Check List for Planning an Orthodox Summer Youth Camp

Introduction

• Clarify Your Goal
  
• Receive Appropriate Blessings

Pre-Camp Work

• Recruit Mandatory Staff
  
• Camp Director
  
• Registered Nurse, Doctor, EMT
  
• Certified Lifeguard who is also certified in First Aid
  
• Two Adult Counselors for each group
  
• Recruit Additional Staff
• Games/Sports Coordinator
  
• Crafts Coordinator
  
• Christian Education Session Coordinator

Meet with Staff

• Clarify program goal
  
• Clarify task descriptions
  
• Reinforce chain of command

Facilities

• Do you need to rent a facility?
  
• Start looking at least a year ahead of time
  
• Facility meets all your program needs

Food

• Cater or Cook?
  
• Is the program during Lenten period?

Campers

• Applications
  
• Scholarships
  
• Publicity: Flyers and Newspaper Articles
  
• Program Basics
  
• Have Typed Schedule Ready
  
• Worship Services
  
• Free time

Camp Time / At Camp / First Day

• Have Staff Arrive Early
  
• Registration
  
• Put someone in charge other than yourself
  
• Have activities for campers to do in cabins after they register
  
• First Activity/Orientation
  
• Worship/ Prayer Service
  
• Orientation - Keep it short and creative
  
• Fun Camp-wide game/activity

Emergencies

• Contact Local Emergency Services Ahead of Time
  
• Create Contingency Plans
  
• Assign Staff to Handle Various Tasks
  
• Determine Signal to Alert Camp of Emergency
  
• Post Emergency Phone Numbers in Conspicuous Areas

Injuries

• Keep camper insurance forms at hand
  
• Call emergency services
  
• Call parents

Post Camp

• Evaluation Meeting With Staff
  
• Get Dates for Next Year
  
• Get a Good Rest

Taken from the OCA Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries