Behavior Management Policy
KNC believes that every child has the right to experience camp and all it has to offer. We also believe in setting limits and explaining boundaries to all participants. When these boundaries are tested, KNC uses specific procedures to support the camper in continuing his/her camp experience. All KNC Camp staff receive significant training in these procedures.
On the first day of KNC Camp, our staff go over camper and staff expectations, including ground rules of camp life. Campers have the opportunity to ask questions about policies and rules. In this way, we ensure that everyone clearly understands expectations.
However uncommon, some behaviors can disrupt KNC Camp staff’s ability to maintain physical and emotional well-being for a camper or campers. Such behaviors will not be tolerated. These behaviors may include, but are not limited to: leaving a KNC Camp group without permission, physical aggression towards staff or other campers (kicking, biting, hitting etc.), verbal aggression towards staff or other campers (cursing, screaming, name calling, inappropriate language or comments, etc.), and aggressive or disrespectful behavior towards any animal at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Procedures We Follow
1. First offense. The camper is removed from a problem situation. Removal gives the camper the opportunity to calm down, reflect on his/her actions, and to speak with their counselor about what happened. The counselor will check that the camper understands behavior expectations and reasoning, and the consequences of non-cooperation.
2. Second offense. If the behavior is repeated, the KNC Camp Director will become involved. The Director will again check that the camper understands expectations and consequences. Additionally, the counselor or Director will contact the camper’s parent or guardian with the goals of making them aware of the situation and asking for insight and guidance.
3. Additional offenses. If the behavior persists, the Camp Director will determine if the camper should remain at camp or be sent home. If the student needs to be sent home, parents/guardians will be contacted again. It is the parents/guardians responsibility, both logistically and financially, to transport the camper from KNC. The camper may return to camp the next day with the understanding that future offenses will not be tolerated. Future offenses will result in complete removal from all KNC Camp activities for the remainder of the summer.
4. Immediate removal from KNC Camp. There are some actions that may warrant immediate removal from KNC Camp. These actions include, but are not limited to: smoking or using tobacco products, using alcohol or illegal drugs, stealing, compromising personal safety, or compromising the safety of other campers or KNC staff.
Behavioral Diagnosis
A diagnosis will not affect your camper’s admission to KNC Camp. However, campers with severe emotional disturbances or violent tendencies may be unable to effectively participate in KNC Camp activities. If your child has severe behavioral diagnosis, please speak with the Camp Director prior to registration to assess how KNC Camp can best serve your child. If it is determined that KCN Camp cannot appropriately minimized risk to the camper, other campers, or KNC staff, you will be referred to other camps that are equipped to handle these special needs.