Many camp leaders assume the only way to grow revenue is to add more guests, build more facilities, or create more programs. But what if growth starts with better stewardship of the capacity you already have?

Mark Fisher shares the personal story that reshaped his career, including the health crisis and board decision that led him from camp leadership into consulting. That journey sets the stage for a practical conversation about one of the most misunderstood topics in camping: pricing.

Mark and Carl discuss why many camps underprice their highest-demand dates, how waitlists reveal hidden opportunities, and why demand-based pricing is about stewardship—not simply charging more. They break down practical ways to get started, including seasonal pricing, using waitlists as a decision-making tool, giving booking teams flexibility to solve problems, and creating pricing options that help both camps and guests succeed.

The episode also opens with a practical marketing tip on expanding your camp's online visibility through free directory listings, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Yelp, tourism websites, and camp-specific directories.

Keywords

demand-based pricing, camp pricing strategy, camp revenue growth, camp sustainability, seasonal pricing, camp waitlists, retreat center pricing, camp stewardship, camp capacity management

Sound Bites

"Our fifth son is being raised by a different father."

"That day, that generosity unlocked the future for me."

"The F word. It's four letters and it's full."

"We're full, we're full. And I'll say, that's a cuss word we don't use. We say, we have a wait list."

"Waitlisting is really the indicator on a leader's dashboard."

Hosts

Mark P. Fisher, Inspiring Growth

Carl Lefever, Improve & Grow

Chapters

00:00 Episode Soundbites

00:13 Introduction

01:17 Quick Camp Marketing Tip

06:55 Mark's Story

18:10 Camp Pricing

22:15 The Waitlist: Your Demand Signal

34:15 Putting Demand-Based Pricing to Work

42:20 Communicating Price Changes

47:32 Real Results & Camp Stories

52:08 Baby Steps to Get Started

Resources

Camp Directory Listings Guide

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Submit a topic idea.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

If you’d like help growing your camp or retreat center, connect with Carl at Improve & Grow or schedule a meeting with Carl.

You can also connect with Mark at Inspiring Growth or schedule a meeting with Mark.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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