Big Issues at Day Camp This Year - CampHacker #110
An Episode Especially For, But Not Only For Day Camp Pros
It would be easy for the hard and fast overnight camp pros to see “Day Camp” in the title and move on.
Don’t do that.
There are logistical differences with both models of summer camp, but it’s so easy to see that what is relevant and pertinent to one, is the same for the other.
Rituals, traditions, culture, integration, camaraderie, it’s a part of every camp experience, no matter when, or how often the campers go home. What is good for overnight, is good for day.
All that being said, kids going home every night, camp vs school syndrome, wavering attendance, rented sites, lunch time, and many more things all pose a significant and unique challenge, that needs to be addressed and collaborated on.
And we’re good at challenges.
This episode of the CampHacker podcast brings together some camp pros that have truly hacked the day-camp experience and bring the extraordinary world into the 9-5, every day. Andy Pritkin from Liberty Lake Day Camp, Ehren Gluckstein from Camp Robin Hood and Sam Thompson from Crystal Lake Park District all join Travis to begin to unpack the emerging and ongoing challenges and successes in the world of Day Camps.
You know as well as we do that this is only the beginning though.
So!
Let’s take it to the next level…
Introducing - The CampHacker Day Camp Show
New to the CampHacker Podcast network is so excited to announce the upcoming release of the Day Camp Podcast.
Tune in to the new Podcast stream by clicking here!
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: The Being Useful List
Andy: Dark Sky Weather app https://darksky.net/app
Ehren: Camptivities Scheduling Software https://www.camptivities.com/
Sam: Kahoot! Testing Game App https://kahoot.it/
Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Andy Pritikin, owner/director Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ
Ehren Gluckstein, Assistant Director, Camp Robin Hood
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor, Crystal Lake Park District
Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes
(Thank you!)
Staff Retention & Recruiting Tips - For Right Now - CampHacker #109
Your best future staff members are looking. Are they going to find you?
Hey! Welcome back!
We hope that you had an incredible summer.
We also hope that you’ve had an incredible chance to take a breath and reflect on the magic that surely happened this summer. Or even, to not think about camp and…you know…sleep!
Whether you’re still recovering, coming out of hibernation, or still in the busy season, it’s time to start setting the next summer up for success.
Step one. Staffing.
This time of year (October/November), is when the financial and emotional reality of the school is kicking in for students and they are ready to start looking for a summer job. Your potential returning staff have also now taken a breath from the potential drama and tiredness of the summer and are ready again to dream of their home away from home. In either case, the “keeners” are looking, and you want them on your team.
As always on the CampHacker podcast, we try to deliver timely, relevant and practical information to help you (and your staff) on what matters most to you NOW. To help do that, Travis, Joe and Gabz are joined by the brilliant, legendary Kim Aycock and intentionally amazing Jolly Corley on this week’s episode.
Tune in and get inspired to find and build you best staff team yet.
**Travis’ Note: Gabz awesome Ouareau Interview Prep booklet.
Take This Episode One Step Farther
Register for the Caught Between Two Staff Seasons Masterclass with Kim and Jolly. Get your staffing hat on and create your playbook for retaining, recruiting and developing staff for 2019.
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: Gear Infusion EverRatchet - (20% off code EverRatchetBacker20)
Gab: JOBY GorillaPod
Joe: Super Thick Index Cards - Joe uses Levenger Cards that are 170lb paper and vertically lined. Amazon.ca Link.
Kim: United by Blue (removes a pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways for every product sold...lots of cool “camp” items!)
Jolly: Backless Yoga Ball Desk Chair - Canadian Link
Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams Christian Centre
Kim Aycock, KimAycock.com
Jolly Corley, Camp Robindel
Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes
(Thank you!)
Do This Now To Set Your Summer Camp Staff Up For Success - CampHacker #108
You may be in the thick of things, but your staff are ready, and they need you.
Hello Camp Pros!
Well, it's late April/early May, and you know what that means.
EVERYBODY PANIC!
No no, only kidding! But likely, it can start to feel like it at this time of year.
As we finish stretching to prepare for the sprint that is camp, we can't forget that the race we are about to run is not a solo event, it's a relay!
For many of us, our staff are either starting to think about coming, or are starting to trickle up to camp. While it's sometimes stressful when people are adding to the mix of your daily workflow, it's important that we step back and remember that these are the people that will carry out all the marketing and selling you've done since September. Their energy that you had when you were 17 is just waiting to be unleashed and it's important that you take the time to begin to harness that energy and point it in the right direction.
Last episode, we covered some broad ways that you can support staff by creating and sustaining a culture that focuses on mental wellness (which was an eye-opening episode and if you haven't listened already, please do!). This time around, we've brought the team and some friends in to talk about some of the practical steps that you should take NOW to help your staff get ready to unleash their awesome this summer.
Joining Travis, Dan and Joe to share their best practices and ideas are Ange Atkinson, Camp Director at Camp Lantern Creek and Patti Sampson, Camp Director at Coastal Roots Camp, and host of the Podcast: Rec Heads and Camp Nerds
Enjoy!
What kinds of things are you doing right now to set your team up for success? Let us know in the comments!
Bonus Resources - Because people who read the show notes are the best people.
If Slack isn't for you, give Flock a peek!
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: Oxford At-Hand Note Carrier
Dan: The Emergent Task Planner
Joe: Tempered Glass screen covers for phones
Ange: Use Facebook Live to add some zest to your marketing smorgasbord!
Patti: Gratitude Journaling
Your Hosts:
- Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams Christian Centre
Dan Weir, Director of Camping Services - Frost Valley YMCA
Ange Atkinson, Camp Director - Camp Lantern Creek
- Patti Sampson, Camp Director - Coastal Roots Camp, Podcast Host: Rec Heads and Camp Nerds