The Summer Camp Survival Guide

Camp can be one of the best experiences of your life, but keeping that spark alive all summer isn’t always easy.

In this episode, Tom and Brandon talk about relationships at camp, friendships, and the challenges that come with stepping into leadership roles and finding yourself managing people who were once your peers. We also look at life beyond camp, managing relationships back home, protecting your energy, preventing burnout, and looking after your physical and mental health when camp life gets intense.

And in Lost in Translation, Tom reminisces about his confusion when he was first offered chicken fried steak and biscuits and gravy!

So pull up a chair, take a breath, and join us for a conversation about keeping the fire burning when the summer starts to take its toll.

The moment has finally arrived. After months of preparation, the campers are walking through the gates and the real magic of camp begins. In this episode, we explore those first moments of arrival the excitement, nerves, chaos, and opportunities that come with welcoming campers into your camp community. From making a great first impression to helping campers feel safe, included, and ready for their adventure, we’ll talk about how those first few minutes can set the tone for an entire summer.

Stepping onto camp for the first time can be exciting, overwhelming, and a little intimidating. In this episode, we explore those first few days at camp meeting new people, adjusting to a new environment, navigating staff training, and discovering what it means to become part of a camp community. From learning the routines and expectations to building relationships with your fellow staff, we’ll discuss how orientation sets the foundation for a successful summer and why the culture created before campers arrive matters so much.

Join us for the very first episode of The Camp Ember Podcast! Meet Tom from the UK and Brandon from Texas as we share how we met through summer camp, our first impressions of camp life, and the stories that started a lifelong friendship. We’ll explain why we created this podcast, what the Summer Camp Survival Guide series is all about, and what you can expect from future episodes. Whether you’re heading to camp for the first time or you’re a seasoned camp veteran, pull up a chair by the campfire and join the conversation as we start taking a spark and creating a flame.