In Malaysia, winter months are also the most popular for campers. Malaysia's camp sessions include busy weekends and holiday sessions. Last winter, Coutellier spent a month in Malaysia teaching programming techniques and operational procedures at Jungle Lodge camp. Learning Together in Malaysia Immersed in Malaysian culture and camp life, Coutellier found both differences and similarities between U.S. and Malaysian camp cultures. Decentralized versus centralized Most camps in Malaysia are centralized, meaning more structured.
Programming is planned by the administration.
During Coutellier's visit she taught counselors the value of decentralizing camp so that small groups planned activities and programming to enhance socialization skills. Groups of campers worked together with their counselor to plan the week's activities. Counselors were also taught to guide the group to come up with rules for getting along while at camp. Amran Ariff Ahmad, a camp counselor from Jungle Lodge, agrees. Before the ACA training his camp was centralized, he says, but now the kids plan activities together and have more fun doing what interests them.