Junior Mountaineers uses behavior guidelines to assure that summer camp is safe and fun for everyone involved. Camp staff will emphasize peer to peer conflict resolution and embrace the importance of respect and safety in our learning environment. The support and cooperation of the family with us is key to the success of all campers. Camp staff strives to work through behavior challenges that arise at camp before suspending or dismissing a camper from the program. However, if behavior is repetitive, severely disruptive, or creates any form of safety hazard, Junior Mountaineers reserves the right to remove a camper from the program. 

During the first week of camp, staff will work with campers to create camp behavior expectations and rules. These rules will be reviewed every Monday and throughout each week of camp. Campers will need to meet these behavior expectations and camp rules to continue to attend Junior Mountaineers. Some basic camper behavior expectations will include:

• Use appropriate language 

• Be respectful of camp staff, campers, property

• Remain with the JMC group unless granted permission to leave

• Participate in camp activities

Examples of behavior that will result in disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Choosing not to follow behavior expectations and camp rules

• Using foul language, obscenity, being rude or disrespectful to camp staff and/or other campers

• Damaging Western Colorado University/JMC property, facilities, any property visited such as a park or field trip location, or personal belongings of other campers/staff

• Stealing Western Colorado University/JMC property or personal belongings of others

• Refusing to participate in activities

• Repeated interference with Junior Mountaineer’s ability to provide educational opportunities to other campers

• Refusing to remain with the group during program activities and/or on field trips

• Refusing to participate in program activities

• Fighting or intentionally injuring another camper/staff member

• Bullying, teasing, or making fun of campers/staff

• Verbal or written threats to staff or campers

• Bringing or using any illegal substances and/or weapons

Junior Mountaineers will use a positive reinforcement discipline approach to meet the individual needs of each camper. Some examples of positive reinforcement that may be used by camp staff include: modeling positive behavior towards campers and co-workers, encouraging campers to work as a team, verbal and non-verbal praise, awarding Mountaineer Money to campers to use towards a prize from the camp store to award behavior, and providing opportunities to earn camper’s choice activities. 

When camper behavior does not meet behavior expectations and rules, the following system will be implemented to help Junior Mountaineers navigate inappropriate behavior:

• Camp staff will redirect the camper to more appropriate behavior. Camp staff will remind the camper of the behavior expectations and rules. 

• First Offense. If inappropriate behavior continues, camp staff meets with the camper individually and asks them to complete a Think About It Sheet. The camper will have a time-out from the camp activity while completing the Think About It Sheet. After completing the sheet, a camp staff member will discuss the situation with the camper and will share with them why it is important for that rule to be followed. Camp staff will share the completed Think About It Sheet with parents/guardians at camper pick-up. Parents/guardians sign the Think About It Sheet.

• Second Offense. Camp staff meets with the camper individually and asks them to complete a Think About It Sheet. The camper will have a time-out from the camp activity while completing the Think About It Sheet. After completing the sheet, a camp staff member and the Camp Director will discuss behavior expectations with the camper. Camp staff and/or the Camp Director shares the completed Think About It Sheet with parents/guardians at camper pick-up and parents/guardians sign the Think About It Sheet.

• Third Offense. Camp staff and/or Camp Director meets with the camper individually and asks them to complete a Think About It Sheet. The camper will have a time-out from the camp activity while completing the Think About It Sheet. Parents and the Camp Director will meet to discuss camper behavior and next steps. Next steps may include parents and Camp Director developing a camper behavior agreement and allowing the camper a final opportunity to demonstrate they can meet behavior expectations, suspension from camp for 1-5 days, or dismissal from camp. 

• Fourth Offense. If it is determined that the camper will have an additional opportunity to continue Junior Mountaineers and then inappropriate behavior continues, the camper will be dismissed from Junior Mountaineers for the remainder of the summer. Parents will be notified and asked to pick up their child. 

• NOTE: the severity of the incident may result in immediate suspension or dismissal from JMC. 

• Refunds due to Behavior. If suspended from camp, no refunds will be provided for fees incurred during the suspended days. If dismissed from camp, no refunds will be provided for the weekly fees incurred during the week of dismissal. Camper will be unenrolled for any remaining week/s of summer camp and refunds will be provided for these weeks. 

• Future Enrollment into JMC: Campers who are dismissed from Junior Mountaineers may be approved for re-entry into the program in subsequent summers. If re-entry is granted, the camper will start the summer on probation for a predetermined period. If your child has been dismissed from JMC and you’d like to discuss the re-entry process, please contact Bree Hare, Associate Athletics Director, at  bhare@western.edu.