Important Camp Champions Counselor Policies & FAQ
Serving with the Champions team will be a summer you’ll never forget. But a great team doesn’t just happen–it requires a commitment by all members to work towards a common purpose and to live by certain standards.
The policies and standards outlined below cover counselors’ appearance and conduct in multiple questionable areas. Some of them may seem unnecessary or even silly to you, but our experience has taught us that this is the way to best serve our campers and their families. You may not personally agree with every one, but if you spend a summer with us, we will expect you to abide by all of them.
Alcohol
Hair Length
Curfew
Email/Internet
Snail Mail
Laundry
Insurance
Pets
Phones
Time Off
Visitors
Alcohol
Camp Champions is alcohol-free. Our counselors agree, as part of their contracts, not to use alcohol during their employment, including nights off. Violation of this policy will result in severe action and possible dismissal. No one single issue is more important to the quality of a camp staff, and to the trust of parents, than counselor alcohol use.
Kids see enough “role models” around them using alcohol, often to excess. We want camp to be aplace where kids see people who don’t use alcohol and who are incredibly fun. THAT’S a powerful message. During the summer, ALL counselors and Full-Time Camp Staff commit to not using alcohol. Our campers are worth it. Think what it would be like to work with an entire staff so committed to kids that they’re willing to give up alcohol for the summer. We know that that our alcohol-free policy costs us a few great counselors each year; but we also know that it allows us to screen out a lot more counselors whose only reason to work at camp is for themselves.
Tobacco.
No matter what form; whether you dip, chew, snort, puff, smoke–if you use tobacco, use it on nights off, AFTER you have left camp property. If you absolutely cannot go that long between uses, we have set aside a special area on camp that can only be used during your OFF PERIOD. Using tobacco on camp property anywhere other than this designated area or designated time will result in severe action, and possible dismissal. We PREFER that you not use tobacco at all, at least during the summer. You are a counselor hero. Making a commitment to stay completely away from tobacco during the summer sends a very powerful message to our campers.If you normally use tobacco, we’d love for you to commit not touse it during the summer.
Illegal Substances.
Camp Champions will not tolerate the possession, or use of, illegal substances at anytime. Violation of this policy will result in immediate dismissal. Camp Champions reserves the right to implement a random drug test at any time during the summer.
Tattoos.
We know a lot of people wear tattoos, including some of the best counselors we’ve had in recent years. So if you wear a tattoo, we will ask you to keep it covered at camp (Note: in some rare situations, we realize we will need to make an exception.) We require this NOT because webelieve tattoo-wearing is wrong; we firmly believe that you cannot judge a book by its cover. However, at Camp Champions our counselors are true “heroes” to our campers–campers will model everything you do. Campers are young, impressionable, and immature. Tattoos are permanent. Not a good combination. So especially for the sake of our camper parents, we try to steer clear of this issue with their children. We hope not to make abig deal of this–if you wear a tattoo, please give us the “heads up.”
Body Piercing
At Camp Champions, we welcome all great counselors, including those who are “body pierced”;however, while on duty counselors must keep all rings, studs,hoops, etc. out of their noses, navels, tongues, etc. Tosay it another way, in front of campers you must be”pierce-free.” Why? Re-read the paragraph on tattoos. Same reasons apply. Female counselors may wear earrings if they so choose. Guys, sorry, no earrings. Again, as with tattoos, please just give us the “heads up.”
Hair Length
We do strive for our counselors to present a clean-cut, clean-shaven appearance. Guys will keep their hair no longer than neck length, and no beards or mustaches. Girls have no restrictions on hair length;but again, no beards or mustaches.
Curfew
For safety and rest purposes we have established a curfew policy. Unfortunately, we must take night time and possible intruders very seriously which means we will all have to cooperate in the safety process. Counselors should remain around their cabins with their campers after lights outs. When off duty counselors should feel free to stay at the counselors lounge till midnight on weekdays or 1am on weekends. A front gate has been placed at the spur, which will close and lock at curfew every night. If you arrive after curfew you will need to park and walk into camp.
E-mail/Internet
We provide access to a couple of computers so counselors (no campers) can send and receive e-mail through their Internet accounts.
Snail Mail
Mailed is delivered Monday through Friday. Friends and family can mail to the camp address:
YOUR NAME / C/0Camp Champions
775 Camp Rd
Marble Falls, TX 78654
Laundry
You may send your laundry to our laundry service when we do campers’ laundry for no
extra charge.
Insurance
If you have a work-related injury while you’re at camp, your medical expenses will be covered by camp’s workman’s comp. If it’s not work-related (for example, on your time off), your own carrier or your parents’ carrier covers the expenses.
Pets
Because of the close proximity of the some 370 campers and the 100 individuals working here, pets are not a luxury we can afford. We would never be able to accommodate everyone and it would stir up all kinds of health issues. Therefore, we cannot allow counselors to keep pets of anykind at camp.
Phones
Friends and family can leave messages at the camp office—a Division Leader will relay messages to you. Keeping in mind that every moment of the day is a potential key opportunity to make a significant connection with a child, we need to limit our phone calls to off duty time only.Cell phones can be used only during those times and only at the counselor lounge.
Time Off
Working as a counselor demands your best 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s what makes the job so exhausting and your time off so necessary.
During the week, all counselors get 3 full nights off camp from 6:30 pm – 12:00 am(1:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays). During each 3-week term, each counselor gets a full 24-hour break from 6:30 pm on one afternoon till 6:30 pm the following afternoon. Between terms, all counselors have approximately 18 hours from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning to catch their breath and re-charge for the next group of campers.
Visitors.
We think having a friend or a family member visit you at camp is great! You’ll just need to make sure you arrange it with your camp director, so we can make sure they come at an appropriate time and are able to receive a VISITOR’S badge.
