The CampHacker Podcast

Does the hair on the back of your neck perk up when you hear the word "Budget"? Have no fear, the CampHackers are here! This week Dan, Joe and Travis talk about their successes when it comes to balancing the books at your camp this summer. 

Hosts:

Discussion:

What do you do to create great community within your camp staff?

Tool of the Week:

Our summer camp alumni are such a huge part of our camp community.   They support us as directors, they give us new energy and they are camp's best ambassadors. In this week's CampHacker we talk about ways that our camps have reached out to their alumni - for big anniversary events (such as Ouareau's 90th last month), for fundraising (such as Pearce Williams' upcoming building project) and to build word of mouth. Thank you to Natasha Dunn of Cairn Camp's Alumni committee for joining us for this week's show.

• Gab - Poppy Talk: Design Blog
• Joe - Tul Retractable Gen Pen
• Natasha - Qik.com for streaming video
• Travis - Taylor guitars

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Gabrielle Raill, Director at Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Natasha Dunn, Teacher and Blogger
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

Building community within a staff requires some very conscientious efforts.  On today's CampHacker we talk about what we do to bring people together to work in the magical world of summer camp.

It was great to have Beth back on the show and also to welcome an old camp friend - Sol Birenbaum - to the discussion.

• Beth: Have a support person for yourself
• Dan - Thesis Wordpress Themes
• Joe - Toodledo
• Sol - Trails iOS app
• Travis - AppShopper

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Beth Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick
• Dan Weir, Director at Frost Valley YMCA
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Sol Birenbaum, Owner/Director at Camp Walden
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

Money is a constant worry for a camp director - where will we get it, will it come in on time, will there be enough?

This week's CampHacker episode focuses on raising money for summer camp.  Dan, Joe and Paul each have different strategies to share in this episode: Frost Valley is raising money, using social media, to rebuild after Hurricane Irene, Four Winds has a full-time Development Officer who helps find large donations and Pearce Williams is very successful at getting grant money.

Even if you run a private camp and aren't involved in direct fundraising it will be worth listening and thinking of groups that you could partner with on projects that may involve raising money or getting a grant.

• Dan - Ultra Carpetball Plans
• Joe - Group Imagining for banners and displays
• Paul - Create a Gmail label called "Good Copy"
• Travis - Pocket Informant for iPad and iPhone

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Dan Weir, Director at Frost Valley YMCA
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Paul Sheridan, Director at Four Winds * Westward Ho camp
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

The best things a camp leader can do is spot the potential in a young person and tell him or her about it.

One of the most influential people in my camp life was my counsellor named Ian at Camp Kintail. When I was 11 years old he talked to me in a quiet moment and said "Travis, you will make a great CIT". I think that 5 seconds set me on the path for the next 25 years.

• Gab - Simon Stamp
• Joe - Battle Stilts (build your own adjustable stilts)
• Theresa - CampBrain
• Travis - MudWatt Microbial Fuel Cell Kit

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Gabrielle Raill, Director at Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Theresa McDonald-Lee, Executive Director at Camp Kintail
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

During this week's show we talked about ways that we can make sure that our camp people do well when they move home from camp.

Speaking personally, I always struggled with the transition back home after a summer of adventures and responsibilities.   It was important to me, therefore, to be really conscientious about helping our staff transition back in to their home life.

I'd also like to thank Jill Tipograph, from Everything Summer, for writing the article that inspired this topic.  Jill is a consultant who helps families find the right camp for their children.  You can read her article, Summer Camp Decompression, by clicking the link.  I recommend you file it away for next August!

We are pleased to introduce a new co-host: Ryne Witt from the San Antonio YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow.

• Gab - SendOutCards
• Joe - LifeHacker
• Ryne - Shirt Pocket Briefcase
• Travis - Laptop Laidback

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Gabrielle Raill, Director at Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Ryne Witt, Summer Camp Program Director at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

In a seasonal business like summer camp we have to work hard to make sure that we manage the transitions between seasons well.   One of the most important things are end-of-summer reports.

In this CampHacker podcast we discuss ways to make sure staff are writing excellent reports so that the person who does their job next summer can hit the ground running.

• Dan - camping resources from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Joe - Techsoup
• Rebecca - Picnik
• Travis - make your own muppets

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick
• Dan Richards, Chair of the Board at Kenneserie Camp
• Rebecca Jess, Co-Director at Cairn Presbyterian Camping & Retreat Centres

Now that camp is underway it's time to think about how you're going to keep the growth going over the season. Creating great opportunities for feedback and evaluations can make a great summer camp staff.

Jennifer and Joe have different methods for  regular evaluations to the people that work for them.   I really like Jennifer's 360 eval and Joe's weekly check-ins with each counsellor.

• Joe - Legible Bookcase
• Jennifer - Pure Hydration water bottle
• Travis - the Games Box

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick
• Jennifer Selke, TheCampDirector.com

It's a tough time of year for camp directors - staff training has just started and it's time to see if all of your year's work will pan out.

Joe and I talked this week about what worries us: Have we picked the right staff? Will this staff remember all that we taught them?  What about those kids who we know go home to a crappy life after the joys of summer camp?   Can this industry that we love stick around for the next 100 years?

• Joe - Slice Safety Cutter
• Travis - Digital Timer Remote

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick

I like to challenge camp staff and ask them what their favourite memories are from the times they were a camper.  Inevitably, they will tell me about a spectacular kitchen raid or the time their counsellors took them into the woods to make up games for the afternoon. 

THAT, my camp friends, is exactly what we need more of.   I have always loved what Jim Penner, a camp mentor of mine, said about program: I can run an amazing camp in a parking lot with the right people.    Those people are the ones who don't just take their campers from program to program but are always trying something new and creative.

• Gab - Make an awesome notebook
• Joe - Teamwork and Teamplay
• Dan - Kay Park Fire Ring
• Moose - The Fairy Houses
• Travis - Lycra Tube

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

• Gabrielle Raill, Director at Camp Ouareau
• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick
• Dan Wier, Director of Camping Services at Frost Valley Y
• Curt "Moose" Jackson from SummerCampProgramDirector.com