How to Intentionally Retain Staff - CampHacker #193

The number one recruiting tactic? You got it - retaining!

As the summer creeps closer, the staffing woes of the industry rear it’s ugly head again.

Wouldn’t it be great if staffing wasn’t the thing that stole your focus from creating the best program you know you could be? Well, it’s a long road, but one of the biggest shortcuts on that road is retaining last summer’s staff!

And, how do you do that? Well, because this is a Go Camp Pro podcast, you know we have to talk about being intentional in your strategy. How do you be intentional? Well, we’re here to help with that, too!

In this episode, Chris and Travis go deep into the very nature of intentionality and how that can apply as you look to retain your best staff.

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Chris - Big Dumb Cup: https://www.stanley1913.com/collections/tumblers

Travis - Beeper App https://refer.beeper.com/XYMr2p

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Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com

The Effects of AI on the Camp Industry - CampHacker #192

Is AI going to ruin the summer camp industry?

AI really proliferated right before we all went to camp in 2023.

Some of us started playing with it, but over the summer, while we were living in our “unplugged” utopia, many parts of the world began to change without us.

Now that we’re back, directors and industry partners are readily using AI, but in our haste to catch up, have we taken a second to consider the bigger picture?

No shame if you haven’t yet. You’re busy, and that’s why we’re here!

We welcome back EmJ and Jack from The Summer Camp Society Podcast to help guide Camp Pros on unpacking this important discussion.

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

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Your Hosts:

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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Thanks to our sponsors!

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

Camptivities

Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com

Camps and the Climate Emergency - CampHacker #191

Recycling programs and talking nature education programs are only step 1.

When we talked about climate change and camp 10 years ago, the conversation usually was about how we can be a bit more sustainable, how to teach campers about nature appreciation and maybe looking at recycling a little bit closer.

That’s not what this conversation is about.

We need to seriously consider how the climate emergency is going to fundamentally impact many of our programs. Power availability, infrastructure, air quality, the sheer ability to go outside - as some would say - the very essence of camp is on the line here. Maybe not for us, but surely for the next generation at our camps.

Chris and Travis are joined by Danny Sudman from Green Camps, an organization that empowers camps to reduce their environmental impact and inspire the next generation of eco-leaders.

This isn’t just a “doom and gloom” episode (although, there’s certainly some of that), the team brings solutions and inspiration to help camps feel inspired to think about this in a serious way.

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

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Your Hosts:

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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Thanks to our sponsors!

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

Camptivities

Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com

Are Camps Giving Up on DEI? - CampHacker #190

Where did the momentum go?

We believe that summer camp should be an accessible place where individuals feel welcome and included for the unique and wonderful things they bring to the community.

Right?

While many camps would say that they believe this - but if they honestly look in the mirror, would their commitment to DEI be the same as it was in 2020?

While DEI may not be in the headlines as much these days (which, isn’t good on it’s own) - camps that truly believe that camp should be for every child and staff member, need to keep their foot on the gas.

Chris, Travis and Gabz join to share what they have been hearing from the industry, why DEI initiatives are still essential, and how we can get back at it.

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

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Your Hosts:

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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Thanks to our sponsors!

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

Camptivities

Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com