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How long it’ll take:
10-15 minutes
What the goal is:
Encourage campers to reflect on their camp experience and feel empowered to share their thoughts with the group.
What the objectives are:
The instructor will facilitate a discussion with the group about the high and low moments of the day, as well as plans and goals for the next day.
What you’ll need:
No materials are required.
What you’ll do:
Circle up the group and announce that you've come to the end of your day together.
Mention the highlights of the day, goals that were accomplished, and how the group worked as a team. If necessary, give the campers feedback on what they can work on for the rest of the week, and ask them if they have any feedback for you.
Give each camper a chance to share their reflections of the day. Encourage them to be specific! Check out the quick and in-depth debriefs for ideas.
***Do your best to change up your debriefs! They will be more authentic and exciting for both you and your campers.
Share appreciation for their participation and move onto discussing the plan for the next day.
Quick Debriefs (10-15 minutes)
Quick Debriefs (10-15 minutes)
Rose, bud, thorn: A camper's rose is their highlight, thorn is their low point, and bud is something they are looking forward to.
Popsicle, poopsicle, dreamsicle: A camper's popsicle is their highlight, poopsicle is their low point, and dreamsicle is something they are looking forward to.
Bike Parts: After a bike day, place a bike in the middle of the group. Encourage each camper to identify a part of the bike that symbolises how their day went. For example, "My day felt like the chain, because we really worked as a team on our ride!"
Gratitude: Have each camper share what they are grateful for after a day of adventuring together.
In-Depth Debriefs (20-30 minutes)
In-Depth Debriefs (20-30 minutes)
Game Show: Split the group in teams of two, or have each camper represent their own team. The instructor will have a list of debrief questions ready, including what the campers learned that day. In order to answer a question, campers must make a "buzzer" sound of their choice. The goal is to answer as many questions as possible to get points. Example Questions:
What is the B in the ABC's of biking?
What is the LNT principle that has to do with animals?
What was one goal that you accomplished today?
What is one goal you have for tomorrow and how are going to accomplish it?
What is one thing we can do better as a group to have an awesome rest of the week?
Add in more fun by having "double-or-nothing" bonus rounds and other creative game show ideas!
Silent Skit or Interpretive Dance: If it seems appropriate for the group, have them individually or collectively come up with a silent skit or interpretive dance that explains how their day went. It must include one thing they learned, one memory they enjoyed, and one problem they solved. If you are unsure if this debrief will be successful, you can guide them through the planning of their skit or dance. After the performance, ask them to describe their skit or dance.
Five Senses: At the start of the day, inform the group that they will need to remember something that they heard, smelt, tasted, touched, and saw that day. When it is debrief time, give your campers 5 minutes to recollect the memories, and give them the option to write them down. Each camper will go around and debrief their 5 senses of the day!
The News: Treat your debrief like a news broadcast! Assign each camper to segment of the news (ex. weather, activities, lessons, etc). Then, the instructor will be the lead newscaster holding an imaginary microphone, asking questions to the campers. Examples may include:
"We have our weather expert over here! Can you please tell us a little about what the weather was like today and what we can expect the rest of the week?"
"We are now live with one of our hike masters! Can you tell us a little about the best parts of the hike today and a few things we saw?"
"Wow, we are now live with a camper who has one of the best memories! Can you tell us a few things we learned in our activities today? What is a durable or not durable surface and why does that matter for putting up a tent?"
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