13 Industry Experts, 13 Tips for New Camp Directors - CampHacker #197

New and new-ish Camp Directors, this one is for you. Kick some butt this summer.

There are a TON of full-time camp professionals that have entered the industry post-COVID.

For those of us that have been around for a while, we know how incredibly difficult the first few years of the job are. You’re figuring out what this level of responsibility means for you and your team and with problems emerging, it can really feel like a whack-a-mole type of situation.

So - Travis asked fellow camp podcasters to combine their joint 200+ years of full-time directing to distill their best pieces of advice for people just like you.

You’ve got these 13 (and many more) people behind you - so get out there and do what you do!

We’re grateful to the following people for sharing their tips:

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Your Hosts - In order of “appearance”:

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What Society (Still) Doesn't Get About Being a Camp Professional - CampHacker #196

What is one thing you learned working at camp that surprises people when you talk about?

The fact that people don’t understand what we do full-time is not just and “us” problem - it’s a problem for our entire industry.

It’s annoying as all heck - yes.

And.

It could be the reason why you’re under-enrolled and understaffed.

One of the biggest issues facing our industry is our reputation. We are consistently fighting against Hollywood stereotypes and the notion that camp is a luxury item for privileged kids or glorified child-care.

We - meaning consultants, associations, directors, staff, etc. - need to do a better job articulating what camp does for it’s leaders and the types of people that it creates.

If we don’t, how do we expect families and staff to value the experience enough to trust us with their kids or their summer employment?

Do these show notes sound like we’re up on a soap-box? Well just wait for the episode.

Tune in to get a (kind) earful from Travis and Chris!

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Your Hosts:

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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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

The Value of Camper-Choice Programs - with Dan Weir and Jack Schott - CampHacker #195

Elective-based, choice-based, whatever you call it, it just may be the future of camper programs.

We welcome back one of our original hosts, Dan Weir and welcome back Jack Schott from The Summer Camp Society (and TSCS Podcast!) to unpack all things choice-based programming.

You’ll hear:

  • How do we actually define choice-based programming

  • Why was this model so radical 10(ish) years ago

  • What are the benefits of giving campers more ownership over their camp experience

  • How does a choice-based model tie into equity, intentionality and positive social development (yes, we go deep in this one!)

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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 sponsor!

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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

Our Best Advice to New Camp Staff - CampHacker #194

What are the most important things staff need to know to be successful this summer?

Right now (March), camp directors everywhere are starting to think about staff training…or, intending to do so at least.

There are a trillion things that we want to teach staff and it would be literally impossible to pack it all in during training and even harder to decide on which one is the most important.

This episode, Travis and Chris put themselves in the shoes of camp directors the day before the kids arrive at camp. If this was the only advice they could give to camp staff - what would it be?

Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t narrow it down to one each, but it’s all great.

Please pass this on to your camp staff! The keeners will thank you!

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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Chris - http://makeplayingcards.com

Travis - Talknotes https://talknotes.io/app

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Your Hosts:

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

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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