By Jarod "W" Wunneburger, Director of Camps
What do New York subway navigation and summer camp behavior management have in common? More than you might think. After 10 years in New York, I mastered the subtle art of subway efficiency - knowing exactly where to stand for the quickest exit. After all, I did win gold medal in the Maps, Charts, and Graphs competition in 5th grade!
This kind of wayfinding has been on my mind as Farm & Wilderness and Timberlake navigate significant transitions. As I travel to conferences and camp meet-ups, I'm discovering the entire summer camp industry is searching for its path forward too. Most notably, how to manage an increase in disruptive behaviors from campers.
The Behavior Crisis in Education
Schools are facing unprecedented behavioral challenges. Recent National Education Association data tells a stark story: 68% of teachers report experiencing verbal abuse from students, with disruptive behavior cited as a top concern. Mental health issues are also surging - our work at Farm & Wilderness was recently highlighted for our innovative approaches to these challenges. This growing crisis is exactly why I was invited to speak at the ACA Southwestern Camp Conference in Utah, as part of F&W's mission to share insights with the broader education community.
The Camp Solution
Schools and camps alike can learn from Farm & Wilderness's approach. At Timberlake, our camp for boys and non-binary campers ages 9-14, we've developed a proven framework for behavior management. My "Behavior Management 101" training distills years of classroom experience into practical techniques that even our youngest staff can implement. The result? Cabins where kids can be kids - silly, adventurous, and fully themselves - while feeling safe and supported.
Practical Tools for Change
Camps can improve their behavior management strategies by focusing on the “Tier 1” behaviors and responses to behaviors. Think of any group of campers in three buckets:
- Bucket 1: 80% of campers who respond well to mild redirection
- Bucket 2: 15% of campers who need additional support, such as more individual time with a camp counselor
- Bucket 3: 5% of campers who require intensive attention or may need a different environment
If it feels like more than 15% of kids are in the 2nd bucket and need more attention, that means your Tier 1 supports aren’t good enough. Some of the specific techniques I teach:
- Ladder of Action – An escalating series of actions someone can take to help redirect a camper without yelling. The first step involved a great teacher stare all the way up to having a conversation with them.
- Give Clearer Instructions - Focus on giving clearer instructions. Most “misbehavior” is actually kids unclear what you want from them or exploiting the great areas. Keep the instructions concrete, clear, and sequential to help campers be successful.
- Have strong routines – At Timberlake even our 14 year olds get a bedtime story. Routines help keep campers grounded and allows them many attempts to do the right thing.
The enthusiastic response in Salt Lake City confirmed what we've long known at Farm & Wilderness: we're not just creating incredible summer experiences - we're developing solutions that can transform the broader education ecosystem. As I prepare to bring these insights to conferences in Colorado City and Indianapolis, I'm curious: What behavior management strategies have worked in your setting? How might camp-based approaches enhance your work with young people?
#SummerCamp #Education #YouthDevelopment #BehaviorManagement #TeacherSupport