The CampHacker Podcast

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The CampHacker Podcast episodes

October 26, 2018 Staff Retention & Recruiting Tips - For Right Now - CampHacker #109
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Hey! Welcome back!
We hope that you had an incredible summer.
We also hope that you’ve had an incredible chance to take a breath and reflect on the magic that surely happened this summer. Or even, to not think about camp and…you know…sleep!
Whether you’re still recovering, coming out of hibernation, or still in the busy season, it’s time to start setting the next summer up for success.
Step one. Staffing.
This time of year (October/November), is when the financial and emotional reality of the school is kicking in for students and they are ready to start looking for a summer job. Your potential returning staff have also now taken a breath from the potential drama and tiredness of the summer and are ready again to dream of their home away from home. In either case, the “keeners” are looking, and you want them on your team.
As always on the CampHacker podcast, we try to deliver timely, relevant and practical information to help you (and your staff) on what matters most to you NOW. To help do that, Travis, Joe and Gabz are joined by the brilliant, legendary Kim Aycock and intentionally amazing Jolly Corley on this week’s episode.
Tune in and get inspired to find and build you best staff team yet.

Take This Episode One Step Farther
Register for the Caught Between Two Staff Seasons Masterclass with Kim and Jolly. Get your staffing hat on and create your playbook for retaining, recruiting and developing staff for 2019.
Find out more here!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: Gear Infusion EverRatchet - (20% off code EverRatchetBacker20)
Gab: JOBY GorillaPod
Joe: Super Thick Index Cards - Joe uses Levenger Cards that are 170lb paper and vertically lined. Amazon.ca Link.
Kim: United by Blue (removes a pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways for every product sold...lots of cool “camp” items!)
Jolly: Backless Yoga Ball Desk Chair - Canadian Link

Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
1 hr 14 min
May 03, 2018 Do This Now To Set Your Summer Camp Staff Up For Success - CampHacker #108
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Hello Camp Pros!
Well, it's late April/early May, and you know what that means.
EVERYBODY PANIC!
No no, only kidding! But likely, it can start to feel like it at this time of year.
As we finish stretching to prepare for the sprint that is camp, we can't forget that the race we are about to run is not a solo event, it's a relay!
For many of us, our staff are either starting to think about coming, or are starting to trickle up to camp. While it's sometimes stressful when people are adding to the mix of your daily workflow, it's important that we step back and remember that these are the people that will carry out all the marketing and selling you've done since September. Their energy that you had when you were 17 is just waiting to be unleashed and it's important that you take the time to begin to harness that energy and point it in the right direction.
Last episode, we covered some broad ways that you can support staff by creating and sustaining a culture that focuses on mental wellness (which was an eye-opening episode and if you haven't listened already, please do!). This time around, we've brought the team and some friends in to talk about some of the practical steps that you should take NOW to help your staff get ready to unleash their awesome this summer and feel supported while they prepare to do so.
Joining Travis, Dan and Joe to share their best practices and ideas are Ange Atkinson, Camp Director at Camp Lantern Creek and Patti Sampson, Camp Director at Coastal Roots Camp, and host of the Podcast: Rec Heads and Camp Nerds
Enjoy!
What kinds of things are you doing right now to set your team up for success? Let us know in the comments!
Bonus Resources - Because people who read the show notes are the best people.
Travis' Bonjoro Link:
Dan’s Dan Pink Episode
If Slack isn't for you, give Flock a peek!
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: Oxford At-Hand Note Carrier
Dan: The Emergent Task Planner
Joe: Tempered Glass screen covers for phones
Ange: Use Facebook Live to add some zest to your marketing smorgasbord!
Patti: Gratitude Journaling
Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
1 hr 5 min
April 24, 2018 CampHacker Interview with Ask Doctor G (Dr Deborah Gilboa)
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On this CampHacker interview Travis talks with Dr Deborah Gilboa (@askdoctorg) about her own camp experiences and how camps can become great resources to families.
To see the resources we mentioned check out our shownotes at http://camphacker.tv/podcast.

Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
42 min
March 17, 2018 Supporting Staff Mental Wellness - CampHacker #107
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How many of our camp brochures or websites preach that our camp teaches kids about grit and resilience?
Okay everyone, put your hands down.
Now, home many of us can say that we put that same effort into fostering grit and resilience with our staff? Sure, we may have staff check-ins and encourage staff to write motivational notes to each other, but although those are great, the times when just that was enough are likely coming to a end.
Before we continue, let's check ourselves remember that the world that we grew up in, in the 70's, 80's and 90's is very different than the one where our staff are growing up in now. The pressures of the world combined with the increased expectations of parents and peers, all lumped in with a toxic social media culture, makes for one of the most tumultuous times to be a youth.
We've grown and changed as an industry in so many ways. Now, when it comes to addressing the mental health of our staff, it's time to grow again. We would never leave our campers who are missing home and mentally struggling, so why would do it to our staff who are missing home, camp and mentally struggling in other ways?
This is a challenging episode, and honestly, it might be one of our heaviest yet, but we hope you'll stick with it and let this sink in.
Joining Travis, Dan and Gab in walking down this road is the fantastic Amanda Grassick from Camp Woodeden. Amanda has been working hard to make their staff's mental health a priority at Woodeden, and after a tough start in their first year, Amanda is starting to see some results thanks to what they've put in place.
This is more than a "get a pen and paper" type of episode. It's a "get a pen and paper, and ready to grow" type of episode. We know you'll enjoy it.
What are you doing to look after your staff team's mental health? Let us know in the comments below!
Bonus Resources
Mental wellness isn't something we can just "figure out" on our own (like you "figured out" how to jerry-rig that leaky toilet, you genius you!). Get professional training and approach this issue like a professional. These links will get you started.
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/en
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: The Power of Moments: Chip & Dan Heath
Dan: Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
Gab: Find someone to talk to that’s not family or friends also this book Loving someone with Borderline Personality Disorder
Amanda: Smartsheet
Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Dan Weir, Director of Camping Services - <
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
50 min
March 13, 2018 Proven Summer Camp Marketing Methods - CampHacker #106
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It's that time of year again. Registration has been open for a bit, staff applications are rolling in and school groups are calling to book for Outdoor Education.
You've made that first big push. Way to go!
Now, let's get at it, shall we?
Summer Camp is the main reason why most of us are here. We believe that every camper deserves a week at camp. We believe that every camp is great, but we're REALLY proud of our camp and we REALLY hope that kids will come.
Unfortunately, hope isn't a very high-yield marketing scheme. That's why in this time of year, you're going to be getting a LOT of emails from Camp Marketers (ahem...), who have an absolute bumper-crop of ideas to help you raise camper numbers for the summer of 2018.
While they (ahem...) may have a lot of great ideas, it can be a little overwhelming to not only implement them, but even just choose one in the first place!
Well have no fear, the CampHackers are here! Three of our regulars, Travis, Gab and Joe are joined by the meme-staff-hiring-posting-guru and all around great-guy Marc Cooper from Camp Tamarack are here to give you ideas that WORK.
Tune-in to hear these CampHacker's talk about their first principals, what their insider tricks are, what they are surprised to hear other Camp Directors aren't doing, and even more awesome tips for rocking registration this year!
These are easy to implement, or even better, easy to delegate to the rest of your team (board, staff, alumni, etc!). Get your pencil and papers out, y'all!
What are your Marketing miracles? What have you done that have really got registrations rolling? Let us know in the comments below!
Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: https://readwise.io
Gab: Pegboard for your office
Joe: Klein Tools Voltage Tester
Marc: Mematic app

Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams Christian Centre
Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
Marc Cooper, Director - Camp Tamarack Partner at Go Camp Pro
Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes (Thank you!)
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
46 min
January 05, 2018 Unplug at Camp - CampHacker #104
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Camp is counterculture.
Camps (for the most part) don't care about fashion, we encourage people to embrace what makes them quirky, and we don't have cell-phones at camp.
Now, policies differ, and some camps are even experimenting with plugged-in weeks at camp, but we can all agree on is that there is indeed a benefit that we give to our campers when we ask them to unplug from tech while they are at camp.
What? You don't believe this un-named, rogue blogger? Well fine. How about Dan Weir?
Yeah. THE CampHacker Dan Weir.
Dan was the keynote speaker at the Society of Camp Director's dinner this year where he shared his findings on the importance of unplugging both at home and at camp. Dan has done some pretty extensive research, not only in terms of the clinical benefits, but has been actively experimenting with how the unplugged culture at Frost Valley has given campers (and their parents) a much needed tech-free space.
On this episode of the podcast, you'll find the audio of his talk.
Dan was even gracious enough to share his slide deck for all of you. Click or tap here. Hey. Thanks, Dan!
No tool of the week this episode, but if you missed it last week, Dan references Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi. Definitely worth a read or listen!
Enjoy!
Your Host
Dan Weir, Director of Camping Services - Frost Valley YMCA
Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes (Thank you!)
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
37 min
December 09, 2017 Encouraging the Next Generation of Camp Pros - CampHacker #103
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis: www.camelcamelcamel.com - Amazon price tracker
Dan: Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi
Matt: The Better Board - Message Matt for a more detailed explanation
Joe: Google Photo Scan - iOS - Andoid
Your Hosts:
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp Pro
Dan Weir, Director of Camping Services - Frost Valley YMCA
Joe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams Christian Centre
Matt Honsberger, Camp Director - Pearce Williams Christian Centre
Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes (Thank you!)
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
35 min
November 07, 2017 First Impressions Last - CampHacker #102
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How do your staff answer the phone? What story does the home-page of your website tell? Who meets families on opening day? How do you train your super-awesome, yet awkward teenagers to talk to parents? What is your camp's "wow factor" that people experience as they are driving down the camp road?Take a second and answer those questions super honestly. How are you doing? If there are any aspects of your first impression that made you mentally (or physically) hang your head, no worries, the CampHackers are here to help.Travis, Gab, Joe, Dan are joined by returning guest-host Jalisa Danhof from Camp Newaygo to absolutely blow your mind with their experience and ideas on how to make your camp's first impression memorable for all the right reasons. Again, have a pen and paper handy for this one.
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
58 min
November 03, 2017 Camps and the Environment - CampHacker #101
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In the world of technology, nature deficit disorder and climate-change, it's time for camps to raise the bar. From the philosophies, to the policies, to the on the ground environmental practices, we need to start thinking intentionally about what we can do to be leaders of environmental stewardship.To discuss ways that we can step up their sustainable game, Travis is joined by three new guests - Danny Sudman from Green Camps and of the first partners of the Green Camps Initiative, Jacob Rodenburg from Camp Kawartha and Seth Herschthal from Blue Star Camps. In this episode, you're sure to find both the philosophical motivation and the practical means to make your camp shine green next season!
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
55 min
April 05, 2017 Working Well With Camper Parents - CampHacker #99
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Way back in the way back - 2013, we talked about Partnering With Parents. Back then, we were living in a world where Social Media coming from camp was still a pretty newish thing and there weren't nearly as many channels of connection between camp and a camper's home. Also, in the last 4-5 years, more and more camp pros have been rolling their eyes at parent emails requesting things like more photos and thinking, "ugh, helicopter parents". In online circles and at conferences more and more, we see camp directors waging war against parents, who at the end of the day simply love their kids and want them to be well while they are away. Friends, it's time to remember that just as much as we're here for the kids, we really are here for their parents too - and not just because they are the ones who click "Register". Think about someone that you love and care about - now think about them deciding to go on a SpaceX flight to Mars. How terrified are you for them!? Why? Because we've never been to space! How will our loved ones eat? What is anti-gravity like? For Pete's sake, where will they go to the bathroom!? Too far? Not really! Parents, especially those who haven't been to camp before, are putting an incredible amount of trust in you to care for the most important thing in their world. They absolutely deserve for us to show them that we are worthy of their trust. This week, CampHackers Travis and Gabz are joined by Cory Harrison of YMCA Camp Greenville and Stacie Simpson of Stacie Simpson Consulting who are taking parental partnership to the next level in their circles. This is definitely another "get your pen and notebook out" type of episode. Even one of the small, 1 hour of work implementation, ideas is bound to improve your relationships with your camper parents. There are lots of fantastic ideas to do NOW, in the summer, and at the end of the season. Take a listen and tell us what you think!
Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis
40 min

About The CampHacker Podcast

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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…