The CampHacker Podcast

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/start-camp-2025

200 episodes and over 14 years, the CampHacker Podcast has been around literally so long that we actually can’t find the first few episodes (seriously, if you find them, holler!).

After 200+ hours (that’s 1.5 weeks, people!), it’s time to put our money where our mouths are…hypothetically at least.

In this episode, Travis and Chris take their collective camp and education experience, alongside the realities of running summer camps today, and put it together to share how they would build and launch Camp Hudson (get it, Hudson + Allison?).

From site ownership (hint, they wouldn’t), to who they serve (hint, start local), to marketing (hint, often and BIG), this episode covers a lot of ground.

Join us in this hopeful and intentional thought experiment as a send-off for the summer of 2024.

Thanks for the season, friends!

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• Chris - Game - Once Upon a Time - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1234/once-upon-time-storytelling-card-game 
• Travis - Finch app - https://app.befinch.com/share/TRJD

• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

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UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

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/2024/05/camp-pro-adhd

You probably wouldn’t be surprised to know that as we have gotten more comfortable talking about exceptionalities, disabilities or diversabilities, the rate of diagnoses for those exceptionalities, disabilities or diversabilities has gone up.

More and more people (kids, teens and adults are like) are discovering how their brains work best and are starting to understand their potential when the spaces that they are in work in their favour.

As with most things - the camp industry, by and large, is catching up on making sure that their spaces are using Universal Design Principals when thinking about how they create the day-to-day of staff training and summer camp.

Travis and Chris are joined by Lisa Drennan, founder of MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting and an absolute PRO when it comes to making spaces more inclusive for kids, teens, young adults and adults who identify as neurodivergent.

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• Chris - The Book of Virtues - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25774.The_Book_of_Virtues 
• Travis - ConqueRing Fidget Ring -https://myconquering.com/ 
  • New Canva - Meet the NEW Canva | Canva Create 2024 Updates✨
• Lisa - https://thearcofmass.org/toolkit-organization/ 

• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight
• Lisa Drennan, Founder of MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

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UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

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

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/camp-2035

If you’re reading this on release (mid-May) - it may feel impossible to get out of the weeds and think about the future.

That’s fair - and - in order for our industry, and even our camps to make it the next 10 years, we need to consider the challenges that we’re going to face and the opportunities we’ll discover along the way.

Thank goodness for people like Stephane (and Travis - it’s not him who writes these show-notes, so he’s not being an arrogant jerk by mentioning himself) to help us zoom out and think of the big picture.

In this episode, Travis and Stephane use their combined experience to share what camps and camp leaders will need to do to ensure they not only survive until 2035, but to thrive along the way.

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• Stephane - 5 Dysfunctions of a Team - Patrick Lencioni
• Travis - High-Quality Post-Its + Sharpie + Big Wall Brainstorming

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Stephane Richard, Owner and Lead Consultant, Stephane Richard Consulting

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

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UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

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/2024/04/13-tips-for-new-camp-pros

There are a TON of full-time camp professionals that have entered the industry post-COVID.

For those of us that have been around for a while, we know how incredibly difficult the first few years of the job are. You’re figuring out what this level of responsibility means for you and your team and with problems emerging, it can really feel like a whack-a-mole type of situation.

So - Travis asked fellow camp podcasters to combine their joint 200+ years of full-time directing to distill their best pieces of advice for people just like you.

You’ve got these 13 (and many more) people behind you - so get out there and do what you do!

We’re grateful to the following people for sharing their tips:

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Allison Krabill, Executive Director - The Summer Camp Society
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer & Host - Camp Code Podcast
• Cole Kelly, Owner/Director - Camp Weequahic, Podcast Host - Campfire Conversations
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Podcast Host - The Day Camp Pod
• David Sherry, President - The Sherry Group, LLC, Podcast Host - The Sherry Group Podcast
• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher, Professor & Consultant, Podcast Host - The Pudding
• Jack Schott, Founder/Owner - The Summer Camp Society, Host - The Summer Camp Society Podcast
• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer - Go Camp Pro, Podcast Host - First Class Counselors
• Abigail Stuart, Director of Operations - Doxazo Ministries, Go Camp Pro Contributor
• Andy Pritikin, Owner - Liberty Lake Day Camp, Podcast Host - The Day Camp Pod
• Etienne Lefebvre, Director of IT Service Management, Podcast Editor - Camp Code Podcast
• Beth Allison, Founder - Go Camp Pro, Podcast Host - Camp Code Podcast

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

-

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

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/2024/04/what-they-dont-get

The fact that people don’t understand what we do full-time is not just and “us” problem - it’s a problem for our entire industry.

It’s annoying as all heck - yes.

And.

It could be the reason why you’re under-enrolled and understaffed.

One of the biggest issues facing our industry is our reputation. We are consistently fighting against Hollywood stereotypes and the notion that camp is a luxury item for privileged kids or glorified child-care.

We - meaning consultants, associations, directors, staff, etc. - need to do a better job articulating what camp does for it’s leaders and the types of people that it creates.

If we don’t, how do we expect families and staff to value the experience enough to trust us with their kids or their summer employment?

Do these show notes sound like we’re up on a soap-box? Well just wait for the episode!

Tune in to get a (kind) earful from Travis and Chris!

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• Chris - Notion.so
• Travis - https://deckofbrilliance.com/

• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight

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/2024/03/choice-based

We welcome back one of our original hosts, Dan Weir and welcome back Jack Schott from The Summer Camp Society (and TSCS Podcast!) to unpack all things choice-based programming.

You’ll hear:

• How do we actually define choice-based programming
• Why was this model so radical 10(ish) years ago
• What are the benefits of giving campers more ownership over their camp experience
• How does a choice-based model tie into equity, intentionality and positive social development (yes, we go deep in this one!)

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• Chris - Argh! Pirate Ship!
• Travis - ear filter - Flare Calmer  - 🇨🇦 https://amzn.to/3VI3MkW  🇺🇸https://amzn.to/3VDWOgW
• Jack - https://www.allinpodcast.co/  or https://getaway.house/
• Dan - Wireless

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight
• Jack Schott, Co-Founder - The Summer Camp Society
• Dan Weir, Sr. Consultant - immersive1st - Day Camp Community

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

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UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

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/2024/03/our-advice-to-new-staff

Right now (March), camp directors everywhere are starting to think about staff training…or, intending to do so at least.

There are a trillion things that we want to teach staff and it would be literally impossible to pack it all in during training and even harder to decide on which one is the most important.

This episode, Travis and Chris put themselves in the shoes of camp directors the day before the kids arrive at camp. If this was the only advice they could give to camp staff - what would it be?

Unsurprisingly, they couldn’t narrow it down to one each, but it’s all great.

Please pass this on to your camp staff! The keeners will thank you!

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Chris - http://makeplayingcards.com 

Travis - Talknotes https://talknotes.io/app 

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight

-

Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

-

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

Camptivities

Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com

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/the-pudding/gen-z

Staffing continues to be one of the biggest thorns in the paws of our industry. It’s a challenge that isn’t likely to go away soon, so what can we do to ride this wave, rather than just letting it crash into us?

Travis and Mandi dig into this topic and share how an approach of curiosity is a Camp Pro’s best tool when working with this generation of camp staff.

In this episode, we cover:

• What do we need to know about this generation of camp staff? How will their worldview shape how they view their role this summer?
• How can we show this generation why the summer camp experience is not just worthwhile, but incredibly desirable?
• How we can help staff understand that camp is one of the best training grounds around for almost all future careers
• Is it possible to screen for the potential of great staff members? What can we do to identify the staff who are going to be super successful this summer?

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• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - [email protected] 
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - [email protected]

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The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

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/the-pudding/power-between-people

We all know that even in the sunshine and butterflies that is summer camp, there is evil lurking about. An evil that affects people and communities from all over. It has a name, too.

Are you ready?

Power.

Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but it’s something nonetheless that we need to talk about when it comes to the microcosm that is summer camp.

On this episode, Mandi and Travis discuss how the power structures of the summer camp world have consequential effects on not just the employees, but the entire culture and program.

You’ll hear about:

• How power is an ever-present entity, how everyone has it (to an extent) and how dynamic it can be
• The risk of harm that can be inherent in the systems that even the most well-intentioned camp leaders can create
• How the different spaces, and the unspoken rules of those spaces create a power-filled environment
• How camp directors can be aware of these systems of power and consider the good, the bad and the ugly in them

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• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - [email protected] 
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - [email protected]

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The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

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/2024/02/retain-staff

As the summer creeps closer, the staffing woes of the industry rear it’s ugly head again.

Wouldn’t it be great if staffing wasn’t the thing that stole your focus from creating the best program you know you could be? Well, it’s a long road, but one of the biggest shortcuts on that road is retaining last summer’s staff!

And, how do you do that? Well, because this is a Go Camp Pro podcast, you know we have to talk about being intentional in your strategy. How do you be intentional? Well, we’re here to help with that, too!

In this episode, Chris and Travis go deep into the very nature of intentionality and how that can apply as you look to retain your best staff.

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Chris - Big Dumb Cup: https://www.stanley1913.com/collections/tumblers

• Be aware of lead in the bottom of the mug

Travis - Beeper App https://refer.beeper.com/XYMr2p

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• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight

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Rate and Review the CampHacker Show

(Thank you!)

-

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/camphacker

Camptivities

Why spend hours on your schedules, only to find mistakes and missed activities for your campers! Let Camptivities do the heavy lifting and help you create the best schedules yet, without the mistakes, and in less time. Come check out Camptivities; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.com

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