Camp Counselor Training

Why is summer camp counselor training important?

From skate parks to swing sets, rock walls to ropes courses, horse back riding to dirt bike racing, day camps and summer camps are exciting places. Often times, however, campers and counselors lose themselves in the moment and forget about their own well-being. Each year West Bend sees a large spike in general liability and worker’s compensation claims starting in June and tapering off towards the end of August. A very large portion of these claims come from camps.

In an effort to combat this major spike in claims, West Bend’s loss prevention representatives travel across the Midwest to present on safety topics designed specifically for each individual camp. After all, what good does talking about lakefront lifeguarding do if your camp isn’t on a lake? Whether you run a four-hour-a-day day camp or a four-week-long expedition through the Boundary Waters, or camp counselor trainings will have you and your staff ready to go.

What safety topics have other summer camps requested?

West Bend is willing to present on any safety topic that better prepares camp counselors for a safe and productive summer. Here are some of the most popular safety training requests:

  • Aquatics for Summer Camp Counselors
  • Aquatics for Lifeguards
  • Abuse Recognition
  • Bullying and Peer Pressure
  • 15 Passenger Vans
  • Playgrounds
  • Accurate Incident Reporting
  • Field Trip Safety
  • Ropes Courses
  • Weather-Related Issues
  • Appropriate Electronic Communication
  • Proper Lifting Techniques
  • Work Comp 101

How many counselors can participate in summer camp training?

West Bend’s loss prevention representatives have conducted summer camp safety training for groups as small as 6-7 counselors and as large as 300-400 counselors. In our experience, smaller groups of counselors means more feedback and opportunity for questions. Our presentations are very conversational in nature, and always benefit from the personal stories and experiences of the counselors.

Can summer camp supervisors present alongside West Bend’s trainers?

Absolutely! We think our camp counselor trainings are a great opportunity for counselors to hear important safety messages from a new perspective, but it’s also important for that message to come from a familiar face. Nobody knows your camp or your counselors better than you; we’re simply here to help.

When is the best time to conduct camp counselor trainings?

West Bend will gladly conduct camp counselor training any time you feel it is most appropriate. With that said, most camps have a very small window in which they can conduct trainings because counselors are often busy with high school or college coursework. In years past, trainings have usually been conducted between late March and early August.