Talking to Staff About COVID-19 - CampHacker #127

Being a leader in crisis is necessary, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The CampHacker team is here to help.

This is a test of our leadership.

COVID-19 is likely one of the biggest threats to your camp that you, as a director has faced in your camping career.

In times like this, it’s easy to look inward. It’s natural to worry about the money, about the uncertainty of viability if you miss a summer, disappointing children…sorry, we don’t have to remind you of all that you’re worrying about right now.

When things are hard, the sign of a great leader is the one that shows compassion, empathy and care for their staff team. Think about your high school and college-aged staff right now. The prospect of summer without camp is emotionally devastating and they need your help.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re not suggesting that you need to sugar-coat things and tell them that everything’s going to be alright. What they need, is for you to walk beside them in their feelings. That may look like being honest with them, to coach them through their feelings, or maybe even simply to take the time to listen to them.

If you want to be strategic about it, think about your staff team in 2021. Do you want to start from scratch, or do you want to have a team of people who loved camp, felt heard, and stayed connected through an emotionally difficult time for you, and them.

This is your time to show them, that no matter what, you, camp, and the community of their peers are here for them.

What are you doing to intentionally foster community and empathy with your team? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Ruby’s Slack suggestions https://gocamp.pro/blog/navigating-slack-part-3-the-fun-stuff https://gocamp.pro/blog/navigating-slack-part-2-of-3 https://gocamp.pro/blog/navigating-slack-part-1-of-3            

Dan: Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover

Joe: GRR-Ripper 3D Pushblock for tablesaws - https://www.microjig.com/products/grr-ripper

Gabz: Apple Arcade: What the Golf

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What if Camp Doesn't Run in 2020? - The CampHacker Podcast

COVID-19 and Summer Camp. The hard question that we need to be asking in April 2020.

This question is a definite punch in the gut.

However, as the COVID-19 situation evolves, we need to consider the very real possibility that we may not see a summer of camp until 2020.

It sucks. A lot, but if we think of this in the sphere of things we can and things we can’t control, things become a little clearer.

We may not have control over if the summer of 2020 runs, but we do have some control over if camp will survive in the long-run.

Tune in to this episode to hear Gabz, Travis and Joe discuss

In this emergency episode, we discuss:

  • What should camp professionals be considering and planning for when there is this much uncertainty in the camp world.

  • What are the practical things we need to consider if there is no spring/summer 2020?

  • If camp doesn’t run in 2020, what can we do to help camp survive and thrive in 2021?

    • Hint: You probably shouldn’t be relying on the fund you would get from not refunding people’s camp fees or differing them until next summer.

  • How to preserve the institutional memory of how camp runs if you’re going to miss a summer.

  • How to support your community amidst what will surely be devastating news.

Disclaimer

This is not legal advice, nor does it act as a substitute for keeping yourself up to code with your governmental health regulations. Please act with an informed and current perspective.

Resources

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Marco Polo app

Joe: Strange Collections - and why you should share them.

Gabz: Walk and talk - Bose

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Marketing Your Summer Camp Today - with Jiné Andreozzi and Amanda Hinski - CampHacker #126

Being (or acting as) a marketing expert. The perfect answer for when someone asks, “so, what do you do the rest of the year?”

Many of us didn’t get into this business because we love marketing.

We do what we do because we believe in the transformative power that the camp experience has on a child’s life. We do it because we want to create communities of inclusion and welcoming for our staff. We do it because we want to create a world of creativity and wonder for kids.

Well, guess what? You can build those things, but if there are no people to experience it, then what’s the point? It’s one thing to have an amazing staff, wonderful programs or sparkling facilities, but if we don’t properly tell the story of those things and the way they impact the lives of kids, then we aren’t doing them the justice they surely deserve.

That’s why every camp director needs to channel their inner sales-person once and awhile.

And while this isn’t necessarily easy, it doesn’t have to be painful. Not only are there zillions of marketing courses, books and seminars you can take, but there a ton of camps and inner-industry experts that you can look to for advice and examples.

In this episode of the CampHacker Podcast, Travis, (the Camp Marketing Maverick himself) is joined by two excellent and intentional camp marketers. A big thanks to Jiné Andreozzi and Amanda Hinski for so openly sharing their best practices with the industry in this way.

Tune in to this episode to hear more about:

  • What’s the best foundational advice for camp marketers?

  • As camp is getting closer, what are some of the most effective things we can do to market our programs?

  • How to strategically communicate with our families from pre-registration to day one of camp How do we build trust in the idea of summer camp to those who might not understand it?

  • What marketing techniques are being used in the business world that camps can leverage?

  • What should we be asking in our end of season survey to most effectively target our advertising?

  • Many more great marketing nuggets!

What are you doing to tell your camp’s story this time of year? Tell us about it in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Board Game - “Welcome to...Your Perfect Home” - https://amzn.to/2UxqTie

Amanda: “Getting Things Done” by David Allen - https://amzn.to/39B1XdS

Jiné: Grammarly - https://grammarly.com/

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The Flow of the Camp Day - with Ruby Compton - CampHacker #125

Where can you find some creativity in your daily schedule? (and where shouldn’t you?)

As camp people, it’s in our nature to innovate. We are great at looking at routine or program and think, “Hey, wouldn’t this be better if we did this!?”. This is even something that we praise staff for. How many of your evaluation forms list “creative thinking” as a trait that is seen as desirable?

The problem can come when our creative ambitions give us the desire to tweak something that has been intentionally done, without considering or consulting those intentions.

It’s a tricky line to tow. We need to balance our creativity with the fact that routines are important for campers, staff and families. Things that affect our camper’s circadian rhythms, dietary schedules and some of their other Maslow’s needs should be strongly considered before we make a big change.

To help you tow that line between magic and monotony, Travis, Joe and Dan are once again joined by Camp Code Co-Host, Ruby Compton. Ruby’s many years in and around the camp industry have given her a unique perspective on what is up for changing and what should stay sacred this summer.

Tune in to this episode to hear more about:

  • How routines affect campers and their families

  • How camps walk the line between routine and ritual

  • How to set boundaries for staff on what is and isn’t fair-game to change

  • What are the important parts of the day that are absolutely necessary to include

  • How to inject some creativity into the necessary and the in-between times

  • Many, many more great ideas!

What is something special about the flow of your Camp Day? Tell us about it in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Fireflies.ai

Joe: https://hibid.com/ - Auctions for Camp Stuff

Ruby: The Non-Profit Leadership Team by Fisher Howe

Dan: The Power of Showing Up by Tina Bryson & Dan Siegel


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