Cabin Chat with Jack Schott

Happy New Year! The team has had a few weeks off to think and they are JUICED to share. Hear from EmJ Juszczyk, Jack Schott, and Alice Hospitel about what are thinking about as the new year resets. They dive into community across camps with common values, strength-based leadership, and maybe even get a little vulnerable. 

Check out what this crew thinks about dialogue, being realistic, and how Jack will supply you with boots and bridges. 

If you're looking to hear a more philosophical lens to think about change, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Can you name the closest 5 camps to you? (Pst, look it up.)
2. A lot of this talk makes me think about actually putting it into action. Are we going to talk about this or be about it?
3. What is something you can trade a co-worker to do?

Show Notes

• 6 Thinking Hats
• 3Ds: Dialogue, Discussion, Debate

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

In this second half of the Burnout Survey Results podcast EmJ Juszczyk, Allison Krabill, and Sami Eron discuss what actions you can take knowing that staff are indeed burned out. (Did you miss taking the survey? There's still time! CLICK HERE.) 

The group shares strategies and personal stories that build the case to hire more staff, stop living in shared housing, make time for breaks, AND so much more. This is a continuation on what camps can do, whether you are the one burned out or overseeing staff. 

If you're looking to hear what we can do about camp burnout, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. If you do not have enough staff for staff to take time off, you do not have enough staff. 
2. Self-care is what the self needs. You don't get to decide for others what their self-care is. 
3. You can get a bonus even if you're a non-profit camp. 

Shownotes:

• Dopamine menus

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

This episode brings together EmJ Juszczyk, Allison Krabill, and Sami Eron to discuss the highly-anticipated results from the Benefits and Burnout at Camp Survey. After hearing from over 388 full-time staff, they dive into just how burned out staff are. (Did you miss taking the survey? There's still time! CLICK HERE.) 

In this two part series, Research Lead, Sami, shares the why behind the need for this information, what the survey is saying, and what factors can be controlled when it comes to benefits and burnout. 

If you're looking to hear what the camp world is saying about burnout, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. It's "comforting" (loose term) to know there are things the industry and specific camps can do to combat burnout when offering certain benefits. 
2. I know a lot less about statistics than I thought I did. Thanks University of Montana for this, "Basic Statistics Vocabulary".
3. Take the week after camp off. All of you. 

Show Notes

• Benefits and Burnout Survey 

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

On this episode, Allison is joined by Mariel Sass, Murph Hammer, and Brian Massey to discuss the role of summer camps in addressing mental health issues among teen campers and staff. With emotional and social health (MESH) becoming an increasingly prominent issue, this group is sharing what they're doing about it with their various professional backgrounds. 

Brian and Mariel talk about implementing Mariel's specific role at their camp to provide mental/emotional support and train other staff in handling difficulties. They emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with campers, creating supportive environments for them while allowing staff to focus on their responsibilities, and proactive outreach to families before campers arrive. 

If you're looking to learn more about proactive approaches to camper MESH care, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Train your frontline staff how to respond to mental health wounds like they would physical wounds. 
2. Parent and care-giver self-reporting is only so reliable but its a good investment and chance for them to share about a common interest: their child's wellbeing.
3. Working with the staff and campers about mental health isn’t a “thing”, its a person.

Show Notes:

• New York Times Opinion article, "This Is Not the Way to Help Depressed Teenagers"
• Stoplight Scheduling

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

TLDR: This episode is with Jack Schott and Travis Allison talking about how redundant communication with parents and caretakers can lead to burnout. They share tools to combat that. 

Thank goodness this isn't another email! On this episode Jack is talking with Travis Allison, the Co-Founder and Marketing Consultant of Go Camp Pro podcasts. They dive into the burnout that is pushing people to leave the industry, the craving for connection but lacking the energy, and why maybe its communication and reinventing the wheel that is driving people to burnout faster and faster. (You know, when you're sending the same sentence over and over to families via email.)

Travis and Jack cover a variety of topics ranging from The West Wing to camp people and their fear of "business-y things". Get ready for part one of two, then go check out Jack and EmJ on their cross over episode of the CampHacker Pod, "Preparing For a Massive Demographic Change at Camp"!

If you're looking for a deeper dive into communication and practical tools to make it easier, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Create a "copy and paste" system for your reoccurring camp communication responses!
2. A sense of trust can be built through a system of emails from your staff within the first 30 days of a camper registering. If camps are built upon the foundation of connection, shouldn't that be seen in your communication too?
3. Go beyond email for communication. Send videos and texts, remember you're teaching people how to be successful at your camp. 

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

This week Jack is joined by Scotty Jackson, Executive Director of YMCA Camp Seymour and YMCA Camp Lake Helena AND Jack's old boss. They are talking about the differences of communication among ages and times, fundraising, and the art of a good story. 

This episode dives into how young camp professionals can get their foot in the door (metaphorically and literally) while sharing the value of being able to tell a good story. They go so far as to say this story sharing skill helps not only with campers, but for potential donors and your board too! 

If you're looking for an entry level lesson on large donor fundraising, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Sometimes we hear what people want and we know we can't provide that. But when we take a moment to dig deeper into their "why" behind their "what", that may be what you can offer. 
2. I need a good rocking chair. 
3. "I'm interested in your advice and counsel" is a good place to start. 

Show Notes:

• The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: (Real-World) Field-Tested Strategies for Raising More Money 
• The Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

Imagine the worst possible case scenario happening at camp... now add 14 more fires your team has to put out. 

This week's host, Allison, is joined by Jacob's Camp's Carolyn and Anna as they talk camp crisis management. They're not just talking the talk, they walked the walked.

This episode shares about the absurd crisis that Jacobs Camp endured this summer, including but not limited to: power outages, moving "base" twice, and not having enough movies for bus rides. Anna and Carolyn share how they managed to make the most out of their situation with great community members, strong internal communication, and a whole car dedicated to snacks. You will soon find out why one camper in particular clamors about the "epic field-trips" he goes on when he goes to Jacobs Camp. 

 

If you're looking for a story that will have your gears turning about camp crisis management plans (or just a wildly true story), this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Breakfast discos can solve a lot of things but not everything
2. Happy staff = happy campers = happy families 
3. There is more and more evidence that supports the sentiment "its not what you know, its who you know".

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

You're going to need your chai tea for this one. 

Host EmJ sits down with host Jack AND host Allison to record at the Children's Oncology Camping Association Conference! They're back in person to talk about how much harder it is to be a camp counselor now more than ever before. That's right, they went there. Jack and Allison discuss hiring one more staff vs giving staff raises, stoplight scheduling, and letting staff pick their responsibilities. Allison shares a few hot takes about what staff should actually be learning, as well as what critter races are.

If you're looking for hot takes that give a fresh perspective on the camp counselor role from people who aren't camp counselors, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. Can we change the schedule to be better for staff and campers?
2. Figure out how to do do more of what you love & less of what you don't love. Same for your staff.
3. We don't know where AI is going, but we're along for the ride. 
4. Give Allison a chai tea before recording.

Show Notes:

• Allison's Dopamine Menu
• Jack's Stoplight Scheduling 

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

Would you want Elsa's powers given the chance? Given the choice?

Host EmJ Juszczyk is joined by Sami Eron, Dave Leveille, and Caitlin Carroll to talk choices at camp! This crew is all cooped up in the recording studio to give ways you can integrate choice into your camps and programs.

Dave shares how choice is created at his camp and their "beehive" and Sami learns ideas she could bring to her camps, even though they run for one week at each site. They dive into what happens when you have 7 year olds play gaga ball with 17 year olds, and why buckets are on EmJ's shopping list. Before EmJ heads out, special guests Maeve and Mike join the podcast to talk Elsa, Juno and giant swings! You won't want to miss what happens when you give a 4 year-old a microphone. 

If you're looking for a new mindset regarding camper based decisions and designing a camp for all, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1.  Make sure you know how to set up recording studios. So sorry. 
2.  Choice can be as simple as real time decision making. 
3. All boards can be a Buddy Board if you make them that way. 

 

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music

This episode is wild, SKY WILD. (This is 100% pulled from the episode.)

Host Jack Schott is joined by Camp Sky Wild's Erin Royce and Maggie Mitchell (see, wild) to talk about camp for children with autism.  They discuss different approaches to planning and front-loading for campers who are neurodivergent and share how all campers can benefit from these practices.

Erin kicks it off with 3 simple takeaways about working with people with autism at the beginning , specifically the power of having visuals. Then they get into simple solutions and "duh" moments that are applicable for all camps to run smarter not harder when it comes to planning camp for  kids. Just wait until you hear what WAIT stands for.

If you're looking for a new mindset regarding camper based decisions and designing a camp for all, this is the pod for you. 


Producer EmJ's Takeaways:

1. "Written words last longer". I love this. There are many different learning styles and when camp tries not to be school, it can mean not having these routes available. "Lame" - EmJ
2. Diagnosis can be helpful, but that doesn't mean a person will fit the mold for their diagnosis. They're a person, they're going to be unique. 
3. Camps should utilize Opt-Out spaces. They're so great. 

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.

Listen on Spotify | Apple Music