Black Lives Matter at Summer Camp - CampHacker #139

A follow-up conversation with the organizers of the Black Lives Matter at Summer Camp Movement

https://blacklivesmatteratcamp.com/

Summer camp is built on the idea of giving young people fuller lives through recreation, enrichment, and community. Our industry centers on the well-being of youth and was created to better their life outcomes, experiences, and personal growth. This is why we are camp professionals and why we believe in the power of camp.

Therefore, it is a fundamental and necessary step for us to affirm that Black Lives Matter. As camps and camp professionals, this statement lies at the core of our identity and values within this industry.

On the day of action for Black Lives Matter at Summer Camp, professionals affirmed that right here and right now, while we know our work is for all campers, staff, and families, we must focus on the ones calling for help. We must focus on the members of our broader community asking for and demanding change and justice. We must extend our hearts, our values, and the power of the experience we create to those who have been left behind.

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Inbo Remote Meeting Cards https://www.inbo.ca/remotely-store

Doug: America The Dream: https://americathedream.org/videos

Lily: Rise Up Singing book. https://amzn.to/3mM561j

Scott: Creative Quest https://amzn.to/3nIfNTP

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Thanks to this episode’s sponsor!

UltraCamp

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Making Yourself "Approachable" - CampHacker #138

There’s an incredible power dynamic at play when it comes to you and the rest of the staff, here’s how to address that head-on, with approachability!

If your staff haven’t told you that you’re intimidating, then they just haven’t told you YET.

Gabz, Joe and Travis are here to share their best practices when it comes to toeing the line of approachability without being too attached or going the other direction and micro-managing.

How do you show approachability with your team? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Monster Feelings - Laura Tyson & Michael Smith (Eyes book) 
Gabz: Hero 911
Joe: 50 bits of wisdom from someone who just turned 50 years old [that might surprise you…?]

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How To Not Be *THAT* Boss - CampHacker #137

You all know what kind of boss we’re talking about.

Marcus Buckingham says it best - “People leave managers, not companies”.

Do you want to keep your best staff members?

Do you want to have a strong culture built on trust and empathy?

Do you want your camp to truly feel like a community?

Then for all the bosses, managers and supervisors.

Be better.

Chris, Gabz and Joe are here to break down what makes a boss the type of boss that staff will work through adversity (like COVID-19!) or the ones staff will leave in the dust.

(Without using names) what was something a boss did that made them that boss for you? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Chris: Circadian Optics - Light Therapy

Gabz: Get yourself a therapist - especially in the summer. If Gabz can make time for it, so can you.

Joe: 5 Gallon Bucket of Possibilities - Fill a bucket with things that would entertain kids and always have it on you. Plus, you always have a seat!

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2020 All Tool of the Week Episode - CampHacker #136

It’s our annual “Tool of the Week” show! All tools, all the time!

Here come the links!

Happy holidays, friends!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

New Tools Used In the last 4 months

Phone Apps

Webinars

Computer Apps

Gabz Bonus Items:

  • Pocket Counsellor

  • Chalk Markers - Put Plexiglass in front of chalkboards

  • Junior Sized Football - A personal football that is special and to be thrown around by staff

Books

Bonus Items

  • Chris 

    • Toilet Paper roll chord organization system

  • Joe

  • Travis

    • Window Scrolling Keyboard Shortcuts - cmd+tab on mac or alt+tab on windows

  • Gabz

    • White Christmas/Fairy Lights for you to own so they have as a back-up

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