Cabin Chat with Jack Schott

10 | 5 Minute Expert Talks

In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals!

One of the powers of The Summer Camp Society is the large number of voices that are heard. Through countless trainings, Expert Calls and retreats, the summer camp community gets the opportunity to hear every voice. This week we spotlight some of the many voices heard during the Fall 2022 TSCS Retreat. Monia Johnson, Maddy Linder, Claire Griffith and John Rice share their 5 minute expert talks. 

The idea behind 5 Minute Expert Talks is that everyone is an expert in something. What is something you can talk about for 5 minutes because you know so much about it? This can be anything from the best water bottle for each person to why philosophy is for every age. If you’re looking for some quick inspiration and new perspectives, this is the podcast for you. 

PRODUCER EMJ’S TAKEAWAYS:

1. One size doesn’t fit all— in SO many ways.
2. What could we learn from those around us if we gave the space for them to teach? 
3. Math is clearly made up, thanks John. 

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9: Digging into Conflict
 
In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals!

Jack is joined by Laura Kriegel and Allison Klee to breakdown restorative justice at camp, conversational receptiveness and more that created the foundation to inspire the next generation of radically empathetic decision makers at Camp Stomping Ground. 

The crew starts at the beginning with, “What even is RJ?” to then dig deeper into:

1) Why practice it at camp?

2) How do you put systems in place to practice with staff and campers?

 If you’re looking for the 101 on Restorative Justice at camp and some good resources, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. When you look at conflict as an opportunity for innovation and connection, it makes it less intimidating to confront because there is powerful purpose behind it. 
2. Gaga Ball is a great medium to actively work on circles and community building.
3. A common theme that we hear throughout these podcasts is the importance of building a team of staff that have a wide variety of interests and skills. We hear this when they discuss the importance of the systems needed to build in community and space for connection to take place. 

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108 | Staff Training: Practice Camp

 In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals! 

This episode brings together Jack, Scott Arizala, Nelson Strickland & Paige Moffett to take a deeper dive into staff training. They discuss different ways to artificially create the “second session feeling”, strength based approaches to training sessions, and more. 

The ideas start to form and are dissected to cover all different types of camps and training set ups. How do you create training opportunities that don’t add to the “staff crunch”? If you’re looking for close to a million ways to think through staff training, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. If your campers learn differently, why wouldn’t your staff? Consider a Personal Learning Plan for staff members!
2. The concept of “needing 80% of you” seems much more realistic and digestible as an expectation as opposed to 100% all the time. 
3. Asking returning staff to role play as “campers” that have complexity to them throughout the week is a great way for staff to learn different personalities and isn’t just a one-off scenario. (I will play a camper for your staff training, just let me 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.

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

7 | Change the Program

In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals!

Jack is joined by James Davis and Nelson Strickland in this episode to discuss a plethora of topics from camp OGs to ELOs. Before Nelson joins, Jack and James talk about progression programming and sharing the purpose of a program to set the expectation for all involved. 

It only takes off from there when video games are brought in and they work to level up the programming with optimal strategy and bringing older campers in on the camp magic. Additionally, they’re covering the choice models of making sure everything gets done at camp to make it run. Would you rather take out the trash or maintain the website? If you’re looking for gamer’s analysis of camp and upping your programming mindsets, this is the pod for you. 

Next week the  conversation will shift to staff orientation with Jack, Paige Moffett, Nelson Strickland and Scott Arizala. 

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6 | Making Culture Happen

In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals!

Bringing people in is a superpower and that is exactly what this episode entails. Jack Schott, Monia Johnson & Murphy Hammer assemble like a crew of superheroes to talk putting staff or campers first, camp culture, and staff time off.

The TSCS Avengers take on creating culture at camp and what to do when you’re new to an existing camp with rich history. Camp is full of traditions and culture, what do you do when you don’t agree with it? And how do you even start it when the 14 year old campers want to sleep through breakfast? If you’re looking for a staff PTO plan and mic drop knowledge, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. The shortcut to self-discovery is at camp. 
2. If you’re not 100% into the camp’s traditions, seek to understand before you critique and change (& if/when you change it, get the staff to help rethink it).
3. BONUS: Be in the moment to learn and then improve. 
4. Still a little lost on who is the chicken & who is the egg between staff and campers. 

Next week the  conversation will continue with Nelson & James Davis!

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5 | Staff Recruitment: Selling Fun

In this series of episodes we’re taking a deep dive addressing how staff recruitment is needed more than ever and what the people around the camp community are doing about it. 

On this episode, Jack Schott and Justic Pritikin tackle some hard hitting reality checks. Does your camp have a leadership succession plan? How can you really sell camp to staff when you’re 20 years older than them? Is Jack someone you’d consider a “classic model”? 

The guys talk reframing the summer camp experience, keeping camp on your professional resume and so so much more. If you’re looking for a podcast that gets your wheels turning, this is the pod for you. 

PRODUCER EMJ’S TAKEAWAYS:

1. Craft the language of selling camp by the experiences, but don’t make promises you can’t keep (ex: “you’re going to make so many friends” vs “you’re going to meet some cool people”).
2. Don’t refer to people as their generation name.
3. No public math, but your staff is doing the math. 

Next week the  conversation will continue with Monia & Murph, stay tuned!

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4 | Staff Recruitment: Lean on your Ideas

 In this series of episodes we’re taking a deep dive addressing how staff recruitment is needed more than ever and what the people around the camp community are doing about it. 

Grab your party attire (there's a dress code, don't worry), this episode is chock full of the fun ideas that get your staff and community together and build it bigger.  Jack Schott, Allison Klee and EmJ Juszczyk throw out many ideas on how to level up your TikTok game, recruiting staff older than 21 and getting your people involved. 

The crew addresses how to get the most out of social media and starts planning several parties and get togethers for all ages. If you’re looking for a party planning team and radical recruitment within your existing community, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. Lean into the fun of recruitment
2. Lean on your ideas and then find the trends
3. Lean on your staff for help to recruit and get the content

Lean with it. 

Next week the staff recruitment conversation will continue with 
Justin Pritikin!

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We don't own the rights to the ringtone audio. 

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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3 | Staff Recruitment: Invest in the People

In this series of episodes we’re taking a deep dive addressing how staff recruitment is needed more than ever and what the people around the camp community are doing about it. 

Make sure you have your swim buddy because we are JUMPING IN! On this episode, Jack Schott, Sarah Kurtz Mckinnon and Carly Vargas dive deep into retention plans (both monetarily and relationships), balancing camp professionalism and camp fun, AND sending support to those that support your staff. Do you have your coffee? You may need your coffee for all this. 

The team addresses what barriers your staff may need to overcome to get to camp and Kurtz with her MBA draws parallels to staff recruitment and donor relationship building. If you’re looking for more than the average touchstone ideas and ways to invest in your people, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. Everything you do recruits
2. Think about the story you're selling and the audience you want to cultivate
3.  Sometimes you don't need to be a professional, you just need to be human

Next week the staff recruitment conversation will continue with 
Allison Klee and EmJ Juszczyk!

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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2 | Staff Recruitment:  In this series of The Summer Camp Society Podcast episodes we are taking a deep dive addressing how staff recruitment is needed more than ever and what the people around the camp community are doing about it. 

 On this episode, Jack Schott and Chris Rehs-Dupin turn to staff recruitment tactics with an emphasis in retraining former seasonal staff and how to keep them fired up in the on and off seasons.  Often in the heat of the summer we don’t take the time to celebrate the wins, but at the end of the day, that’s what staff will remember. 

The guys examine a multitude of avenues to get in touch with potential staff, including but limited to Tik Tok stars, gift giving and roller skating parties. If you’re looking for more than the average hype tactics, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. Know when staff need to celebrate & recap the joy
2. I hope Simone is listening too, Jack
3. National & international resources are great, but do you have someone in your community doing equity work that you could work with?

Next week the staff recruitment conversation will continue with 
Sarah Kurtz McKinnon and Carly Vargas!

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

1 | Staff Recruitment:  In this series of The Summer Camp Society Podcast episodes we are taking a deep dive addressing how staff recruitment is needed more than ever and what the people around the camp community are doing about it. 

What do summer camps and musical festivals have in common? Actually quite a bit when you think about it, BUT specifically– they both need staff! On this episode, Jack Schott, Nelson Strickland and Gregg Golf start tossing out ideas for this next season of staff recruitment. 

The guys consider how camps optimize their budgets to recruit in the most meaningful way, and question what we are really trying to sell to potential staff. If you’re looking for more than the average recruitment tactics, this is the pod for you. 

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

1. Staff love the “clout”, give it to them on Instagram
2. Cool people know cool people, get your staff to help recruit their community
3. Jack greatly underestimates the sizes of musical festivals

Next week the staff recruitment conversation will continue with Chris Rehs-Dupin.

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