leadership Team members provide daily support and assistance to counselors, instructors and campers. They are also the key link in parent:camp communication. Parents are encouraged to call and speak with a Leadership Team member whenever they have questions about their child's experience. Leadership Team members are out with camper groups throughout the day and can provide first hand insight and discuss situations directly with counselors and other staff members. The Leadership Team's years of experience are a key to each summer's success and to the relationships between parents and camp.