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Illegal and Inappropriate Behavior

You can expect to have a terrific summer at camp. Usually ICCP participants have a meaningful, exciting, exhausting, friendship-building experience. But, every year a few participants find serious trouble. We do not want you to be one of these participants, so we hope you will carefully read the following information.

Alcohol at Camp

Most camps in the United States do not allow alcohol, including beer and wine, on camp property. Camp employees (that’s you) who bring alcohol to these camps can expect to lose their jobs immediately. Some camps even have rules about their employees being seen drinking alcohol in the community during their free time. ICCP does not want to hear, “I didn’t know,” or “In my country it’s different.” We know that other countries view alcohol differently than does the United States. That’s why we are telling you now to leave the alcohol at home. We don’t want you to lose your camp position over this issue.

Drinking and Driving

The United States has very strong laws about driving after drinking alcohol. In the past, ICCP participants have found them-selves serving jail time for drinking and driving. You may experience great peer pressure from other camp employees to drink and drive, or to bring alcohol onto camp property. Each year we warn ICCP participants not to listen to their new “friends” and become involved in drinking and driving. Each year an ICCP participant chooses to drink and drive. We cannot help you if you are arrested for an alcohol offense. Be safe; be smart; be responsible. Do not drink and drive. Do not get into a vehicle driven by someone who has been drinking. The words, “I’m not too drunk to drive” are always a lie. If you are going off camp property to drink, be sure there is a “designated driver” who does not drink alcohol who can get you safely back.

Shoplifting

In recent years, shoplifting has been a frequent cause for ICCP participants to find themselves in trouble with American police. Shoplifting is removing anything from a store without paying for it. When ICCP participants have been asked why they shoplifted, the most common answer has been, “I don’t know.” American stores are filled with tempting merchandise. All stores have hidden surveillance. Do not put an item in your pocket or your bag before you have paid for it and have the receipt. Shoplifting is a crime. It is punishable by jail time.

Sexual Harassment

One of the greatest cultural differences between the United States and other countries is the understanding of what is sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is not limited to physical contact. It can occur any time an individual is uncomfortable with another’s approaches, discussions, or comments.

Some examples from previous years:

•	A male ICCP participant decided that a female counselor liked him because she was friendly during staff training. He suggested that they have a relationship. The female counselor told him that she was not interested. The male participant decided that she was “being shy.” The female counselor complained to the camp director that the ICCP participant would not leave her alone. The ICCP participant was fired from his position for sexually harassing the female counselor.

•	Another ICCP participant found himself in a conversation with a female counselor about the difference in dating between their countries. In the course of the conversation, the ICCP participant talked very explicitly about sexual practices in his country. The female counselor became uncomfortable with the conversation and spoke about it to her supervisor. The ICCP participant was notified by the camp director that he was to have no further contact with the female counselor for the duration of the summer.

It can be very difficult to know when you are causing another person to feel uncomfortable. Because what is considered proper behavior for males and females changes so much from one country to another, this is an area you will need to be especially careful about. Remember: you may be interpreting your action in a very different way from the rest of the camp staff. Few people will be willing to believe your explanation if they perceive sexual harassment has occurred.

Child Abuse

Sexual Abuse: Researchers are finding that approximately one in four girls and one in 10 boys, by the age of 18 have been sexually abused. If you are employed by your camp to have direct contact with children, the laws in the state where your camp is located may require that you report any suspicion that a child has been sexually abused. You will learn the details about how to recognize and report sexual abuse during your camp’s staff training.

A useful definition of sexual abuse of children is: inappropriately introducing sex, touching or sexual topics to an individual through conversation, exposure, force, or trickery. Abusive touch Serious Issues can begin anywhere on the body and does not only mean the person touches the breasts, buttocks, vagina or penis. Sexual abuse can also involve oral, anal or vaginal penetration. Rape is sexual abuse with penetration. A way to describe penetration is to say that one part of a person’s body (finger, tongue or penis) goes into a part of another person’s body (vagina, anus, mouth). Penetration may occur with an object or a body part. There is also sexual abuse without touching. For example, exposure—during which a staff member forces or tricks a child to look at the staff member’s genitals or a staff member may force or trick a child into exposing his or her genitals. Another type of sexual abuse without touch is an obscene telephone call, in which a per-son calls and talks about sex (ways he wants to touch a person’s body or have that person touch his).

Some examples which have occurred in past summers:

•	A female ICCP participant was a cabin counselor for 15-year old-girls. She answered questions about her relationship with her boy friend, giving details about their sexual relationship. A couple of the girls mentioned this conversation to their parents. The female ICCP participant was fired by the camp.

•	A male ICCP participant drew a picture, which could have been viewed as male genitals, for his campers. The campers told their parents about the picture. The ICCP participant was told to leave the United States or face arrest for sexual abuse.

Physical or Emotional Abuse: Most states have very strong laws regarding the physical or emotional abuse of children. You will learn more about what is considered physical or emotional abuse in the state in which your camp is located at staff training. You may find that what is considered an acceptable action in your country is considered child abuse in the USA.

Some examples of physical or emotional abuse include:

•	Using obscene language in front of children. If these words are part of your English vocabulary, leave them at home.

•	Hitting, grabbing, pushing, shaking, shoving, or pulling a child. In many countries it is acceptable to control a child’s behavior with a physical action. In the United States, hitting a child is considered abuse.

•	Embarrassing or demeaning a child, causing a child to perform some action which results in embarrassment, or ridiculing a child in front of peers are considered forms of child abuse.

Some children will seek attention by accusing adults of child abuse. Because laws in the United States require that all accusations of child abuse be investigated, your summer could become a nightmare if you are one of the accused. Here are some simple precautions which you should always practice to avoid becoming a victim of an attention-seeking child:

•	Always be in view of others. If you need to speak with a child alone, do so in an area where you are in view of others.

•	Do not allow campers into private staff areas. Do not let campers into staff housing areas, staff meeting rooms, storage rooms, etc.

•	Know your camp’s procedure for handling discipline. If you do not understand how your camp handles discipline by the end of staff training, ask your camp director.

•	Be aware of what information you share. It is not unusual for children to imagine romantic relationships with camp staff members. So, use discretion with what information you share, especially as regards details about your private life.

•	Report and/or record suspicious or unusual observations. If a child is acting in a way you consider unusual, report this behavior to your supervisor. Keep a written record of your observations. In rare occasions, parents may accuse you of being the person who caused the behavior. Your reported observations will help you protect yourself from unfair accusations.

•	Supervise private activities in pairs. If you are supervising children during times when they are changing clothes, putting on bathing suits, taking showers, or otherwise using the bath-room, make sure another counselor, who is of the same gender as the children, is with you.

•	Do not force your attention on a child. It may be common for you to want to hug or touch a child who is hurt or homesick. Before you do, make sure the child understands your action. Again, never be alone with a child.

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