The CampHacker Podcast

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/03/camp-program-of-the-future-10 years from now, are you going to be proud of the program decisions that you made today?Last episode, we unpacked the types of programs that we think it’s time to say goodbye to.And because we all know how annoying it is to have people only give you problems and not solutions, that’s where this one comes in.Travis, Gabz and Chris are here to talk about not only the specific programs that they are excited to see in the future, but the intentionality that will need to go into them.Because it’s really hard to know what the world is going to look like 10 years ago. We’re recording this in 2023 and think about how different the world was in 2013! A smartphone, 4 major social media platforms and a pandemic later, and we could have never seen what was coming.Whether technology majorly changes or not, we know that it’s “people before programs” so making sure we have the right people and right philosophies around social-emotional learning is what’s going to really move the needle.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris - Get yourself a foam rollerGabz - Finch: Self Care Widget PetJoe - FUNdoing Fridays - Chris CalvertTravis - 5-Minute Fridays - Liz’s AI How To to make marketing writing better, Chris & Alyssa’s work on making a place for Neuro Divergent staff, Michael, Jorgi - all GCP-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 sponsor!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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/2023/02/camp-programs-let-goShould They Stay or Should They Go Now?Being a culture of change is essential for any camp that wants to be around for a long time.True camp pros know this, live this and breathe this, but even the best of the best can fall prey to the “way we’ve always done it”-itus.Camp programs.Sometimes, camp programs like our rituals, opening/closing ceremonies, activity areas, camp-wide events gain this “sacred” status that we hold onto for simply the idea of it.Consider this episode your wake-up call.Chris, Joe, Gabz and Travis put their heads together to call out and call in camp programs and rituals that they think need a good hard look at.As a preview - Chris is going to make you think differently about Color War.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris - Laptop Stand https://amzn.to/4022hy2Gabz - Image Colorizer https://imagecolorizer.com/Joe - Sullivans 36"x59" Gridded Cutting Mat for Home Hobby Table - Jo Ann FabricsTravis - Shade: trees, cooling stations, deep porches, picnic shelters-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 sponsor!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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/2023/02/motivation-morale-When it’s been a few months without staff or kids, how do you and your year-round team remind yourself why you do what you do?Please review us! - Click here!We tell our seasonal staff that a summer of camp is a marathon, not a sprint. But we know that we’re lying to them, right? Or at least relatively.Being a year-round camp pro is a marathon that lasts YEARS, with sprints embedded within it, just to keep us on our toes.With burnout being a hot topic for employees of every level, it’s important that we check in on each other. The whole gang’s here to share what they do day in and day out with themselves and their teams to stay connected with the “why” of their world.-Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorChris - Not Just Play: Summer Camp and the Profession of Social WorkGabz - Rode Videomic ME for smartphones https://amzn.to/3iUgsnSJoe - Book - 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet - Pamela Paul Travis - Pixton -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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/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.comFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/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/camphackerFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  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/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 soFree Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic: https://camp.mba/travisTake it once a month to see how all of your work is progressing.  Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis