What a great Fall 2023 minicamp! The last time I attended an overnight CISV program was in 1998. I was a JC representing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at a Village in Kalmar, Sweden. I now realize that 25 years ago I had no idea what it took to make a CISV chapter exist.
In addition to a strong Junior Branch Board (JB Board), any chapter needs strong and creative adult leadership to go beyond “survival” mode and into “sustained” mode. I searched for first-hand testimonials about being an adult chaperone at a minicamp and didn’t find any, so I decided to write this one in the hopes that more of our members will be convinced that they should make time to chaperone at least once in their family’s CISV journey!
What is a CISV minicamp like?
At face value, a CISV minicamp is like many other camps: children and teenagers get to be away from technology and participate in activities that are fun and help them develop skills in a diverse range of areas: communication, leadership, collaboration, self-confidence, flexible thinking, problem solving, and the list goes on.
However, a CISV minicamp is unlike any other camp I’ve heard of. Please reach out to us if you know any nonpolitical, nondenominational nonprofit organizations that hold camps where there’s not a single paid staff member. (We are always open to exchanging ideas with like-minded organizations!)
Everyone running a CISV minicamp is there as a volunteer. While the JB Board plans and executes all activities, adult JB co-advisors and chaperones freely donate their time to comply with NYS adult-to-children ratio camp rules and undertake unpaid tasks to make it all work.
What do chaperones do?
Adult volunteers (all background checked and chapter members) oversee the bus ride, participate in some activities as role models, help the youngest campers as needed (e.g. opening up a milk carton in the morning), sweep the dining hall after meals, and help set up equipment as needed. We also have time to chat, relax, and have a good laugh.
If you’re a former CISVer, I highly recommend chaperoning. It will take you right back to your days as a participant, and you might even spontaneously recall an energizer or two that you can share with the group.
If you’ve never attended a CISV camp, I also highly recommend chaperoning. You would see that a minicamp is a camp “for kids, by kids” and understand how the teenagers in the JB Board step up and lead.
What if I think that chaperoning is really not for me?
If you think chaperoning is not for you, there’s always a way to contribute to CISV to make our chapter the best it can be. We are the chapter. If there’s something you don’t like, volunteer to make it better!
Some people don’t know where to start, so I recommend that you first ask yourself: “What do I like doing?” — then tell us your answer and we will find the right fit for you. You can host a pizza night. Make a phone call on behalf of the chapter. Organize data on a spreadsheet. Lead a program selection committee. Write a grant proposal. Create social media posts. Organize a local event. Plan a community service day. And many other things! There’s always something that you can contribute with in CISV.
–Cecilia Schiera
Questions? Email CISV NY at newyork@cisvusa.org.
More information about minicamps: https://newyork.
More information about volunteering: https://newyork.