The CampHacker Podcast

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/01/physical-mental-wellness-It’s not the same staff as 2010, so why are we treating their wellness like they are?We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - this is not the same staffing generation as it was pre-pandemic.We’re rebuilding so many of our principals and practices post-pandemic, so why not take a deep dive into how we can (and maybe can’t) better meet the mental and physical health needs of our staff team?It’s certainly not going to be easy. It will be tempting to go down the road of “well, we didn’t have it like this when I was a summer staff!?” - even when we know that’s not going to cut it anymore - but we owe it to this generation of staff to continue to make camp the kind of impactful place it was for us.Chris, Joe and Gabz are here to help. Listen in as each of these well-seasoned camp directors are being vulnerable and bold enough to be willing to go back to the drawing board in the name of meeting their camp staff where they are at.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris - Bamboo Plant  https://www.thespruce.com/growing-lucky-bamboo-1902994 & Shutterfly - https://www.shutterfly.com/ Gabz - Coursera - https://www.coursera.orgJoe - Center Cam - https://thecentercam.com/ | PowerToys (Windows) https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/XP89DCGQ3K6VLD-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Michael Brandwein, a renowned camp staff trainer and author, shares insights on rebuilding camp teams from the ground up. He emphasizes that the essence of memorable camp experiences lies in the dedication of staff, rather than just programs. The discussion covers the importance of fostering kindness and growth within teams, navigating changing dynamics of respect, and using innovative tools like AI for efficiency. Brandwein advocates for clear communication of goals and the essential training needed to create a cohesive, mission-driven camp culture.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/12/all-tows-Our favourite annual traditional…you know…besides camp!Look what’s back, back again, all TOWs back, tell a friend!Your good friends Chris, Gabz, Travis and Joe all share different “tools” that make their lives better in the categories…2 tools that positively affect your mental health2 books you read JUST FOR FUN2 gifts you’d recommend for every camp directorFind all of the TOWs and links at https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/12/all-tows -Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/12/jcamp180-is-supporting-jewish-camps-A vision for the future of summer camp support.What would it look like if organizations outside your camp understood the community-building power of summer camp?We know that camp builds connections that last forever, but telling that story to people outside of the camp world can be tricky - and it’s even more tricky to find outside financial resources to support the community mission.The work of JCamp180 is an incredible model for how advocacy and support can work on an industry level. Consulting, advocacy, grant-writing, and funding access - all things that JCamp180 has done to support Jewish Camping across North America.The rest of this industry LISTEN UP. The industry as a whole, does such a good job of sharing resources and collaboration, but especially when it comes to fundraising, we have this tendency to move into a scarcity mindset and try to do it all on our own.This model is a vision for us to zoom out and look at how the industry, as a whole, can thrive under a network of financial support and advocacy.Find out more about JCamp180 at https://jcamp180.org/ -Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorAri - Time BoxingSarah - 7-Minute Workouts - https://www.workoutinc.net/ Travis - LED Light strips - battery or plugin https://amzn.to/3EWezy4-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProSarah Eisinger, Director, JCamp180Ari Polsky, Consultant, JCamp180-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/11/next-summer-not-alone-It’s time to start thinking forward - buty make sure you’re not thinking alone!Shake off that rust.Last summer is over. It’s behind us.Yes, there are lingering emotions, program things to wrap up and reports to write, but it’s time to move on. With some relative certainty about what the summer of 2023 is going to look like after the shutdown phase of the pandemic, camps need to get back to the forward-thinking mindset that has helped us make it this far.As we do this, something else we need to move on from is the mentality that we have to think forward alone.The job of a camp director (even if they are part of a big year-round team) can be incredibly isolating and as we recover from the pandemic, it’s the perfect opportunity to think about how we can take the work that we do and spread it out a bit.It’s a good long-term solution for your mental health and the organizational health of your camp.Tune in to hear about how Gabz and Joe are moving forward and bringing others along for the ride.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorGabz - Maintenance Phase Every other Tuesday, Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon debunk the junk science behind health and wellness fads.Joe - Stream Deck - https://www.elgato.com/en/stream-deckTravis - The Conversationalist (thanks to past guest Ari Polsky) - Unify, Amplify, Gen Z, Sophie - camp counsellor https://www.instagram.com/theconversationalist/-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp OuareauRate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/11/mightiest-mess-ups-None of us are perfect. Come celebrate, and learn from our mistakes!We’ve all been there - so why not be there, together?The positive way to frame mistakes is of course, “these were just learning experiences”, but it sure doesn’t feel like that in the moment.We all process mistakes that we make differently. Some people hold onto it. Some immediately move to problem-solving but the true camp pros out there know how to own the suck, not repeat it and set others up for success.We’re grateful for the vulnerability that Gabz, Travis, Chris and Joe show in this episode by sharing about the small…and not so small screw-ups in their camping careers.Come commiserate with us in this episode!-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris: Take a trip, get outta your comfort zone!Gabz: The Future Of Writing… Jarvis aiTravis: Gauntlet Community Open Gaming WeekendJoe: Bar Keepers Friend - Cookware Powder Cleanser and Polish https://amzn.to/343ilasYour Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/10/debriefing-2022-Our summers may have been different, but the common thread is that our industry will never be the same again.If we ever needed something to teach us the lesson that “camp, like it was in 2019 isn’t coming back” the summer of 2022 was it.Holy moly folks.We hope that you’re doing okay.We know that not everyone is in the same boat, and who knows, maybe 2022 was your best summer yet (if it was…will you come on the Podcast and tell us about it?). But we all have to collectively shake our damn heads and realize that things have changed.PEOPLE, WE’RE THE PEOPLE THAT GAG WHEN SOMEONE SAYS “THIS IS THE WAY WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT”.Too dramatic? Maybe. Or maybe not.This summer 2022 debrief episode with Travis, Chris, Gabz and Joe gets a little bit spicy - but it’s for good reason. We need to keep asking questions, pushing each other and digging in on what our campers, families and staff need as we keep this industry alive.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris - You are Here - Thich Nhat HanhGabz - camp craft that actually looks good - Gnomes!Joe - CO2 Monitor Portable - https://aranet.com/products/aranet4/Travis - NotePD - https://notepd.com/invite/Travishttps://notepd.com/challenge/things-that-the-summer-camp-industry-needs-to-consider-for-a-sustainable-future-o01ei-Do you read the show notes? Let us know - click the following link to receive 10% off a lifetime subscription of Go Camp Pro's 5-Minute Fridays. (psst. Even if you don't buy anything, clicking this link will still help!)(click here - https://bit.ly/pod-notes-discount)Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Thanks to our sponsors!CamptivitiesScheduling is the backbone of every camper’s experience, but when there’s a staffing change, it’s almost impossible to fill that role with someone who knows all of the nuisance a schedule takes. Come check Camptivities out; specifically designed for camps by camp people. Find out more at camptivities.comUltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/06/why-society-doesnt-value-campWe NEED to tell our story.Coming out of this major phase of the pandemic is our industry’s biggest chance to prove our value. Period.We need to do everything we can to show the world that camp is more than a place with games, songs and friends. But how do we do that when there are still so many incorrect stereotypes about what we do?Travis, Joe and Chris share how they, along with many other pros are flipping the narrative and how YOU (yes you!) can get involved.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris: Buy a ChromebookJoe: Urgent Optimist - Mighty Network Group - see book - Imaginable - Institute for the FutureTravis:  Gestimer for Mac-Do you read the show notes? Let us know - click the following link to receive 10% off a lifetime subscription of Go Camp Pro's 5-Minute Fridays. (psst. Even if you don't buy anything, clicking this link will still help!)(click here - https://bit.ly/pod-notes-discount)-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!Crazy CreekCrazy Creek Products has been perfecting Just Sit There for campers and staff alike since 1987.  Mention this ad when you email or call in and receive 10% off your entire order and free single-colour logo on your Crazy Creek’s!  No tool is more vital at camp than a Crazy Creek!  Call 800-446-3446 or email Chelsea  chill@crazycreek.com to guarantee your chairs for the 2022 season!UltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/05/calling-camp-homeBecause what other “home” comes with a Gaga pit and 20+ dining hall tables?We know you’ve heard it. “Camp is my home away from home!” - some camps even go as far as saying “welcome home!” to everyone that drives up the camp road.Why does that happen?What is it about the summer camp experience that causes something in our brains that says “I’m home”.And what happens for the people that it doesn’t?Chris, Gabz, Joe and Travis get together for a great philosophical chat about what we do, and can do more of, to make that “home” experience for truly everyone that enters our program.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris: Codenames https://amzn.to/3xuf8gC, online codenamesGabz: Monday.com - Online Collaboration ToolJoe: Super MEGA Lucky Box - Board Game for all - and you can play soloTravis: Libro.fm   https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm210064-Do you read the show notes? Let us know - click the following link to receive 10% off a lifetime subscription of Go Camp Pro's 5-Minute Fridays. (psst. Even if you don't buy anything, clicking this link will still help!)(click here - https://bit.ly/pod-notes-discount)-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show(Thank you!)-Thanks to our sponsors!Crazy CreekCrazy Creek Products has been perfecting Just Sit There for campers and staff alike since 1987.  Mention this ad when you email or call in and receive 10% off your entire order and free single-colour logo on your Crazy Creek’s!  No tool is more vital at camp than a Crazy Creek!  Call 800-446-3446 or email Chelsea  chill@crazycreek.com to guarantee your chairs for the 2022 season!UltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2022/05/sending-campers-home-intentionIt may not happen often, but when you, unfortunately, have to send a camper home, you need to get it right.One of the unfortunate realities of being a camp professional is that it’s likely that eventually, a camper is going to have to go home early.Whether it’s because of a medical reason, or a behavioural one, a camper going home is never easy. It can send shockwaves not only to them and their parents/caregivers but to your entire camp community.That’s why it’s important that you don’t leave the “going home” process to chance and instincts.It’s a good thing that Kate Taylor has dropped in to share her stories and best practices with Travis, Joe and Chris! Tune in!-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris: Inclusive Conversations by Mary-Frances WintersJoe:  Creative Market - Free Downloads each weekKate: Avacado Freshness HackTravis: From Stressed to Resilient - Dr G - https://amzn.to/3tx25Z6-Do you read the show notes? Let us know - click the following link to receive 10% off a lifetime subscription of Go Camp Pro's 5-Minute Fridays. (psst. Even if you don't buy anything, clicking this link will still help!)(click here - https://bit.ly/pod-notes-discount)-Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce WilliamsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp OuareauKate Taylor, Camp Director, Camp Kanawana at The YMCAs of Québec-Rate and Review the CampHacker Show-Thanks to our sponsors!Crazy CreekCrazy Creek Products has been perfecting Just Sit There for campers and staff alike since 1987.  Mention this ad when you email or call in and receive 10% off your entire order and free single-colour logo on your Crazy Creek’s!  No tool is more vital at camp than a Crazy Creek!  Call 800-446-3446 or email Chelsea  chill@crazycreek.com to guarantee your chairs for the 2022 season!UltraCampWouldn’t it be refreshing if your registration software gave you MORE time? With UltraCamp, you can track attendance, manage staff applications, streamline registration, and much more. Get back the time you need to focus on what is really important: CAMP! Find out more at summercampsoftware.com/camphacker