For anyone out there who has done a summer camp assignment, I could use your input…
Tradition at most YL camps is to have a “war room” room meeting in the morning. Usually this consists of a short devotional and prayer (10-20 minutes), then there is a review of the daily schedule and details with the assignment team, camp guest services and maybe a few more people.
Has anyone ever seen this done at a different time in the day? Maybe before lunch or in the early afternoon? I’ve heard of it once on an assignment and I would like to look at it as an option for this summer (I’m a camp director but have previously done the traditional morning meeting in the past). I know this is an unusual post for YLhelp but I thought some of you out there might have some good input! Put it in the comments or look in the “about” tab to find me on Facebook.
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8 thoughts on ““War Room” Meeting NOT in the Morning?”
I’ve had them a couple of times, and I’m biased because I hate mornings, but I loved them. It was especially nice when it was after a breakfast in bed morning, or after one of the bigger nights like carnival or square dancing.
At YouthWorks they have a similar meeting, but it in the late afternoon and covers the following 36 hour so you get through the rest of that day in more detail and all of the next day.
noon… almost always works… just do it before lunch… wayyyyyy better… we did it at two weeks of 5 day 9th grade camps while at RockRidge Canyon (YL Canada’s camp) last year. Worked great! The only issue that could arrise is that work staff meals are generally during that time.
Here is an email reply I received too…
Just thought I’d send a note about the morning meeting. Having been with YL in the south for 16 years I was quite used to morning meetings/war room time. I moved to the Northeast and on my first assignment found out there was no ‘war room’ ! Shock!
Here is our summer plan–
Morning Bible for staff before breakfast (some camp staff attend also) 60 minutes.
After breakfast there is an Admin Meeting. This is for review of the daily matrix and getting all bases covered. It is short, to the point and adequate to cover all things. At times the Program team may head out early or the HL might need to get to the morning Real Life….this meeting is at most 20 minutes. If there are issues that don’t pertain to the whole group, they are dealt with at the end.
I had 15 assignments in a War Room and now 8 assignments w/o. Both have their benefits. Good luck on your assignment.
I’ve been a camp director twice now and both times I’ve asked my team and they refuse to change the morning time, even though some of them are anything but morning people. They feel like it sets them up for the day better–get everything laid out right at the beginning. I haven’t been able to change their minds to anything else.
Love the NE strategy though. Who teaches the Bible part?
Malibu Club always has their leader meeting 1 hour before dinner. There is a recall horn 1 hour before dinner every day. To the students, it signals that store/snack shop/coffee shop closes, rides/pool close. To the leaders, it means that the leader mtg is about to start. Leaders get a peak at the schedule for their next 24 hours @ camp.
Chris, thanks for your comment. And man… Malibu is the best! You are correct, the leaders meetings are traditionally right before or after dinner on most nights. The “War Room” meeting is a different meeting and is not for the leaders but the property staff, camp director, program team and others to go make sure all the plans are set for the day. If you have any pull, put in a good word for me at Malibu, I’d love to get back there soon!
I have been a multiple assignments and never had an early morning meeting. They have either been before breakfast (which can be hard for work/staff breakfast), right when the morning event ends (pool olympics is over its time for a meeting) or right before lunch. My preferences is that they are right when the morning event ends. I think it is the best time with almost no conflicts.