Adult Group Leader

The number of adults leading groups of campers has diminished at Camp St. Joan, due to the role of Group Leader becoming a primary responsibility of teens who participate in the Leadership program. Nonetheless, our camp is typically blessed by the presence of a handful of caring grownups who take on the Group Leader role, whether out of a desire to interact with their own child during camp, to fill in for a teen’s absence, or occasionally because an individual grownup is an ideal fit to lead a particular group.

Adult Group Leaders have the same responsibilities to the group as do the Teen Leaders—enthusiasm for camp and a fondness for the campers in their charge, an interest in facilitating the study of the country that is the theme, an ability to be responsible and prompt, a sense of humor, and an ability to cope with the unexpected. Adult Group Leaders create camp for their campers.

Adults who lead groups at camp have additional task of mentoring an assistant. An adult leading a group is typically paired with a teen, one who has been determined a good match, but is perhaps not yet ready to take complete charge of a group. Teens participate in camp to develop leadership skills, and the adult in this situation serves as a mentor in the process. More than modeling behavior, adult Group Leaders are asked to assist in their assistant’s leadership development by delegating as much responsibility as is safe and reasonable, and by building a positive and cooperative working relationship.