Campy Hour

On this week's episode, we're joined by Angie Zomer, Assistant Director of Summer Camp at The Chestnut Hill School in Massachusetts. Angie has spent over 30 years helping shape a camp community that has become a second home for generations of campers and staffers. In this episode, she shares the winding path that led her from theater education to camp leadership, along with her thoughts on balancing tradition and innovation in a 54-year-old camp program.

During our conversation, explore the role institutional knowledge plays in building culture, why continuity matters when creating meaningful experiences, and how Angie has helped campers grow into counselors and lifelong members of the camp community. We also dive into senior camp programming, creating a sense of awe, and the unexpectedly legendary origin story of the Skull of Fury, a beloved camp mascot that began as a discarded art project. Cheers!

On this week's episode, we're joined by Mason Kaye, Director of Auxiliary Programs at Carroll School in Waltham, Massachusetts. Before leading summer programs, Mason was writing music for films in Los Angeles. In this episode, he shares the winding path that brought him into the world of auxiliary programs, along with the surprising connections between composing movie scores, conducting musicians, building camp culture, leading staff, and creating unforgettable experiences. We also venture into the elements of a great film score, the surprisingly fascinating world of vexillology, Mason's secret to world-class workplace coffee, and the intentional details that can transform ordinary moments into meaningful experiences. Cheers!

This week on Campy Hour, we’re joined by Cora Ligori and Zoe Brock from Teton Valley Ranch Camp, one of the most tradition-rich and purpose-driven camps in the country.

Cora and Zoe share their unique journeys to TVRC, from camp kitchens and dental practices to leading enrollment, culture, and community at a camp that has been shaping young people since 1939. Along the way, we explore the power of mystery, anticipation, and challenge in creating transformative experiences for campers.

The conversation dives into horseback breakfast rides, weekly rodeos, campfire traditions, Yearling flags dating back to the 1960s, and the ceremonies that have become legendary parts of the TVRC experience. We also discuss the balance between honoring tradition and evolving a program, why giving kids real responsibility builds confidence, and how camp can provide the sense of belonging that so many young people (and staffers!) are searching for today.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a camp culture that lasts for generations, this episode is packed with inspiration. Cheers!

This week's "Free Swim" episode features co-hosts Katie and Michael talking about the exhilarating (and slightly chaotic) stretch of time that exists between "we've planned everything" and "the campers arrive next week." Katie shares her mindset going into the season ahead, and Michael gives a look into what the summer season is like for Make It Campy.

The conversation also takes a deep dive into BSP's new Golden Games event, a branded, camp-wide experience built around six Minnesota-inspired teams, ongoing competitions, and new opportunities for campers to find connection and belonging. It's an idea that's been simmering for a long time, and this summer Katie finally brings it life! Later, Katie and Michael share what their individual "majors" are for this summer.

Cheers to the unofficial start of Camp Season!

This week on Campy Hour, we are joined by the wonderful Kate Vizen, Director of Student Life & Strategic Programs at Inly School! Kate shares her winding journey from youth ministry and childcare to leading outstanding auxiliary programs. During our conversation, we talk about building programs that feel intentional instead of transactional, the unique experience of working at your alma mater, and what it’s like having your family members work at your school.

We also dive into the jaw-dropping growth of Inly’s summer and after-school programs, how Montessori philosophy impacts their camp culture, and why Kate spent 18 months completing Montessori training herself just so she could better support and collaborate with faculty and staff. Along the way, we also uncover Kate’s secret life as an accomplished flutist who’s performed at Carnegie Hall and toured with world-renowned musicians. This one is thoughtful, fun, insightful, and full of practical takeaways for anyone building programs, culture, and community in schools or camps. Cheers!

This week, we are thrilled to welcome Emily Benton, the dynamic Director of Auxiliary Programs at Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston, Texas. Emily shares her journey from lifeguarding to leading a multifaceted program that includes everything from Little League to private music lessons. We dive into her innovative hiring strategies, the importance of building connections, and how she maintains balance in a fast-paced environment. Emily also reveals her creative approach to staff training, including the use of personalized bracelets to embody each staffer’s “why.” Later, we explore her successful rebranding of the auxiliary programs to "Arch," and how she made the rollout of that rebrand memorable. So tune in and be inspired by the incomparable Emily! Cheers!

This week, co-host Katie Peterson and I are excited to be joined by industry leader, multi-potentialite, friend, and Director of Latin Camps at Charlotte Latin School, Laura Walker! (But at camp, they call her Pippi.) During the episode, we connect the dots in Laura's career to better understand how she became a professional memory maker. Laura shares insights into the creation of camp names for her staff, she talks about some of the key elements for creating unforgettable staff training, and we get a peek into the development of her new camp newsletter. Later, Laura fills us in on having a living camp mascot, and she gives us the scoop on the Jeep Wrangler Rubber Duckie culture. We also challenge her to develop camp names for some celebrities and fictional characters. With Laura/Pippi, you can always count on tremendous takeaways that inspire you to elevate your programs, and this week's episode is no exception to that rule. Cheers!

We're thrilled to have Amber Carroll (Director of Summer Programs at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) join us on this week's episode of Campy Hour! We chat with Amber about how her career has evolved, including her time with YMCA of Greater Boston, Tenacity, and Emerson College. We also dive into Amber's work as a Youth Services Counselor, and how it informs the programming she creates and delivers today. Along the way, we talk hockey, puzzles, Cheez-Its versus Goldfish, and the power of camp narratives. If you like campy camp people, you're going to love Amber!

We're joined this week by Karen McCann McClelland, Executive Director of Auxiliary Programs at Sidwell Friends School and Senior Advisor for the Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative (SPARC). We talk with Karen about her path to Sidwell, her evolving role with the school, and her approach to succession planning. We also explore how Karen's consulting, coaching, and strategic work with SPARC helps her stay connected to her "why," and her approach to engagement on the professional conference circuit. In our "Off the Clock" segment, we learn about Karen's favorite things outside of the world of auxiliary programs. It's a can't-miss conversation with Karen, an amazing human being who helps shape the direction of our field!

Meet Chanel Sudds, Auxiliary Programs Manager at Open Window School, and hear how her journey from after-school programs to camp leadership shaped her passion for creating meaningful experiences. Chanel shares how finding belonging at camp changed her path and why authenticity is her secret to building strong connections with campers and staff. We dig into the power of community, creating environments where everyone thrives, and what it really means to lead in a camp setting. Along the way, Chanel develops her dream camp staff (with a twist). Summer runs on Chanel energy!