The CampHacker Podcast

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More money, more mission, but also…more problems?

You’ve heard Travis say this time and time again.

“Money moves the mission”.

In this day and age, if you want to run a successful year-round camp business with multiple full-time staff, all while keeping camper fees reasonable, you likely need some financial support! Donations and grants are incredibly helpful, but if you can tap into a market that works for your local community or potential clients, it can be a great way to supplement your income and use that money to help improve your summer program.

That being said, the way you go about diversifying your income is WAY more complex than simply saying, “alright, we’re doing weddings!”. Without carefully assessing your facility, budget and staffing and local laws, you may be committing to a program that either doesn’t fit your mission or worse, ends up costing more resources than it brings in.

While there are a ton of great ideas out there, wouldn’t it be great to have a crew of seasoned Camp Directors out there who have tried this kind of thing before to guide you in this decision-making process?

…Well, if you’ve made it this far in this post…we all know that you know the answer to that question…

It’s the CampHacker Podcast!

To help Gab, Travis, Joe and Dan with some big-money brainstorming, we welcome friend and past guest of the Podcast, Jalisa Danhof from Camp Newaygo! Jalisa not only suggested this topic, but she brings some valuable experience to our panel. Camp Newaygo runs a ton of really unique events for their local community, facilitates multiple weddings a year and has recently begun their own catering business. We’re grateful to have Jalisa back to share her stories and best practices.

Tune in to this episode to hear about:

Some things to consider BEFORE even thinking about diversifying your income

Programs our hosts tried that have been a big ol’ flop

Sources of income the panel have found to be a good, revenue-generating endeavour

Plenty of other ideas that may work for your camp

Do you have a great income-generating program at your camp? Tell us about it in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Connector bag (thanks, Gabz!) - BUBM Travel organizer for electronics cables and LCD projector cables.

Joe: Tickler File - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tickler_file (Bonus Video by Joe - https://youtu.be/5ZCmCfy5eb4)

Jalisa: GwynnieBee - clothing rental

Dan: Adam Grant’s Instagram

Gabz: Video Teleprompter 3

Your Hosts:

Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro

Joe Richards, Executive Director -Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat Facility

Gabrielle Ra

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

What you should be thinking about to ensure your summer camp stands the test of time.

If you’re reading this on release in February, then you know that time is running short on your time to do some of the deep philosophical work that can only happen when summer isn’t on the horizon. This episode is for when you have the brain-space, or, maybe it’s for when you need to not think about this coming summer for a second.

(You’re an adult, we’re not going to tell you how to live your life!)

Getting into the mindset of planning for the future is something that isn’t easy, but is absolutely necessary for ensuring the success of our camps beyond just the coming summer. We all have budgets to meet, and of course, things come up, but without a plan and the right mindset, you may be finding yourself wasting the time and money putting out short-term fires rather than fire-proofing (sorry, Joe, that wasn’t an intentional fire-order joke!).

To help Gab, Travis, Joe and Dan navigate this deep topic, we welcome Stacy Simpson, camp, org and Girl Guide consultant. and Go Camp Pro Masterclass instructor to the panel. We’re grateful for Stacy’s additions to the conversation as we discuss the philosophies and best practices when it comes to planning for your camp to be successful in the long-term.

What is one way that you intentionally plan for the future at your camp? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: WIBYT - Write it Before You Talk ~ Michael Brandwein

Travis 2: The Imagineering Story - Disney+ https://youtu.be/-Y7TlaXDPrg

Joe: Dolly Parton’s America - Podcast - In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why?
Joe 2: uBlacklist Chrome Extension - Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

Gabz: Wicked Cool Travel Mug: Kinto

Dan: The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon, (Cliff notes of the 10 rules)

Stacie: New Research from GSRI (Girl Scout Research Institute): Today’s Girls. Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs. [https://www.whygirlscouts.org/success]

Other things mentioned this show:

Joe would like to remind people of - https://archive.org/details/canadian-camping-association

Cardboard beds at Toyko Olympics- https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/tokyo-2020-olympics#

A Pattern Language Book - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language

Your Hosts:

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Adventure programming is about way more than a $1M ropes course!

Adventure programming, challenge courses, low ropes, rock walls, team-building, staff construction, initiatives, WHATEVER you want to call it, this episode is about that.

This type of camp program has really been changing and growing over the years. From the early days where people built and tested their own ropes courses to today where zip-lines are tested by the same people who certify elevators, we’ve certainly seen it grow.

One thing that has remained true is the goal of adventure programming. Campers take part in adventure programming at your camp to become changed through exposure to challenge and risk. Whether that be the risk that comes with being 30 feet in the air or that risk of telling their friend that they need better communication from them, the benefits to this type of programming are truly endless.

However, before you get your harness on and take a drill to an unsuspecting maple tree to start an adventure program at your camp, there are a lot of things to consider. Who will make sure your ropes course is up to regulatory standards? Do your staff know how to properly run adventure programming? Have you properly budgeted for this course? What the heck is an Ubuntu card!?

Yeah. Put that drill away and get, Air Pods out and listen in to this episode. Gabz, Travis and Joe are joined by Phil Brown from High 5 Adventure. Phil lends his expertise to the group as they share their practical tips and philosophies when it comes to planning, implementation evaluating and proper training for adventure programming.

What is the coolest adventure program you have at your camp? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Loom

Joe: Wall Control Magnetic PegBoard:

Gabz: ToDoist

Phil: Ubuntu cards

Your Hosts:

Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro

Joe Richards, Executive Director -Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat Facility

Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau

Phil Brown, Trainer, High 5 Adventure

Also, check out High 5 Adventure’s Podcast

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

Bonus Content! - The Canadian Camping Magazine Searchable Archive

Thanks for letting your awesome out, Joe!

https://archive.org/details/canadian-camping-a

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

A New Podcast from Go Camp Pro - The Camp Owners Podcast!

Whether you are a Camp Owner, an aspiring camp owner, or a lover of some of our other Go Camp Pro podcasts, we’re so happy to have you here.

The Camp Owners Podcast is here to explore a side of the summer camp world that is experienced by those that have the privilege of running an independent program.

In this world of camp, the stakes are high. Not only do private camps have the same goals, aspirations and responsibilities that other camps have, but there is also usually a ton of personal livelihood on the line. When you OWN a camp, you really do own the successes and failures that any for-profit enterprise faces.

On this podcast, our hosts, Howie Grossinger and Kelly Schuna will be joined by some seasoned prime camp professionals to dive deep into the issues that most private camp pros will need to face, and the best practices that they use to create, and sustain a summer camp for their campers to enjoy summer after summer.

In season one, tune in to the podcast monthly to hear about topics like Camp As a Business, Camp Insurance, Buying and Selling Camps, Work/Life Balance, Pricing, Staff Training & Engagement

Thanks for tuning in! If you have any feedback, please get in touch with our producer, Matt at [email protected].

In our first episode, Camp as a Business, Howie and Kelly are joined by the wise and wonderful Steve Baskin of Camp Champions. Together, Howie, Kelly and Steve address some of the unique aspects of the private camp industry and what even the most business-savvy camp pros need to be thinking about as we enter a new decade.

Tune in to hear about:

What can you expect from this season of the Camp Owners Podcast?

Steve Baskin’s camp origin story and his favourite part of being a Camp Owner

What does it mean to view camp “as a business”?

What is a unique or unexpected challenge of being in the business of camp?

What is an insider tip that you would give to a new or up-and-coming camp owner?

What is something that camp owners should have on their radar for the future of the industry?

What is something you hope to learn from the hosts and guests of the Camp Owners Pod? Let us know in the comments!

What Inspires You? - Things that inspire our hosts and guests to be the best Camp Owners they can be.

Howie: Simon Sinek - https://simonsinek.com/

Kelly: Esther Wojcicki - “The single most important behaviour that you can role model for your children is the ability to have functional relationships” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Wojcicki

Steve: Angela Duckworth, Carol Dweck and David Jaeger’s work regarding mindset.

Carol Dweck - https://www.ted.com/speakers/carol_dweck

Angela Duckworth - https://angeladuckworth.com/

David Jaeger - https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/camping-magazine/mindsets-matter

Host Links:

Hosts:

Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps

Kelly Schuna, Own

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

The All TOWS Show #2 - CampHacker #120

January 9, 2020

Fantastic Focus Groups - CampHacker #119

CampHacker

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher

Tool of the Week - (insert trombone music here)

We’re back with a second edition of an all tool of the week show. We received a ton of positive feedback about the last episode and because we’re all about giving the camp pros what they want…here you go!

Tune in to hear all about Gab, Dan and Travis’ favourite tools that help make them a better camp director.

If you’re checking out the show notes for the links…hey! Here they are!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Phone apps

Dan

Fantastical for iPhone - https://flexibits.com/fantastical

Google Keep - https://keep.google.com/u/0/

FlipClock - https://fliqlo.com/

Gabz

Decide Now! - https://decidenow-app.com/

Get Pocket - https://getpocket.com/

Tyme - https://www.tyme-app.com/en/

Travis

Pocketcasts - https://www.pocketcasts.com/

Google Home - https://store.google.com/ca/product/google_home

GStone - find gaming groups - https://www.gstonegames.com/homepage_eng/

Software

Gabz

Google Slides - https://www.google.ca/slides/about/

Figma - https://www.figma.com/

Travis

Basecamp - https://basecamp.com/welcome-back

CamelCamelCamel.com - https://ca.camelcamelcamel.com

MightyNetworks - https://www.mightynetworks.com/

Books

Dan

When by Dan Pink - https://amzn.to/2T25PQJ

Originals: how nonconformists move the world by Adam Grant - https://amzn.to/39UaWZ5

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene - https://amzn.to/35AdxnN

Bonus: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek - https://amzn.to/2QXgFF5

Gabz

Mending Matters - https://amzn.to/2QVwgos

Sapiens: A brief history of humankind - https://amzn.to/2s2D6Qy

Proust and the Squid - Maryanne Wolf - https://amzn.to/2R17Slc

Travis

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Fantastic, frank, feedback from families and staff.

There are not many industries out there like ours…for many reasons!

One of the primary ones is the focus that we all share on relationship building. Whether it’s between campers, staff and campers, staff and staff or admin and staff, building cohesive and strong relationships may as well be the theme of every day at camp.

The relationships that our camps have with their families are unique and wonderful, too. Yes, families are our clients and any business out there can say, “We treat our clients as families”, but we know that when it comes to camp, we’re not just a service provider to those families, we’re partners in raising their children.

Part of that “partnership” is showing families that we value their opinion and perspective when it comes to working with your camp.

Now, hopefully, you’ve got some sort of feedback mechanism for your parents, (if you don’t, get in touch, we can help with that!). Surveys, calling families, soliciting online reviews are all good, but those can seem very surface level or even transactional. To up the level of trust, intentionality and intimacy with your families, it may be time to think about focus groups.

A focus group is one of the best ways to get the real and emotion-driven feedback that you could never get from a digital survey. As well, spending that face-time with some of your most valued families is one of the best ways to build trust in your camp. When you show your families that you want to truly understand their perspective, you show them that you are committed to them and their child.

Focus groups can also be a valuable tool to use with your staff. If you want to introduce change, brainstorm new program ideas or just see things from their perspective, a focus group can build trust and group buy-in among your team.

What should you ask in a focus group? Where should you do it? Who should you ask to attend? All great questions! To answer them, Travis, Dan and Gab are on the case! Tune in to hear about the strategies and intentions that you should think about when planning your next focus group.

What kinds of questions would you ask in a parent focus group? Let us know in the comments!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director

Travis: Custom inside joke stickers (check out the Youtube video of this episode to see Seth’s!)

Dan: 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

Gab: Getting your camp dog vertified as a therapy dog or emotional support animal. Parents will love it!

Your Hosts:

Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro

Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau

Dan Weir, Sr. Director - Youth Development, Summer Camp, & Strategic Initiatives - YMCA of Long Island

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show 

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