SLP 2001 English Ski Camp

December 24, 2001 – January 19, 2002

Counselor Expectations: Each counselor is expected to actively participate in ALL camp activities. You will be responsible for waking your campers and organizing them for the day. You will eat all meals with the campers, ski with them, do crafts with them, help during snack time, and put them to sleep at night.

Any individual who does not participate and reapeatedly disregards his or her responsibilities will be given adequate warning. If such behavior continues, the counselor will be dismissed and will not receive any benefits.

It is essential that you know and accept the responsibilities that go along with this job. Everyone in the camp office has been a camp counselor, we can all tell you that fulfilling these responsibilities is not difficult. Following the rules and using common sense will guarantee a positive and rewarding experience.

Schedule: Weeks 1 and 2 begin Monday afternoon and end Saturday morning. Weeks 3 and 4 begin Sunday afternoon and end Saturday morning. Refer to the schedules.

English Lessons: Lessons (30 – 50 minutes) will be taught twice a day with an English review in the evening. Please refer to the camp schedule. Lessons will be written for you and all materials will be provided.

Wake Up Calls: Wake up calls are at 6:45am! Counselors are to wake their campers and get them ready for the day. The beds should be put away and the room tidied up. This is followed by morning warm-ups and cheers. There will be lots of music and activity. Then it’s off to breakfast.

Lunch: Lunch is at noon everyday. After lunch you should instruct your campers to get ready for skiing. There will be a time for campers and counselors to shower after skiing. Campers will forget to shower and change their clothes if you counselors don’t remind them. Please make sure your campers shower and change their clothes.

Skiing: Approximately two hours a day. Everyone will have some free ski time. You may snowboard during your free ski time. Counselors will be divided into three groups (A, B, C) for skiing based on skiing ability. Weeks one and three group A will be with camper groups 17-24. Both counselors are expected to ski with their kids every day. Counselor groups B and C will be with ski groups 1-16. Those campers in groups 1-16 are the beginners. They will be with a resort ski instructor. The ski instructor will tell you if you should stay with the campers or go. Those counselors who are beginners will be expected to take ski lessons with their campers week one. They will also have extra duties because they will have more free ski time. Weeks two and four, groups A and B will switch: B will be with camper groups 17-24. This plan is subject to change. There will be a better explanation during orientation.

Ski Gear: Chonmasan will provide counselors with skis, boots, and poles. The resort does not rent snowboards. If you wish to snowboard you must bring your own board. Boards can be rented near by on a daily basis. You may bring your own skis if you wish. Some past counselors wished they had left them at home. It’s up to you.

Groups: You will have one group of campers for English lessons. They will be separated first according to age then Hi, Kids level. You will have a second group of campers for skiing. These kids will be separated according to skiing ability. Counselors will be placed with ski groups according to skiing ability. You will also have a bedroom group. These are the campers who will sleep in your bedroom.

Bedtime/night floor duty: Counselors will read a story to campers before lights out. You are to make sure your kids brush their teeth and write their journals. Counselors should correct the journal. After lights out, counselors will have some free time, but remember you will have to be up with the kids ready to participate in the day’s activities at 6:50am. Regardless of how late you stayed up the night before.

You are expected to sleep in your bedroom every night. There will be rotating schedule for night-time floor duty. Those on floor duty are expected to stay on the floor and make sure things are quiet and be on hand if anyone gets sick. Any disregard for this will not be tolerated. The campers safety and well being are our top priority!

Snack Time: Snack time is every night at 9pm.

Christmas and New Year’s Parties: Parties are planned for Monday evening weeks one and two to celebrate. Counselors will have their own parties after lights out!

Committees: During camp orientation you will sign up for committees. Crafts, Song Time, Winter Olympics, Carnival Fun, Snow Fun Day, and Warm Ups for example. Committees will be responsible for activity planning and preparation.

Movie Night: There will be a rotating schedule of counselors who are expected to supervise during movie night. The others will have free time.

Weekends: After campers leave on Saturday morning you are free to do what you wish. Many counselors go into Seoul. If you stay in Seoul you are responsible for your own transportation, lodging and food. You are expected to be back at Chonmasan Resort at 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon. If you stay at the resort, you will have a room to sleep in but food is your responsibility. The restaurant is a good place for meals on the weekend. You can ski for free on the weekends.

Opening Ceremony: There will be an opening ceremony the first night of camp. The kids will be told the rules and counselors and coordinators will be introduced. Each group will make up a group name and cheer. The cheers will be done at the opening and closing ceremonies. Counselors will sing their national anthems.

Closing Ceremony: Closing Ceremony will take place in two conference rooms. One camper and one counselor in each conference room will read a short essay about their experiences at camp. Campers will also sing songs. A majority of the time will be spent on the drama presentations. Medals will be presented to the Winter Olympics winners. Prizes will be given for best drams, and best actor and actress. All campers will receive a certificate of participation.

Accomodations: Chonmasan Ski Resort. The resort is about an hour from Seoul. You will share rooms with your children and sleep on mats on the floor. We will eat meals in the cafeteria. During the winter the Korean Restaurant is open however, counselors are expected to eat all meals with the campers.

Laundry: One washing machine will be brought to camp. There will be a sign up list for doing laundry. Some counselors had their clothes laundered and/or dry cleaned in the town near the resort. There are no dryers at the resort. Everything will have to be hung to dry. The rooms do have lines for you to hang things but they aren’t very long. You may want to bring a line of your own.

Vaccinations: No special vaccinations are required to enter Korea.

Medical Care: The standards are the same in Korea as in other western countries. You will be covered by SLP while you are working at camp. We are looking into whether this covers the weekends or not. It’s a good idea to have travel insurance whenever you travel.

Home Stay: You will spend approximately 5 days with your Korean host family. They will meet you at Kangnam SLP the day you arrive (December 16 – approximately Dec. 22. Many former counselors have found this to be one of the best parts of coming to Korea. They will treat you like a special member of the family. Please be sure to show them you appreciate what they are doing for you. You are expected to stay in their home every night. I say this only because there have been problems in the past. Try to be home to share the evening meal with your host family. Trust me, you’ll enjoy your visit more that way.

You will not have to pay your family, however it is a custom to bring a small gift when visiting someone’s home. You can bring almost anything. People in the past have brought candy, flowers, maple syrup, one person last summer brought a homemade apple pie, a book, liquor, or tea. Regional foods, crafts, calendars, etc. are good choices also. You should have it gift-wrapped.

Don’t be offended if your family first refuses the gift. You should insist and they will accept “reluctantly.” They don’t want to look greedy. For this same reason they may not open the gift immediately.

Camper’s Gifts: Some counselors have brought small gifts for their campers, usually candy. But remember you will have at least 10 campers a week times four weeks!!

Tour of Seoul: During the first week you are in Seoul, sightseeing activites will be organized. This will give you a chance to get to know the other counselors, foreign and Korean. You will visit Korean palaces, temples, parks, and markets. Seoul markets have great shopping. These activities are optional. You may choose to do some sightseeing with your home-stay family.

Camp Orientation and Prep Days: Orientation and preparation days will be Thursday/Friday or Friday/Thursday depending on when we leave for camp. During orientation we will go over camp schedules, lesson plans, and rules and expectations. Prep day will mostly be spent making flashcards.

Contact with Home: There will be internet access at the ski resort for you to use email during your free time and in the evening.. There are also PC rooms/internet cafes in the town near the resort (with in walking distance). PC rooms are also very easy to find in Seoul. Just look for “PC” symbol on signs.

We will have someone who sells international calling cards come to SLP on orientation. They cost 11,000won. It’s about 10 cents a minute to the US.

You may also have regular mail sent to Kangnam SLP. It will be brought to the resort at the end of the week.

Kangnam SLP
7th Floor Soktop Plaza
Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-gu
Seoul, Korea
135-230

Phone number 82-02-445-4855 82-02-445-4003

Fax: 82-02-3411-7785

Information about Korea: The Lonely Planet travel guide is a great source of information. There is also a book called Culture Shock, Korea which has great information about Korea and Korean customs. You can check out Lonely Planet online. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/nea/sko.htm. The Korean counselors and your homestay family can also be great sources of information.

Here are a few tips. Body language: Making a circle with the first finger and thumb (Western symbol for OK) means “money” to Koreans. The thumb sticking out between the first and middle fingers (in the US “got your nose!”) is an obscene gesture.

When handing something to someone, especially if they are older, use two hands. You should also receive things with two hands. You do not need to hand things to kids with two hands, you are older. They should hand things to you with two hands. It’s a sign of respect.

Meals; Rice is eaten with a spoon and the rice bowl is on the left. Don’t leave your chopsticks or spoon stuck upright in your bowl of rice. It is a gesture used when making offerings to the dead.

If you can’t use chopsticks it’s a good idea to practice.

Toilets: Public toilets are everywhere. Don’t worry about not being able to find one when you need it. Public toilets will either be your standard “western” style seat or an “asian” style squat toilet. At first the squat toilets can be difficult but you get used to them very quickly.

Always have a supply of tissue in your bag!!! Trust me on this one. I never go anywhere with out tissue in my bag. Many public toilets don’t have tissue. Also, don’t flush the tissue. There will be a waste basket next to the toilet.

Don’t write names in red ink!!! This signifies that you wish that person harm.

Always remove your shoes when entering a Korean’s home!!

When purchasing something, never put the money down on the counter. Rather, it should be handed to the cashier with tow hands as a sign of courtesy.

There are two different types of taxis in Seoul: gray and black. The black taxis are more expensive but tend to speak more English. Most cab drivers are very understanding and willing to help you anyway they can.

The Seoul subway system is very easy to use. You can go anywhere you need to go in Seoul on the subway. Everything is in English as well as Korean.

People: You will also find that Korean people don’t generally line up for things, elevators, subway, buses. Personal space is very limited. For this reason pushing and crowding are common and not considered impolite. This is one thing that many foreigners have found hard to get used to.

In my experiences, I have found Korean people to be friendly. I’ve been asked if I was lost or needed directions many time. Those who speak English may strike up a conversation with you on the subway. Don’t be surprised if they ask your age, where your from, whether you are married or not and other “personal” questions. This is very common in Korea.

Do not be surprised of someone of the same sex puts their arm around you or holds your hand. This is very common on Korea. If you don’t feel comfortable, simply tell that person that it’s not something you do in your country and it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Koreans beckon by waving their fingers with the palm down. Using the index finger is rude.

Tickets: Airline tickets will be collected upon arrival in Korea. We will help with date/destination changes as well as confirming return flights.

Money: You will be given our pay in thirds. The first when you arrive. The second third, after the second week of camp. The last third, when camp is finished. Most people spend more than they are paid (shopping is very good in Korea). ATMs here will work with foreign cards that have the Cirrus symbol on them. Other cards have worked but there’s no guarntee. Some things I have read say that there is only room for a 4-digit PIN number. If you have a longer PIN you will want to change it before you leave. Former counselors I have talked to recommend bringing a little cash or travelers checks just in case. US dollars are the easiest to exchange. The best advice I can give you is don’t rely on ATMs. To exchange money you will need to show your passport.

Trip to Soraksan: Camp ends Saturday, January 19. Once the campers have left, counselors will pack up and return to Kangnam SLP. The trip to Soraksan is three days, two nights. Exact dates are not yet known. This trip is optional, but I recommend the trip to everyone.

Food: The cafeteria food at the resort isn’t the greatest Korean food. Much of Korean food is spicy but there are also many non-spicy dishes. The one food you will see with nearly every meal is kimchi. Kimchi is spicy fermented cabbage. Many foreigners enjoy it. Many counselors in the past have supplemented the camp meals with peanut butter and bread. There is a store about 5 minute’s walk from the resort. If you have room, bring some comfort food from home. Anything that says “just add hot water” is perfect. The resort has hotwater dispensers for the noodles that are sold in the resort store. The store has snacks and drinks.

What to bring: Clothes: you don’t need to bring too much. You can wash your clothes at camp. Bring clothes that dry quickly. Everything is hung to dry. You may wish to bring a line to hang your clothes.

Ski Gear: skis are optional. Bring a jacket to ski in, ski pants, gloves, goggles, and head gear if you wish.

Winter boots are up to you. There won’t be a lot of snow in places other than the mountain. You will have to be in the snow for winter Olympic activities and Snow Fun Day,

Comfortable shoes. You will want something to wear around the resort. Slip-ons are a good choice as you will be taking our shoes off every time you go into your bedroom.

Bring at least one nice dress outfit. Your host family may want to take you out to a nice restaurant. Also, counselors should dress up for the closing ceremony.

Your basic travel kit.
Ladies tampons are hard to come by in Korea.
Deoderant is also very hard to find. When you do find it, it is very expensive.
Ibuprofen/Tylenol – Tylenol is readily available at the pharmacy
Pepto-bismol or other upset stomach meds are a good idea.
Anti-diarrhea, Imodium and the like
Cold Medicines – you may bring if you chose but we can send a Korean to the pharmacy with your symptoms and the pharmacist will give you something.
Hand lotion
Shampoo/conditioner
Towel
Razors
Comfort foods/snacks: anything that says just add hot water is perfect.
Travel size alarm clock. The resort wake-up calls are unreliable.
Pictures of your family, friends, house, dog, cat, country, etc. Pictures are a great conversation starter for your host families and campers.
Discman/walkman. Not required but awful nice on the long flight over. It may also come in handy at nighttime-you may be partnered with someone who snores!
A small flashlight (for when you enter your bedroom at night. You don’t want to wake your campers by turning on the light)
Laundry detergent: can be purchased here you may bring your own if you wish. A little to get you started is a good idea.
Prescription Meds

Very Important: The voltage in Korea and Asia is 220 volts. IF you bring any electronic devices that require being plugged in you must have a voltage converter. Not just a plug adaptor. If you plug something that is meant for only 110 volts into a plug in Korea, it will be absolutely fried!!!!

SLP Camp Staff:
Camp Coordinators:
Mary Schacht.American. SLP Summer Camp 2000. Teacher at Kangnam SLP Dec. 2000 – Nov. 2001.
Yu-Shin Kim. Canadian. Summer Camp Coordinator 2001. SLP Winter 1999, 2000, summer 1999,
Camp Manager:
Calvin Kim: Counselor summer 2000, Camp Manager Winter 2000, 2001 and Summer Camp 2001.
Camp Secretaries:
Erin Yu: Counselor Summer 2000, 2001 and Winter 2000.
Eric Kim: Counselor winter 2000. Secretary/videographer Summer 2001.
I know that this is a lot of information but don’t worry there won’t be a test! I am looking forward to meeting all of you. I am excited for camp. I am sure it will be an experience that you will all remember for a long time to come.
Mary