Five County 4-H Camp Counselor and Chaperone General Information

Being a camp counselor or chaperone is one of the most rewarding leadership opportunities you can take as an older 4-H member or adult chaperone. As a counselor and chaperone, you get to see the younger members grow as you help them challenge themselves to new things, provide support to programs, and help ensure that everyone feels like a part of Five County 4-H Camp! Looking for Five County 4-H Camper information? Five County 4-H Camper Information

Join us at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, WI from June 8-11! This year’s camp theme is “Never Underestimate the Power of 4-H’ers!” where we will have a blast to the past!

Camp Counselor and Chaperone Application is Live!

Not sure if being a counselor or chaperone is right for you? There are many ways to find out!

• Sign Up: This is the easiest way to find out what Five County 4-H Camp is like as a counselor or chaperone- Experience It! This is a great chance to push yourself outside of you comfort zone into being an amazing leader and will leave you wanting to stay longer at camp!
• Ask Around: Former counselors and chaperones can be an amazing resource to let you know all about what 4-H camp is like and what you’ll do in these roles. Don’t forget about your club leaders! They see all the amazing work you do in 4-H and would definitely be able to help you answer questions about it!
• Reach Out: If you’re still not sure or just have questions, reach out to the Extension Office! With a 4-H Educator with tons of camp experience, we are happy to help talk through any feelings that you have about being a camp counselor or chaperone!

Counselor and Chaperone Training

All trainings are required for counselors to complete and HIGHLY recommended for chaperones! Five County 4-H Camp uses a hybrid lesson to teach all the ins-and-outs of 4-H camp and building our camp team. If you need any assistance or feel you are unable to complete a required training, please reach out the Extension Office immediately so we can help support you to be the best staff at camp!

1. Online Component:
   • This is an asynchronous course developed by Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center to provide the most important information about camp. A completed the companion guide MUST and return to the Green Lake County Extension Office BEFORE In-Person Training. Camp Counselor Training – Wisconsin 4-H
2. In-Person Component:
   • An In-Person Counselor Training will be held May 29th at 5pm at the Adams County Extension Office at 569 N Cedar St, Adams WI, 53910! This is a required in-person training to practice the hands-on skills that are required to be an amazing counselor or chaperone! More details will be made available closer to the date!

Chaperone Requirements:

Chaperones are the backbone of a successful Five County 4-H Camp experience! In order to ensure that we provide a safe and fun learning environment for our campers and counselors, you MUST be an approved 4-H Volunteer in 4-H Online. (Check 4-H Online or reach out to the Extension Office to see if you’re approved!)

For instructions on how to enroll as a volunteer in 4-H Online, go to page 11 on the Family Enrollment Guide!

Requirements to be a volunteer:

• Enrolled in 4-HOnline as a volunteer!
• Complete the online trainings:
  • Grow Green/VIP (Volunteers In Preparation or VIP meets this training requirement, but has been phased out and replaced with Grow Green)
  • Building Safe Spaces
  • Supporting You, Supporting Youth
  • Support Youth Mental Health (Although not required, this training is HIGHLY recommended to help support youth manage their mental health – especially at an overnight program)
• Complete a Criminal Background Check – During the enrollment process in 4-H Online, there will be a screening page where you must consent to a background check. You will soon receive an email from HireRight, a third-party company, that will complete your background check.

A message to our chaperones:

Our chaperones are HIGHLY encouraged to complete BOTH trainings available! The online course provides great information on the roles and expectations at camp that relate directly to your position and will help you to best support your campers and counselors. The in-person training is your chance to start building relationships with your counselors ahead of camp which is key to creating a safe and welcoming environment the second campers start to arrive. We understand that schedules can be busy, and we appreciate your commitment to Five County 4-H Camp and all the work that you do to make it possible!

Contact

This is a lot of information about Five County 4-H Camp Counselors and Chaperones! For questions, comments, concerns, recommendations, or anything else, please reach out to the Extension Office or contact Brandon Springer by emailing brandon.springer@wisc.edu or by phone at 920-294-4035!