Helping All Camps Get Better - CampHacker #74

Helping the Industry Succeed - How can we use our resources and our knowledge to help all camps get better?

                         Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

                         Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Summer camps need to be collaborative. Now, it's not that they aren't already - look no farther than the incredible Camp Pros Group on Facebook, and you'll see a ton of fantastic people sharing their best practices with each other.

It goes a bit farther though. We need to look into how we are serving our nearby neighbours in the summer camp world before they even need it. Some camps do it via staff exchanges, mini-conferences, "mastermind groups" or even by joining policy committees to support the industry in their area. This kind of face-to-face support not only helps each other out, but it builds relationships and extends our personal support networks. 

Even more, we have to look at our no-so-best practices, and be willing to share the times when we've fell on our faces, and thereby learned the most. It takes guts to trust those people with our vulnerable stories and it takes integrity for us to receive those stories empathically, take the learning, and maintain confidentiality. 

We hope you enjoy this podcast and that it inspires you to look at how well you are sharing with your summer camp neighbours. 

Have a thought? Let us know in the comments below!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

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Thanks for the evening, friends.

Starting From Scratch - CampHacker #73

Radical thinking about the Future of Summer Camp

 

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Now THAT's what I'm talking about!

This show. 

THIS is the moment that CampHacker was created for. We had the best discussion today. Joe had the awesome idea to talk about what it would be like to start a camp from scratch.  If you weren't burdened by tradition (and a property) what would you do differently?

THAT lead us in to how would you radically change summer camp.  If our mission is to provide a transformative experience for children and teens (and staff) are we reaching as many people as possible with our programs being so remote? 

Outward Bound Canada has done something HUGE.  They sold off their remote sites so that they could build in downtown Toronto - now they serve tons more people. They still do remote trips but they are much more accessible for day programs.

Dan was kind enough to share the nine points that Frost Valley uses when they consider a new program:

  1. Demographics
  2. Audience
  3. Mission
  4. Goals
  5. Staff
  6. Traditions
  7. Sustainability
  8. Site
  9. Quality

(He explains them in the show!).

What would you do to start summer camp from scratch?  Leave us a comment below!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Sources of Legal Music to Use in Camp Videos

Royalty Free Music sites (pay for it once and use it as needed)

  • http://www.shutterstock.com/music/
  • http://www.smartassmusic.com/royalty-free-music/free-downloads
  • http://www.pond5.com/music/1/*.html
  • https://vimeo.com/musicstore
  • https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music
  • http://www.reelmarketinginsider.com/free-royalty-free-music/
  • Audio Bumpers/Stings/Logos
    • search for "music genre" + sting or bumper or logo
    • http://www.beatsuite.com/music/category/audio-idents/576
    • http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
    • http://www.musicradiocreative.com/podcasters/

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(Thank you!)

Thanks for the evening, friends.

Quick Tips to Effectively Market Your Camp This Fall - CampHacker #72

Our Best Summer Camp Marketing Tips

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

            Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

            Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Want to get your fall rolling with fast, effective marketing tips?  This is the show for you!

Gab and I had a chance to do one of our favourite kind of shows - rapid-fire, back-and-forth answers to questions directly from you, the audience.

Since it's the first show of the fall season people are telling us that they are super-focussed on setting their camp up for a good season of marketing.  They're also saying that marketing camp has become very overwhelming.   

In this show Gab and I answer your questions.

WAIT!  What happened to #71?   It's coming! It was a bit non-traditional so our process is goofed. Listen for it soon.

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis - NeuYear calendars
Gab - Long days at camp? Keep your iPhone charged Boostcase

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(Thank you!)

Thanks for the evening, friends.

17 New Tips for Your Staff Training - CampHacker #70

Our Best Ideas for Leadership Training Your Camp Counsellors

 Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Now that is how it's done!  Dan, Gab & I just had a 25 minute LIGHTNING ROUND of great ideas.  They were coming fast & furious.

On today's show we talked about ways to make sure you have a great Staff Training Week.  Each of us shared 3 or 4 of our best ideas - the things that we know will have an impact on how your camp runs this summer.

Listen in for the details but here's our list:

  1. Know your audience
  2. Put on your Leadership Glasses
  3. Do it with intention
  4. Develop (and teach) the Clientele Mindset
  5. Give them bathroom reading
  6. Change it up
  7. Make "how-to" videos
  8. Show videos of interviews with camp parents
  9. Break up the style of your presentation (did you know that at Ouareau they are limited to only 15 minutes of lecture-style delivery before they must change it up?)
  10. Develop Duty Ditties
  11. Write your question down
  12. Create a Theme for the week.  One of Frost Valley Y's was Build Strong
  13. Embrace your history.  Gab also suggested we highlight the shifts that the camp directors have make to keep camp growing
  14. Create a manual people will look at (check out this Camp Code podcast: Staff Manuals: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly)
  15. At each area have 2 signs: What do Campers Need to Know? What do Staff Need to Know?
  16. Show your enthusiasm
  17. Create a culture that values sleep (thanks Dr. G!)  [Click to Tweet This!]

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis - Replace your broken iPad or phone screen your self - kit
Dan - The Way of the Seal (book)
Gab - Big Stock

Your Hosts:

 

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes 

(Thank you!)

Thanks for the evening, friends.