Everything in this section is related to staffing your camp and getting counselors up to speed. The first step is to define what your minimum qualifications are for counselors you will hire. You want counselors to have a range of expertise and dispositions so that they are able to support students with a wider range of experiences and needs. Strong counselors are often patient, enthusiastic, reliable, and comfortable working collaboratively. Additionally, since you are working with young children, counselors should be comfortable with the unexpected. Often, these traits are more important than technical expertise since that can be taught. 

An ideal candidate would demonstrate the above qualities and also have subject matter knowledge. They should also have relevant experience working with youth, either through volunteer work or a job. Jobs such as teaching and mentoring are good ways to learn about balancing goals, probably academic ones if a tutor, with individual student’s needs. Having at least a few counselors with knowledge of the robotics kits you will be using the easiest way to make sure the campers will be supported as they learn. 

Check your state’s requirements for who can work with children. Many programs require counselors to be at least sixteen years old. We like to have one lead counselor who is a classroom teacher or has had extensive experience teaching. We try to stick to a ratio of one counselor per six eight students. We also find it useful to have a floating counselor in the room to help when there are technical issues. Most states also require background checks which can be costly so include those in the program’s budget. Also find out if all or just a percentage of staff must be CPR and first aid certified. As you think about the number of counselors you will need, think about how you can support the campers if there is a technical issue so that one counselor getting involved in that does not impact the experience for the rest of the campers. Also think about supervision policies such as the two-adult rule that one adult should not be alone with a camper. These transitions may occur when a child needs to use the restroom. When considering how many counselors you need, consider if you will include junior counselors. Junior counselors can be helpful, but often need support. 

Recruitment Strategies

• Send emails to local schools if you want to hire a teacher as a lead counselor 
• Advertise at local universities and colleges with programs in STEM and/or education
• Recruit responsible high school and college students when supervision is available
• Develop a leadership or counselor-in-training program for high school students

Leadership Development Opportunities

• High school students with an interest in LEGO robotics can volunteer and build leadership skills
• Leadership programs can create a pipeline for future counselors

Interviewing Counselors

Although interviewing virtually is more convenient, interviewing people in person allows you to see how they interact with the materials and children if your program is part of an ongoing one. Interview questions can be a mix of probing for content knowledge, their philosophy on working with children, and how they function as part of a team. Questions can include:  

• “Tell me about a time you worked with a child who was struggling — what did you do?”
• “How do you handle conflict between two children?”
• “Describe your approach to discipline or setting limits with kids.”
• “What would you do if a child disclosed something that made you uncomfortable or concerned?”
• “What’s your experience with [specific age group/activity type]?”
• “Can you describe a time you had to be flexible when a plan changed?”
• “What do you think makes a great day for kids in this kind of setting?”
• “Are there any situations involving children that you feel unprepared to handle?”
• What is one thing you’d like to share about yourself as a learner?
• What is one thing that is important to you as a member of a team? 
• What was your favorite robotics activity and why? 
• What would you do if one child in your group was having a technical issue which needed your attention for a sustained period? 
• “What questions do you have for us?”

If time allows:

• Have candidates participate in a trial session or build something with robotics kit
• Observe interactions with a small group of children and then discuss it
• Evaluate communication, flexibility, and classroom presence

Hiring Counselors

• Submit all required background checks
• Seek candidates with STEM backgrounds when possible
  
  • Especially teachers or students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

• Hire of different genders so campers have varied role models
• Consider diversity in experience, age, and backgrounds

Training Counselors

‍Training is one of the highest-leverage investments a program can make.

The length and depth of training will depend on:

• Available funding
• Counselor availability
• Program complexity
• Mandatory reporter training requirement 
  
  • Review state and local requirements
  • Often legally required for adults working with minors

Counselors should familiarize themselves with the robotics kits and activities. Training should be completed before the counselors work with the children. It is useful for them to put themselves in the place of the campers and run through all the activities from start to finish. This way they will have the experience to help campers troubleshoot. It will also help them anticipate which parts of activities may cause campers to have problems and what possible solutions may be. During training counselors can work in groups so they can get to know each other and have 

Core Training Topics

In addition to the technical aspects of the camp, training should cover logistical information and the camp’s philosophy for working with children. Below is an outline of topics to cover during training. Throughout the training make room to discuss what the topic is and for counselors to ask questions and voice concerns. A staff handbook that covers your training topics is a useful tool for counselors to have as the summer progresses. 

Program Mission & Culture

• Shared beliefs about working with children
• Expectations for working with students 

Safety & Emergency Procedures

• Fire drills
• Medical emergencies
• Lost child situations
• Severe weather
• Lockdowns

Mandatory Reporting

• What mandatory reporting means
• How to make a report
• Legal and ethical responsibilities

Behavior Management

• Redirection strategies
• De-escalation techniques
• When to involve supervisors
• Let someone know if any of the following has happened:
  
  • Any injuries
  • Any physical altercations
  • Any crying
  • Non-participation for long periods of time (be clear about what you consider a long period of time to be

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Inclusion & Accessibility

• Supporting participants with varied needs
• Recognizing students’ assets 
• Appropriate language and communication practices
• Creating welcoming environments

Daily Schedule & Activity Facilitation

• Review the daily structure
• Practice facilitating activities
• Rehearse transitions and cleanup procedures

Communication with Families

• What counselors are authorized to communicate
• How to address parent concerns
• When to involve program leadership

Role-Play Scenarios

• Behavior issues
• Emotional situations
• Conflicts between campers
• Safety concerns

Working with Students 

• Create a personalized atmosphere
• Set norms
• Build on students assets
• Frame expectations in the positive
• Ask the students to be specific whenever possible
• Anticipate issues that may arise
• Supporting student work
  
  • Ask “what questions do you have” opposed to “do you have any questions.”
  • When checking for understanding, make every student have to do something
  • Put all verbal instructions in writing as well. They can be on a poster, presentation slide, or on each work area
• Counselor wellbeing
  
  • Asking for help
  • Recognizing burnout
  • Supporting fellow staff members

Robotics-Specific Training: Learning the Robotics Platform

• Work through the activity sequence
  
  • Build and test projects themselves
  • Experience common student challenges
  • Practice explaining concepts clearly
  • Anticipate
• Staff should become comfortable with:
  
  • Building with LEGO bricks
  • LEGO robotic bricks
  • Programming basics
  • Troubleshooting common issues