Cabin Chat with Jack Schott

You don't know topic hopping until you've listened to this episode. Host EmJ is joined by Chris Hudson and Lolo Castro while at Tri-State. They touch quickly on how the conference is going and then jump IN on camper success when it comes to tech at camp, sending campers home early, and what the difference between "hard" and "challenging" is. 

It doesn't stop there. The three find a funny thing in common while discussing the word "camp" and questioning the professionalism behind it. There are touch points on partnering with schools, why costumes aren't as "goofy" as we think, and so much more. 

If you're looking for a bunch of hot takes and quick bites, this pod is for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Success at camp looks different for each camper. Maybe its passing the swim test or maybe its staying for 3 days. 
2. We as a collective have not truly processed the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. (& it shows in our avoidance in this episode)
3. I can officially cross "witness a spit-take in real life" off my bucket list. 

 

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What if you didn't have to work the whole summer at camp? What if your staff could commit to the summer because they knew they'd get time off to squeeze in that family vacation, musical festival, reunion, etc. this summer?

On this episode Allison hosts a panel of camp pros made up of Carolyn Harari, Kyndra Luce and Cole Abdullah. All of their camps have one major staffing element in common: they don't make staff commit to the whole summer. The group covers how the manage to do this, why they know it works, and of course the challenges that come with it.

If you're looking for a successful twist in hiring, this pod is for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. I like the idea of weekend hoppers or people who can come in to do short bursts to relieve long-term staff. I would like to get paid to help campers pack or help with check-out.
2. Recently I've been on a big kick with the quote, "if you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness" and I think this applies. If you do not make time for your breaks, you will be forced to take the breaks. Having built-in extended time-off could do wonders for staff.
3. Hearing about the concerns with staff training makes me think more about how to do online, pre-camp trainings for staff, especially if its the mandatory things. It could help them learn the policies and procedures in a space and in a time where they may learn best. 

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We're talking welcoming staff and setting them up for success! When host EmJ sits down with Kelly Schuna and Sami Eron to talk what we're taking back from Tri-State, Kelly puts it best, "oh, this is, this is how my staff might feel day two of content." The group talk about what they can incorporate into their camps after experiencing the largest camp conference in the world for the first time!

If you're looking for the small ways we add safety, inclusion, and fun into staff training, this pod is for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. More authors should bold the takeaways in their own books. 
2. How you feel after a conference can mirror how your staff feel after your trainings. This goes for social battery, energy, and mental capacity to learn. 
3. How can we celebrate our first time staff in the way that Tri-State "rang the bell" for their first-time attendees?

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Want more from Sami and EmJ?

They will be at the Spring Retreat AND leading a session! Join the learning and get a chance to talk Enneagrams with Sami, and stickers with EmJ. LEARN MORE HERE.

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Being the new person can be intimidating and with over 3,300 people attending, you might want more than signs helping you get to where you're going.

Atlantic City is calling and EmJ must go! On this episode EmJ and Allison talk need-to-knows and "hiddy crics" for the upcoming ACA NY & NJ Tri-State CAMP Conference. They talk through lunch roundtables and what to wear, and get into why its important to put yourself out there, both in the sessions and at CampChella. 

If you're looking for a conference guide, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. We're getting those steps in this week! Make sure you pack layers and have the comfiest footwear to make the day last longer. 
2. You may have to put yourself out there to make connections. They're probably worth it. (You can ask me about my first conference in high school when I had ripped pants. See, I got the ball rolling.)
3. Do what you need to do; if that's talking with a farm lead, its talking with a farm lead. (If that's you, please reach out.)

Show Notes:

• Tri-State EPIC
• CampChella (: 

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Think about camp a year from now... Is it organized? Is it systemized? Is it neither of those and you're laughing those were even suggested? Well then do we have a treat for you!

Joining EmJ on the pod is Allison Krabill, Google Project Management Certified, and Paige Moffett, Masters in Project Management here to talk about ... project management! For some (read: EmJ) the idea of project management at camp seems overwhelming. Where do you even begin? This is hypothetical but its recommended to listen to the podcast as the first step. Learn from Paige and Allison practical tools and starting points to get yourself and camp into a more organized and well oiled system. 

If you're looking for ways to incorporate structure into your projects in and out of the summer season, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Paige shares a "fun" math game and I will give her credit, the idea of +1 -1 = is cool. Getting staff to be more bought in on learning and growing others. 
2. You may have to manage people as much as you're managing the process. 
3. It all comes down to good systems. 

Show Notes:

• Google Project Management Course
• Run Like Clockwork 

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Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

With the average American spending over 7 hours of their day looking at screens, we've got some work to do to make staff feel ready to reduce that phone time. On this episode, the Jack and EmJ dig deep into how to prepare your staff to decrease their screen time before camp starts; a digital detox if you will.

They ponder what plans could look like to get your staff ready, and why its important to be more honest about what little phone time they do have during the summer.

(Editor's note: we know EmJ is a back-channeler, and we still love her.

If you're looking for a real chat about staff having phones this summer, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Be transparent with your staff and tell them upfront about your tech policies.
2. Call a loved one before you hit the summer busyness. 
3. Phones aren't going anywhere, find 1 or 2 ways you can compliment them into your staff trainings. Try using Mentimeter as a way to engage staff through appropriate phone usage. 

Want to talk more about phones?

"What would happen if you just called Taylor EmJ & Jack up?" EmJ and Jack are pretty active in the Members Only Slack. With over a dozen dedicated channels, you get what you need from over 200 camp professionals. Want to strategize? There's a channel for that. Want the latest on research related to camp? There's a channel for that. 

Keep up to date with The Summer Camp Society. Join the membership to stay connected with fellow camp professionals and see what's new on Instagram.

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Allison is going back to camp! Host Allison Krabill is joined by EmJ Juszczyk and Alice Hospitel to talk through big questions and potential bold moves when it comes to making changes as the new director on site. They dive into making CITs and LITs feel valued, giving staff the time-off space they deserve, and what time-off looks like. What changes would you make if you went back to your first camp??

If you're looking for real time problem solving about your camper leadership and counselor plans, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Celebrate your CITs and young leaders! What are you doing to make sure they know they're valued?
2. Learn what your staff values so you can best work with them to make the most of the summer. 
3. Let's talk more about staff not needing to work the whole summer. A whole week off? WHAT. 

Show Notes:

• Email Allison (: 
• Six Thinking Hats
• Jack's Stoplight Scheduling 

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Host Jack sits down with host EmJ AND host Allison to talk about talking at conferences. Meta? They dive deep into the (internal) struggle between having prepared visuals versus on the spot creating them, and draw many parallels to speaking at conferences and planning staff trainings. This includes: proactive versus reactive engagement and teaching, how to take audience questions, and starting things off with shared language and terms. 

If you're looking for insight on how to think like a presenter and how it relates to staff training, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Think about the 3 most important things that need to happen or be learned during your session. Just do those really well. 
2. WHEN EVERYTHING IS A PRIORITY, NOTHING IS. 
3. Just give your speaker a little chuckle and head nod, it fuels them (read: Jack & EmJ).

Show Notes:

• TRAINING WITH TSCS 
• Allison and Jack say "pedagogy" a few times. It means, "the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept."
• Mid-Summer Check-In: Great template you could integrate into training week. 
• Em'J The Management Center's "PTR"

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"LIVE FROM THE THE CAMPFIRE CONFERENCE, IT'S JACK AND EMJJJJJ".
Jack and EmJ had the PLEASURE of hosting a live podcast as the Keynote in front of over 300 camp professionals at the 2024 Y Campfire Conference. With help from the audience, they talked about how hard it is to be a camp counselors in this day and age and what camp leadership can do about it. That may include rethinking field trips, hiring remote help, or giving staff fair expectations about how much "juice" they should bring to an activity.

Whether you're a boomer or not (inside joke, you'll get there around the 52:00 minute mark), this podcast shares what's meaningful to this next generation of counselors, and why its okay to have staff that yell and staff that are quiet. 

If you're looking for fun staff takes, audience participation, and ways to rethink your staffing, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Even if you aren't a big decision maker at your camp, there are still ways to influence how camp runs to benefit campers and staff. 
2. TSCS loves Kim AND the Y Campfire community. 
3. Its "easier" to recruit campers than it is staff these days.  

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Camp Concierge at your service! On this week's episode, EmJ is joined by Stacie Simpson, Darby Dame, and Leslie Zukrow talking customer service and family communication. They dive deep into the importance of pre-camp communication to prepare the whole family AND how are we addressing the want for more communication (photos, calls, emails, etc.) during camp. They share real ideas and real tool for camps that don't have designated communication staff.

If you're looking for multiple ways to level up your family communication and customer service, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Use several mediums to share with families. Start texting them, start sending videos.
2. More slushy coupons!
3. Its cheaper to retain a camper than to recruit one. 

Show Notes:

•  Magical Extension 

Keep up to date with The Summer Camp Society. Join the membership to stay connected with fellow camp professionals and see what's new on Instagram.

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