The CampHacker Podcast

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The CampHacker Podcast episodes

October 29, 2020Running Camp with Less - CampHacker #132
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find more at http://www.camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/10/running-camp-with-less
Summer 2021 will probably not be a summer of abundance. Here’s how to be ready to do just as much (or more) with less at your camp this summer.
This will be a summer that will unify camps that are used to having lots and those who are making it work with less.
As we gear up and mask up for the summer of 2021, our program budgets will quickly turn into hand-sanitizer budgets and the creative problem-solving abilities that we’ve been fostering will definitely be put to the test.
Don’t fret though, the CampHacker team has your back. All of our team, Gabz, Chris, Joe and Travis have had lots of experience in the non-profit camp world and are ready to share their frugally magic camp tips.
We think this episode talking about having a little gives you a LOT of great ideas.
What are your best tips for doing camp with more scarce resources? Let us know in the comments!
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Bonus Link
http://www.thegameofvillage.com
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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: Two articles from Kevin Love with the Cleveland Cavaliers: Everyone is Going Through Something & To Anybody Going Through It
Chris: Slack for staff and group communication.
Gabz: Just Not Sorry
Joe: Inspiring Newsletters - The Magnet, 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter, Laura Olin
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Your Hosts:
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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Thanks to our sponsor!
The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
1 hr 6 min
October 28, 2020I Am Who I Am - Identity Series Pt. 1 - with Heather Davidson - Beyond Camp #13
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find more at: https://gocamp.pro/beyondcamp/i-am-who-i-am
Our identities are critical, yet unexplored when it comes to the context of being a Camp Director. Well you know we don’t shy away from unexplored things, and Heather Davidson is here to dive in with us.
Today we are talking about identities because we love talking about them, how do our identities interact with our personal and professional lives.
Heather Davidson shares about her experiences openly and honestly, about her identity and how it has played a role in her life. Talking about tokenism, representation, and more, we dive in with her and discuss how we can better mirror various identities in camping and more.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
How Heather, Cassie and Rachel identify themselves.
Is there a feeling of ever needing to hide your identity?
As a leader do you feel responsibility or pressure to discuss your identity? How do you cope with that?
Do you feel like you see yourself represented in the camping world?
What is your biggest take away from living through a Pandemic? Personal and/or Professional
Do you struggle with your identity in as a camp director? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Recharge Station
How do you charge your batteries? What makes you feel inspired?
Heather: Craft Beer - Support Your Local Brewery!
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Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada
Heather Davidson, Supervisor - Gym/Club Programming (Program Development) - City of Hamilton
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What is Beyond Camp?
Beyond Camp is a new summer Podcast brought to you by Go Camp Pro.
Cassie Bloy and Rachel Kent are here to explore the intersection of camp and our lives. As much as people like to talk about camp and ‘the real world’ as two separate entities, camp professionals know that this simply isn’t true. Beyond Camp dives into how different aspects of our lives affect our camp experience, effectively bursting the camp bubble and welcoming all parts of our lives into the conversation.
Go Camp Pro is excited to bring you this weekly podcast during the summer of 2020.
If you have any feedback, or would like to support the work of Go Camp Pro email our producer, Matt, at [email protected]
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
47 min
October 21, 2020Mini-Pod - Grief - Beyond Camp
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
How do camp pros process grief?
Welcome to a Beyond Camp Mini-Pod!
Here we take a few minutes to talk about some of the emotions and feelings that camp pros may be forced to process in their time as directors.
We start off with grief.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
Grief at the end of the summer
Grief as a process and an emotion
Grief in crisis or immediate grief when something happens such as lost of loved one
Long term grief
Grief over lost potential
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Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
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What is Beyond Camp?
Beyond Camp is a new summer Podcast brought to you by Go Camp Pro.
Cassie Bloy and Rachel Kent are here to explore the intersection of camp and our lives. As much as people like to talk about camp and ‘the real world’ as two separate entities, camp professionals know that this simply isn’t true. Beyond Camp dives into how different aspects of our lives affect our camp experience, effectively bursting the camp bubble and welcoming all parts of our lives into the conversation.
Go Camp Pro is excited to bring you this weekly podcast during the summer of 2020.
If you have any feedback, or would like to support the work of Go Camp Pro email our producer, Matt, at [email protected]

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
14 min
October 15, 2020Creating Your Own Support Network - CampHacker #131
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full notes and links at - https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2020/10/creating-your-own-support-network
The road to the summer of 2021 is one that we shouldn’t walk alone.
Camp Directors everywhere are so quick to say “it’s lonely at the top” but does the conversation really stop there?
We are doing the best we can, but at a certain point, we can’t do it alone.
Who do you turn to? Who are the people that you can rely on when things are tough?
This episode of the CampHacker Podcast is all about finding the people that are going to get you through the sometimes lonely work of being a camp director.
Tune in to hear what’s worked for Travis, Gabz, Chris and Joe.
Who’s in your support network? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: USB LED Clock for minding the time in Zoom meetings and webinars
Chris: Habitica.com
Gabz: Owaves
Joe: One Page Internet - https://www.hvper.com/

Your Hosts:
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

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

Thanks to our sponsor!
The American Camp Association - New York & New Jersey

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
52 min
October 14, 2020Pandemic Fatigue - Beyond Camp #12
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find more at https://gocamp.pro/beyondcamp/pandemic-fatigue

This is hard, and this is real, so what do we do when we’re camp directors who are just so darn sick of the pandemic?
We have all heard the term or a variation of it: Pandemic Fatigue, Crisis Burnout… whatever you call it, it exists. We are digging into how we have managed and are managing as the pandemic moves on with us day after day.
From research to lived experiences join us as we discuss our journey as the pandemic continues to be in our lives.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
What is pandemic fatigue? How do you know if you’re feeling it?
How is pandemic fatigue like crisis fatigue?
No matter what we call it, how do we cope with it?
How does what we see on the news and social media add to our ongoing fatigue?
How do we get off this rollercoaster of emotion?
Have you experienced pandemic fatigue? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Bonus Content:
Aka, the stuff we said would be in the show notes! Thanks for reading!
Psychology Today: Crisis Fatigue and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Hopkin’s Medicine: How to Deal with Coronavirus Burnout and Pandemic Fatigue
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Recharge Station
How do you charge your batteries? What makes you feel inspired?
Rachel: Healthy Foods. As many of us head into the fall season, what new recipes are you trying?
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Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
-
What is Beyond Camp?
Beyond Camp is a new summer Podcast brought to you by Go Camp Pro.
Cassie Bloy and Rachel Kent are here to explore the intersection of camp and our lives. As much as people like to talk about camp and ‘the real world’ as two separate entities, camp professionals know that this simply isn’t true. Beyond Camp dives into how different aspects of our lives affect our camp experience, effectively bursting the camp bubble and welcoming all parts of our lives into the conversation.
Go Camp Pro is excited to bring you this weekly podcast during the summer of 2020.
If you have any feedback, or would like to support the work of Go Camp Pro email our producer, Matt, at [email protected]
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
51 min
October 01, 2020What Have We Learned in the Last 6 Months? - CampHacker #130
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full show notes and links at https://camphacker.tv/podcast
At the end of a long and weird summer, let’s take a second to reflect on what we’ve learned from a Summer Camp season in a global pandemic. Welcome to season 10 of the CampHacker Podcast.
We’re on the other side of the summer of 2020.
Wait, really? Where did the summer go? What happened?
We need to do what Camp Pros do best. It’s the skill that we teach kids about in every great team-building activity - reflection. And yes, yes, yes we know, reflecting after something hard is the last thing we may want to do, but as you know, the best debriefs happen after a team-building activity doesn’t go super well.
So after a summer that - as a massive understatement - didn’t go super well - Who better to dig into it than the CampHacker Podcast crew.
Hear from Travis, Gab, Joe and our new host, Chris on how the summer of 2020 went for them and what they are taking away from it.
What do you want to hear from the CampHacker Podcast this season? Let us know in the comments!
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Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: https://app.jqbx.fm/ (pronounced Jukebox) - an app that lets people work together on creating a live DJ playlist. USB LED Clock for minding the time in Zoom meetings and webinars
Chris: ZoomJam! - https://zoomjam.org/
Gabz: Mini Club Social - https://www.miniclubsocial.com/flow
Joe: Scroll Saw - Hegner - or entry level or FUNDO - https://fundo.town/camp/creator/#/home/events
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Your Hosts:
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

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
1 hr 6 min
September 30, 2020Welcome Back and Welcome To Identity - Beyond Camp #11
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
NOTE: Beyond Camp will be leaving the CampHacker Feed on November 1st - please subscribe to Beyond Camp in it's own Podcast feed and listen & subscribe over there!
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We’re back and we’re digging in just as hard as in the summer. First up - our identity - as people and camp pros.
Season 2 of Beyond Camp has arrived! After finishing our first season in what felt like record speed we are excited to be sharing our first conversation of season 2 with all of you. Sit back and relax as we discuss our identities, what they mean to us and how they shape us and why we are dedicating so much time to talking about them. We aren’t experts but we are here to get vulnerable and learn alongside each one of you.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
Where Cassie and Rachel are at in the fall of 2020
Why the theme of this season is going to be all about identity
How identities carry weight and privilege in different settings
How to learn about identities that we don’t know or relate to?
What do we stand to lose if we don’t talk about identity at camp?
What’s next for Rachel and Cassie?
Thanks for tuning in to this season of Beyond Camp! What should we talk about next season? Send our producer, Matt and email at [email protected]
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Bonus Content:
Aka, the stuff we said would be in the show notes! Thanks for reading!
Book: The Art of Possibility
Leilani Nussman’s Anti-Racism In Summer Camps article series
Instagram: S’more Melanin
Nalgene Water Bottle
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Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
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What is Beyond Camp?
Beyond Camp is a new summer Podcast brought to you by Go Camp Pro.
Cassie Bloy and Rachel Kent are here to explore the intersection of camp and our lives. As much as people like to talk about camp and ‘the real world’ as two separate entities, camp professionals know that this simply isn’t true. Beyond Camp dives into how different aspects of our lives affect our camp experience, effectively bursting the camp bubble and welcoming all parts of our lives into the conversation.
Go Camp Pro is excited to bring you this weekly podcast during the summer of 2020.
If you have any feedback, or would like to support the work of Go Camp Pro email our producer, Matt, at [email protected]
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
43 min
September 10, 2020Checking-In & Wrapping-Up - Beyond Camp #10
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
We’ve come so far, and there’s so far to go. Let’s talk about where we go from here as we explore the world Beyond Camp!
For the final episode of our first season of Beyond Camp we are diving into how the summer went, how we felt, and what it brought up for each of us. We are sharing with transparency and honesty, diving in and unpacking our emotions or discovering ways in making time for holding space for yourself and how you are feeling. We are here to dive into the tough stuff, so come and join us for this conversation.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
Reflection on summer 2020 and our first season of Beyond Camp
Our usual end of summer traditions and how that changed this year
What’s been surprising about the end of this summer?
What will our fall routines look like this year compared to next?
What is something unexpected we have gained from a summer without camp?
What’s next for Beyond Camp?
Thanks for tuning in to this season of Beyond Camp! What should we talk about next season? Send our producer, Matt and email at [email protected]
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Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
-
What is Beyond Camp?
Beyond Camp is a new summer Podcast brought to you by Go Camp Pro.
Cassie Bloy and Rachel Kent are here to explore the intersection of camp and our lives. As much as people like to talk about camp and ‘the real world’ as two separate entities, camp professionals know that this simply isn’t true. Beyond Camp dives into how different aspects of our lives affect our camp experience, effectively bursting the camp bubble and welcoming all parts of our lives into the conversation.
Go Camp Pro is excited to bring you this weekly podcast during the summer of 2020.
If you have any feedback, or would like to support the work of Go Camp Pro email our producer, Matt, at [email protected]

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
47 min
September 03, 2020Resilience in Exceptional Times - With Dr. G - Beyond Camp #9
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
We know “growth mindset” so why are we so stuck on the idea that resilience is fixed? Dr. G is here to teach us how we, and the rest of the camp industry can be resilient amid such a trying time. You do NOT want to miss this interview!
We are beyond grateful for this conversation with Dr. G.
Join us as we are dive into how resilience has played a role in our experiences as camp professionals and through the pandemic. This episode is filled with truth bombs and many metaphors for working through the hard moments and digging into how we can support each other and move through our fear and growth zones.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
How has Dr. G and her family faired during the summer of 2020?
What has she seen from her patience when it comes to their stresses and concerns throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Hear about how people who have resiliency have fared over the past few months vs. those that are discovering/building their resiliency
Some advice from Dr. G about how to treat our colleagues in online and offline spaces.
Tips from Dr. G on how we can build our own resiliency muscles over the next year.
What recommendations does Dr. G have for camp pros who are struggling with job loss/change, loss of tradition and routine?
Thanks to Dr. G for joining us on this episode! Who else should join us on Beyond Camp? Share in the comments!

Dr. G’s Back to School 2020 Resilience Guide
Dr. G created a page on her site for any camp or youth program to sign up and get your own link to my resources. If you follow the two steps there, she will send you sample emails, newsletter pieces, social media posts to let your families know about what she has
to offer. Any family that purchases through your camp's link generates 20% of the sale straight to your camp. Here's an outline of what some of the Back-to-school resources look like.

Links & Other Bonus Material
Dr G’s resilience board game

Enjoy the new show?
We’re grateful to those of you who shared their excitement for the show with us. If you enjoyed Beyond Camp, please pass it on to a Camp Director in your circle.
Any feedback? Send Matt an email at [email protected]

Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
Guest:
Dr. Deborah Gilboa, “Dr. G”, Resilience, Parenting & Youth Development Expert - www.askdoctorg.com

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
57 min
August 27, 2020Pivoting from Camp to Family Retreats - with Darby Dame - Beyond Camp #8
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
The guts, smarts and mindset that it takes to pivot a traditional summer camp to a family retreat program. Welcome to the Podcast, Darby!
We are so excited to be speaking with Darby Dame today on her pivot, personally and professionally, as her camp moved from Camp to Family Retreats.
She speaks intentionally and with passion about her experiences this summer, from connecting with families, learning to cook, to spending time with loved ones.
Sit with us, as we dive in and connect with Darby.
Tune in to this episode to hear about:
Darby’s journey into the Camp Industry
How did Darby personally and professionally managed the uncertainty that came with her camp transitioning in this huge way?
What were some of the biggest stresses for her, camp and her family during this time?
How did Darby’s identity change as a result of this summer?
What were some silver linings about this summer for Darby?
Thanks to Darby for joining us on this episode! Who else should join us on Beyond Camp? Share in the comments!

Links & Other Bonus Material
Beyond Camp #1 - Who Am I Without Camp?

Enjoy the new show?
We’re grateful to those of you who shared their excitement for the show with us. If you enjoyed Beyond Camp, please pass it on to a Camp Director in your circle.
Any feedback? Send Matt an email at [email protected]

Your Hosts:
Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting
Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada - [email protected]
Guest:
Darby Dame, Director of Communications and Marketing, High Rocks Camp for Boys

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

About The CampHacker Podcast

From the publisher's feed

CampHacker Podcast helps camp directors solve real problems and build resilient camps. Each episode gives practical tips for recruiting, keeping, and teaching camp staff. The hosts talk about true…