Teens at Camp
PAT (Program Aide in Training)
To contact our CORE Team: w[email protected] OR to contact PA & PAT Coordinators: [email protected]
- When teens come to WDC the summer before their 7th or 8th grade year of school, they will be a Program Aide in Training (PAT).
- Our teens are required by Girl Scouts of Western Washington (GSWW) to complete the Program Aid Workshop training before they can be placed in a leadership role at camp working with our campers.
- The PAT year at WDC is a transition year where our scouts move from being campers to teen leaders.
- PATs receive leadership training and a chance to visit different camper units and stations during the week while also working with different ages of campers and seeing what grade levels and stations they prefer.
- PATs will be assigned to a 'home' unit or station where they will spend part of the week working and attending stations with their Unit or Station Leaders and campers.
- Units or Stations are led by two or more Unit Leaders or Station Leaders. Camper units usually have 10-14 campers in each unit.
- Monday at camp, PATs will start their day in their assigned unit or station and in the afternoon they will attend training with our PAT or Teen Coordinators.
- PATs will also work outside of their 'home' unit or station at the Retreat and during the week of camp.
- They attend week of camp training sessions, meet in small and large PAT groups during the week of camp, plan badge work with their assigned unit or station, and visit different units and stations during the camp week.
- Our PAT Coordinators meet with our PATs daily to discuss schedules, planning, activities, and attend required training. They will also discuss leadership expectations, camper dynamics/behaviors, and help solve challenges during the week or camp.
Attendance the week of camp is mandatory for the PAT Training and LIA Award. If PATs can't attend the whole week, they aren't able to complete the training requirements and can't "graduate" with their LIA and then go on to be a PA the following year at WDC. Absences may result in outside of camp make-up work or repeating the PAT year at camp.
PA/PAT Transportation Plan: Teens in our Program Aide and Program Aide-In-Training programs are responsible for signing themselves into camp at arrival each day, and signing themselves out when they leave. PA/Ts should NOT be leaving prior to the end of the camp day without explicit permission from their adult coordinator. Because we take your teen’s safety seriously, proper sign-in and sign-out are MANDATORY each day, and repeated failure to do so may result in being asked not to return for the remainder of the camp week.
Want to learn more?: https://www.girlscoutsww.org/en/events/highest-awards/other-leadership-awards.html
From GSWW: Teen Mentoring Awards: These awards are supported and earned at Woodinville Day Camp...
- Leader In Action Award | Cadette Girl Scouts
"As a Leader in Action, you'll share your skills, test your knowledge and try out new leadership roles. For the girls being mentored, it means a chance to learn from teens—some of their favorite people! Information on earning the Leader in Action Award is in the Cadette Journey guides." - Program Aide Award | Cadette Girl Scouts
"As a Program Aide, you're a role model for younger girls! To achieve your Program Aide Award, you’ll need to earn your Leader in Action Award and complete the Program Aide Core Leadership Workshop. Then, you’ll work with younger Girl Scouts over six activity sessions."
PA (Program Aide)
After a week of being a PAT at camp our teens graduate to Program Aide (PA). PAs lead our units of campers, lead our stations and act as other support staff at camp. Our Teens are the heart of our camp and drive the direction we go.
The camp day begins at 8:30am for all Program Aides and Program Aides-In-Training, so that they may assist Core Staff in camp set-up each morning. Camp day ends at 4:30pm or when all campers in your unit have been picked up
PATs and PAs get a short PA break each day away from the camper units. It is a great chance to rest and socialize with all the teens. They also get to have a special treat and drink daily.
Thursday night at camp we host a PA dinner after day camp ends. It is a social evening and dinner. PATs officially graduate to PAs, games are played, etc.
Leadership at camp:
-Girl Scout Campers (Pixie – 6th grades)
-PAT= usually grade 7 (8 & 9 with permission)
-PA in a “Station or Unit”= usually grades 8, 9, & 10
-PA Leader- “Station or Unit” = usually grades 10, 11, & 12
-Adult Volunteer = graduated teens, college students, and all adults
Teen Training & Learning at WDC
- We host a yearly WDC PA Retreat. This training is mandatory for all Teens! It is typically a Sunday in May, where we meet for a half day to prepare for camp.
- Our Retreat includes training for: All Teens, Station or Unit leader roles, Program Aides (PAs), Program-Aid-In-Training (PATs), and Boy PAs.
- PATs and PAs will work together as well as break out into separate groups working with their PA/PAT Coordinators.
- Attendees will participate in games, review skills, work in small and large groups completing activities and engaging in discussion groups covering camper age characteristics & dynamics, leadership styles & goals, and camp scenarios.
- During the Retreat, you will also be planning in your Units Team or Station Teams for the week of camp - preparing for camp, reviewing curriculum & station skills/ preparing free time activities, , reviewing roles & jobs in units and at stations
- Boys or Pixies Unit Leaders and PAs also meet during this time to prepare and plan for camp.
Teen Leadership at Camp
Teens may be placed in the role of PA Unit Leader and/or PA Station Leaders as needed for filling Unit Leader and Station Leader staff. Incoming 9th through 12th graders, are not guaranteed placement as a Unit Leader or Station Leader. Teens are individually considered by the WDC CORE placement team when they have:
Many teen leader positions are available. Which one interests you?
- exhibited exceptional leadership skills
- voiced and shown a desire to lead and work with campers
- shown knowledge and skills working with campers and/or a station's subject and it's progression of skills and content
- demonstrated the maturity and responsibility required of the role
- shown focus on camper's needs; including health, safety, and well-being
- attended required training(s) offered by WDC (these are noted on the website)
- have shown good communication (both verbal and written) and attention to our schedule and time management at camp
Many teen leader positions are available. Which one interests you?
- Unit Leaders - work with a unit of campers for the week. Units include Pixie Preschool unit, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade (includes 3 mile hike), 5th grade, 6th grade (includes fire challenge)
- Station Leaders - assist in the delivery of camp programming across many different units of campers. Stations include: Music, Crafts, Fire, Knives, Knots, First-Aid, Flag, Outdoor Cooking, Wilderness, Woodworking and Wood finishing,
- Equipment Manager/inventory
- Dishwashing Supervisor
- Camp Photographer
- Kitchen Staff
PLACEMENT INFORMATION & PHILOSOPHY:
*Teen Adults (teens who graduate in June) will be considered official ADULTS at WDC.
*Placement preferences are allotted in this order: PAs (incoming grades 12-8),Teen Adults, and Adult Volunteers.
*Preference surveys provide our main guidance when determining placement for our teens and adults. (Please complete the preference survey on the registration page).
*Years of experience volunteering at WDC, camp evaluations (camper, peer, and adult end of camp), CORE member feedback, PAT and PA Coordinator feedback are all factors that help us determine placement each year.
*If teens are unable to come to camp for a summer due to conflicts of schedule, then return the following year, the time away is not held against them other than they have one less year of experience than their same grade level peers. This can can be a factor considered in placement when experience is a key factor.
*Our PA Retreat is the only required and offered training for our teens at this time. It is currently only for our registered teens placed for this summer. At the Retreat our teens are preparing for the week of camp, reviewing skills, practicing problem-solving when working with campers, planning activities and games for the week of camp, as well as they work with their assigned Unit or Station placement groups preparing for camp. Unfortunately, we don't currently have the resources to support non-registered teens at WDC. If your teen is unable to attend camp, and seeking Girl Scout volunteer hours, we suggest you seek out opportunities with the Service Unit or local troops.
~We strive to create the best camp environment and best fit for each teen and adult when placing our volunteers. Our CORE TEAM- Camp Placement Team works hard to make the best placements for the week of camp for learning, growth, success, and fun for our campers, teens, and adults.
*Teen Adults (teens who graduate in June) will be considered official ADULTS at WDC.
*Placement preferences are allotted in this order: PAs (incoming grades 12-8),Teen Adults, and Adult Volunteers.
*Preference surveys provide our main guidance when determining placement for our teens and adults. (Please complete the preference survey on the registration page).
*Years of experience volunteering at WDC, camp evaluations (camper, peer, and adult end of camp), CORE member feedback, PAT and PA Coordinator feedback are all factors that help us determine placement each year.
*If teens are unable to come to camp for a summer due to conflicts of schedule, then return the following year, the time away is not held against them other than they have one less year of experience than their same grade level peers. This can can be a factor considered in placement when experience is a key factor.
*Our PA Retreat is the only required and offered training for our teens at this time. It is currently only for our registered teens placed for this summer. At the Retreat our teens are preparing for the week of camp, reviewing skills, practicing problem-solving when working with campers, planning activities and games for the week of camp, as well as they work with their assigned Unit or Station placement groups preparing for camp. Unfortunately, we don't currently have the resources to support non-registered teens at WDC. If your teen is unable to attend camp, and seeking Girl Scout volunteer hours, we suggest you seek out opportunities with the Service Unit or local troops.
~We strive to create the best camp environment and best fit for each teen and adult when placing our volunteers. Our CORE TEAM- Camp Placement Team works hard to make the best placements for the week of camp for learning, growth, success, and fun for our campers, teens, and adults.
*No 10th or 11th graders are accepted as PATs at WDC at this time. Non-leadership placements such as camp photographer, dishwasher or kitchen staff may be considered for 10th and 11th graders who are new to camp under special consideration by the CORE Team.
*Part-time Program Aids may also be considered by our CORE team. Please email to communicate your availability. (PATs are not considered for part-time, see above for specifics).
*All placements are tentative until the week of camp. Changes do occur during planning, and flexibility is needed to best meet the needs of our campers. Teens of any age may be assigned as a PA, PA Unit Leader or PA Station Leader.
*PA Unit Leaders will usually be in grades 12, 11, and 10. 9th graders are occasionally assigned if needed and will be paired with an experienced teen. (Usually only 2nd year PA's can be a Unit Leader.)
*PA Station Leaders can be in 12th, 11th, 10th, and 9th grade. 8th graders are occasionally assigned if needed and will be paired with an experienced adult or teen.
*Part-time Program Aids may also be considered by our CORE team. Please email to communicate your availability. (PATs are not considered for part-time, see above for specifics).
*All placements are tentative until the week of camp. Changes do occur during planning, and flexibility is needed to best meet the needs of our campers. Teens of any age may be assigned as a PA, PA Unit Leader or PA Station Leader.
*PA Unit Leaders will usually be in grades 12, 11, and 10. 9th graders are occasionally assigned if needed and will be paired with an experienced teen. (Usually only 2nd year PA's can be a Unit Leader.)
*PA Station Leaders can be in 12th, 11th, 10th, and 9th grade. 8th graders are occasionally assigned if needed and will be paired with an experienced adult or teen.