The First 48 Hours of Camp: What New Staff Need to Know
The First 48 Hours of Camp: What New Staff Need to Know
Staff Training + Printable Checklists for Day & Overnight Camps
The first two days of camp set the tone for the entire summer. Whether you're running a busy day camp or a residential overnight program, your new staff need a clear, supportive roadmap to get it right from the start. That’s where this training comes in.
🧭 Why This Training Works: This training is built on industry best practices, including American Camp Association standards and decades of experience in youth development. It helps your frontline staff show up confident, prepared, and proactive — so your campers feel welcome, safe, and engaged from day one.
🎯 What’s Included:
✅ Full Lesson Plan – A 60–75 minute training designed for pre-season staff development. Covers shared core skills and splits into targeted tracks for day camp and overnight camp settings. Includes engagement strategies, red flag identification, emergency procedures, and more.
✅ Day Camp Frontline Staff Checklist – A printable checklist that walks day camp counselors through everything they need to do and know in the first 48 hours — from welcoming campers and communicating with families to understanding fire drills and lost camper protocols.
✅ Overnight Camp Frontline Staff Checklist – Specifically designed for cabin staff and overnight leaders, this checklist covers pre-arrival setup, first night routines, camper bonding, and overnight-specific emergency procedures.
📥 Perfect for: Camp Directors prepping staff before opening day/ Leadership teams looking for easy-to-follow orientation tools/ First-time or young staff who need structure and support
🔒 Licensed for single-organization use
Disclaimer: All Youth Development Pro training resources are intended for educational use by youth development professionals, educators, and program leaders. These guides are designed to support staff in navigating activities, behaviors, and sensitive conversations with young people in camps, afterschool programs, schools, and similar group settings.
While these materials include strategies for building social-emotional skills and team engagement, they are not a substitute for legal advice, mental health diagnosis, or therapeutic intervention. Facilitators should always follow their organization's policies, consult with supervisors as needed, and escalate any concerns requiring immediate attention to the appropriate authority.
Adult supervision is required for all activities involving children. Adapt all content based on the age, needs, and safety of your participants. Youth Development Pro and its affiliates are not responsible for how materials are interpreted or implemented in individual settings.
Always prioritize the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of both participants and staff.