The CampHacker Podcast

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Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2021/02/blm-at-camp

https://blacklivesmatteratcamp.com/

Summer camp is built on the idea of giving young people fuller lives through recreation, enrichment, and community. Our industry centers on the well-being of youth and was created to better their life outcomes, experiences, and personal growth. This is why we are camp professionals and why we believe in the power of camp.

Therefore, it is a fundamental and necessary step for us to affirm that Black Lives Matter. As camps and camp professionals, this statement lies at the core of our identity and values within this industry.

On the day of action for Black Lives Matter at Summer Camp, professionals affirmed that right here and right now, while we know our work is for all campers, staff, and families, we must focus on the ones calling for help. We must focus on the members of our broader community asking for and demanding change and justice. We must extend our hearts, our values, and the power of the experience we create to those who have been left behind.

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Travis: Inbo Remote Meeting Cards https://www.inbo.ca/remotely-store 

Doug: America The Dream: https://americathedream.org/videos 

Lily: Rise Up Singing book. https://amzn.to/3mM561j 

Scott: Creative Quest https://amzn.to/3nIfNTP 

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• Doug Sutherland, Executive Director, Brantwood Camp
• Lily Mercogliano Easton, Camp Director, Camp Wa Wa Segowea
• Scott Arizala, Founder & Chairman of Camp Tall Tree, Consultant & Trainer
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro

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UltraCamp

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find show notes and more at: https://www.camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/08/racism-in-recreation

In this special summer bonus episode, Travis is joined by Dr. Daniel Theriault to discuss racism, power and privilege in the recreation industry. Dr. Theriault and Travis dig into some of the work that’s needed to subvert these unhealthy systems within the rec and camp industry.

It’s a great interview and we’re so grateful to Dr. Theriault for joining us.

Some notes from this interview:

Dr. Theriault proposes three things that all recreation professionals, camp professionals, and white people can do to start to

1. Work to see power and privilege - the power systems that shape the way the world works (racism, classism, etc.).
2. Take responsibility for our role in those systems.
3. Take anti-racist actions.

Drilling down into some specifics:

• Normalize the lack of comfort that will surely follow when we start to confront our involvement in systems power and privilege
• Read what is painful - read and absorb information on the BIPOC history and experience so we are better equipped to serve our campers through that lens of understanding.
• Think about the media that we absorb and how BIPOC communities are represented in those shows and movies.

Daniel and Travis come to some for the Summer Camp Industry as a whole:

• Be careful about the language we use and the messages it sense. For example, how might “Color War” be perceived in light of the racial conflict that has existed in communities over the last 200+ years.
• Look at policy - Who do we value? Who do we hire? Why do we hire them?
• Educate ourselves and others on the history of the land our camp is on and who occupied the land not just before the camp, but before settlement.
• Increasing representation of diverse staff at your camp. This can help your camp start to truly look like a camp where BIPOC campers can see themselves.
  • First steps here include ensuring our pre-camp training includes topics of power, privilege and the contexts of racism.
  • Building relationships of trust with community organizations, HBCUs and other places where you may look to hire BIPOC folks.

Remember, these are bullet-points, not check-boxes. Undoing the systems of racism, power and privilege is going to be lifelong work.

Thank you to those Camp Pros who are committed to continuing to do this continued work.

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• Dr. Theriault’s article: Vulnerable Teaching in Leisure Studies

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
• Dr. Daniel Theriault, Assistant Professor of Recreation Management at Appalachian State University - [email protected]

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Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

A special, timely interlude from our friends at the Day Camp Pod:

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/ppp-era-aca

For many camps and small businesses in the United States, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was a lifesaver- enabling us to keep our best people employed which we navigated the uncharted waters of the covid-19 pandemic. 

Starting January 13, the second round of PPP has been made available to qualifying businesses, as well as other resources like the Employer Retention Credit. While most of us may be good at running a summer camp, this other stuff is both supremely important and pretty darn confusing- which is why we have called for an EMERGENCY Podcast with ACA National Chair Scott Brody and the great Steve Baskin - so that we can better grasp the options that can ensure our financial solvency as we enter the 2021 camp season.

Tune in to hear about:

• What we need to know about the PPP situation
• The issues of timing, and filing for forgiveness
• What’s coming down the pike.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: [email protected]

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• Andrew Ziv’s thorough explanation of ERC & PPP - https://andrewziv.substack.com/p/breaking-down-the-employer-retention
• SBA / PPP - https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program
• IRS / ERC - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-employee-retention-credit-under-the-cares-act

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

• Scott Brody, Owner & Director - Camps Kenwood & Evergreen
• Steve Baskin, Executive Director - Camp Champions, Camp Pinnacle, Partner - Everwood Day Camp

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2021/01/approachability

If your staff haven’t told you that you’re intimidating, then they just haven’t told you YET.

Gabz, Joe and Travis are here to share their best practices when it comes to toeing the line of approachability without being too attached or going the other direction and micro-managing.

How do you show approachability with your team? Let us know in the comments!

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Travis: Monster Feelings - Laura Tyson & Michael Smith (Eyes book) 
Gabz: Hero 911
Joe: 50 bits of wisdom from someone who just turned 50 years old [that might surprise you…?]

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• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2021/01/dont-be-that-boss

Marcus Buckingham says it best - “People leave managers, not companies”.

Do you want to keep your best staff members?

Do you want to have a strong culture built on trust and empathy?

Do you want your camp to truly feel like a community?

Then for all the bosses, managers and supervisors. 

Be better.

Chris, Gabz and Joe are here to break down what makes a boss the type of boss that staff will work through adversity (like COVID-19!) or the ones staff will leave in the dust.

(Without using names) what was something a boss did that made them that boss for you? Let us know in the comments!

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Chris: Circadian Optics - Light Therapy

Gabz: Get yourself a therapist - especially in the summer. If Gabz can make time for it, so can you.

Joe: 5 Gallon Bucket of Possibilities - Fill a bucket with things that would entertain kids and always have it on you. Plus, you always have a seat!

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• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

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The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

There are too many links to cram into these show-notes, so find them all at https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/12/all-tools-2020

New Tools Used In the last 4 months

• Travis: 
  • 3D Printed Mask Bracket
  • RocketBook Orbit (and Cloud Cards)
• Joe: 
  • Orient Your Screens To Be On Top of One Another
  • Fastcap Measuring Tape - Metric / Imperial

Chris: 

• Padlet.com - online bulletin board

Gabz:

• Apple Pencil

Phone Apps

• Chris
  • Chwazi App - Determine Who Goes First - Apple / Google
  • Good News Network App - Apple / Google
  • DNDify - Epic RPG Music - Google
• Joe
  • Pocket
  • Feedly
  • Sketchbook Autodesk
• Travis
  • NanoTeleprompter - Google / Apple Other Version
  • AnyList
  • Yac - transcribed voice messages for your team. Works on Slack

Webinars

• Gabz
  • Embodied Anti-Racism
  • The Fundraising LabGo Camp Pro’s 5-Minute Fridays

Computer Apps

• Joe
  • Google for Work Suite - It just keeps getting better
  • Video Studio Pro Ultimate - Full Video Editor for $99
  • Framer - Prototype Phone Apps
• Chris
  • Snip & Sketch in Windows Windows Key + Shift + S
    • On Mac it’s cmd+shift+4
  • Audacity
  • PDANet for Android
• Travis
  • Command E - Universal Shortcut Tool
  • Stack Browser
  • Notion - Great note-taking interface

Gabz Bonus Items:

• Pocket Counsellor
• Chalk Markers - Put Plexiglass in front of chalkboards
• Junior Sized Football - A personal football that is special and to be thrown around by staff

Books

• Joe
  • Art Matters - Neil Gaiman
• Chris
  • How to Be an Anti-Racist - Ibram X. Kendi - Buy it from a black-owned bookstore, please!
• Gabz
  • White Fragility - Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism - Robin DiAngelo
• Travis
  • The City We Became - N.K. Jemisin

Bonus Items

• Chris 
  • Toilet Paper roll chord organization system
• Joe
  • Pick Punch - Variety of Sizes
• Travis
  • Window Scrolling Keyboard Shortcuts - cmd+tab on mac or alt+tab on windows
• Gabz
  • White Christmas/Fairy Lights for you to own so they have as a back-up

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• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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(Thank you!)

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The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find more at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/12/top-10-maintenance-skills

As a Camp Pro, there will be a time when either you won’t have a maintenance team, or there will be too many things that need to be fixed.

When that time comes, you can either pay for someone to come in OR roll up your sleeves and get to work.

That being said, most Camp Pros don’t get into the industry with a background in maintenance. And while we’re not suggesting you take time off to do a bunch of apprenticeships, some basic maintenance will definitely go a long way!

Gabz, Chris, Joe and Travis huddle up to bring you their most useful maintenance skills that will both save you money and leave you with that sense of satisfaction that comes from fixing something yourself.

What is your most used maintenance skill at camp? Let us know in the comments!

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Travis: Franz App

Chris:  Native Land app and website

Gabz: Chainsaw 

Joe: Picquic Screwdriver - “If Chuck Norris was a screwdriver, he would be a Picquic.”

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• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show
(Thank you!)

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The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find more at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/11/mentoring-the-next-gen

Every year you come back to camp, it becomes less and less about yourself.

We always need to be looking forward. No matter how challenging times are, the camp industry will recover and is going to need new leadership.

How can we give the future generation of camp pros the best leg-up as they shape and leave their stamp on the industry?

What is one piece of advice you’d give to the next generation of camp pros? Let us know in the comments!

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Travis:  Blank Playing Cards - Matte Finish + Blank Dice
Chris:  Canva.com
Gabz: Miro
Joe: https://www.goggles4u.com/ - online prescription eyeglasses - CHEAP

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show
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The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/blog/women-of-gcp-podcast

In today’s special crossover episode, Beth Allison from Camp Code hosts a conversation with several of the women who podcast with Go Camp Pro. Today’s episode features Rachel Kent and Cassie Bloy from Beyond Camp, Sam Thompson from the Day Camp Pod, Kelly Schuna from The Camp Owner’s Podcast, and Ruby Compton from Camp Code and Gabrielle Raill from CampHacker and Camp Code. 

Listen in as these women discuss their mentors who inspired them in the industry, challenges women face working at camp and advice for new camp pros. Interestingly, all of these women have also attended the Women in Camp Summit in previous years. During the episode, they discuss some of their biggest takeaways from the event as well as what they are most looking forward to for this year’s Live Virtual Summit taking place December 2-3. Find out more about the Women in Camp Summit Live Virtual event at https://www.womenincampsummit.com.

Gabrielle announced this year’s Summit will also feature the first of the “Becoming Allies” series with an event titled “Becoming Allies: Supporting Women in Camp” on December 4. Folks who want to participate in the Allies event can register through this link: https://acai.wildapricot.org/event-4051965

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The planning team for the Summit has set a $7,500 fundraising goal to offer scholarships to attendees and off-set the costs of hosting this unique professional development event. Every dollar counts. Donate today and donate again on the Day of Giving for the Women in Camp Summit on November 24. Donate here: https://acai.wildapricot.org/allies/

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Find more Podcast goodness at gocamp.pro/podcast. Also, if you want to support the work that we do, please consider subscribing to the shows, and leaving us a rating in your favourite Podcast app.

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• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant and Co-Owner - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch
• Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting 
• Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/11/other-sources-of-revenue

Haven’t we talking about this before? Yes! Twice! AND - Can you ever have enough ideas for drumming up some new revenue?

Join Gabz, Chris, Travis and Joe as they unpack a TON of new ideas to generate some more money to help your camp whether the financial lows of 2020-2021.

What are some of the successes you’ve had with creative revenue generation? Let us know in the comments!

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• Other Sources of Income - with Jalisa Danhof - CampHacker #123
• New Sources of Revenue for Summer Camps - CampHacker #6 

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Travis:  Body Back Buddy Classic - Back Massager

Chris:  Casio F91W-1 Classic Resin Strap Digital Sport Watch

Gabz: Wax Cardboard

Joe: The Laws of Simplicity - John Maeda

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams

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The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis