Creating the Culture
Training staff and creating organizational buy-in?
It is important to make sure that the staff are bought into the process of circles and are invested in helping create a restorative community. This means being willing to work with others through some feelings, confusions, or frustrations that might otherwise get ignored.
Finding the right staff- During the interview process:
Outline why circles at camp
share personal stories of why you believe circles work
Ask them to share how they think and feel about conflict, discipline and “bad behavior”
Orientation:
Start with personal stories that connect with the “why”
- Outline the role of a staff member in a circle
- Emphasize that the best way to reach real understanding is to be a part of a circle
Support during and after circles?
Provide a place and a leader that is dedicated to helping staff understand and debrief the process of circles with campers and other staff members.
Communication to Camper Families and Parents
A video explanation gets sent in an email once campers register
Klee calls each family and explains 3 agreements and circle system and how it relates to the mission of the camp
The first day of camp staff explain the circle system in a small and large group session (Panda meetings and Camp-wide opening campfire explanation).
When appropriate, families receive a call home about circles that their campers have participated in.