The Day Camp Pod - From Go Camp Pro

Send us a textWelcome back, Michael Brandwein!Your staff being able to work together may be one of the biggest keys to the success of your camp program.You can have the coolest activities and the best classes around, but if the staff running those areas don’t work well with your camp counsellors, you’re missing out on the full potential of those programs.It’s understandable why this can be a problem. Your specialists (activity leaders, program staff, etc.) are usually older and may not have as much camp-kid-experience. Your counsellors (group leaders, unit leaders, etc.) are younger and may not understand how they can jump in and properly assist when they don’t have the skills in those programs. When differing experiences and differing expectations meet, you know that it can be a recipe for trouble.It may manifest in the counsellors not taking the initiative the specialists are looking for, or the specialists treating the counsellors as a glorified babysitter. In any case, communications break down, people get bitter and it causes a big headache for Day Camp directors everywhere.However, like all staff conflict, it’s often something that we can get ahead of and address in your staff training before the summer even starts!Staff conflict? Intentional training? Hyper-specific camp problems that seem unsolvable? Are you thinking about who we’re thinking about?That’s right! He’s back, friends! Joining Sam, Andy and Ehren is the great Michael Brandwein!Tune in to this episode to hear some of Michael and our host’s best tips, tools and secrets that have helped them teach staff the benefits of truly valuing each other and using their combined skills to make camp programs the best they can be.Any questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEKAndy: Glow and Grow cards, with specialistsSam: Marble painting, but with toy trucks!Ehren: Specialty Activity BoardMichael: Follow Sam’s Advice!YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs ProjectEhren Gluckstein, Assistant Director - Camp Robin Hood - Robin Hood Leadership Centre & Corporate Rentals<

Send us a textLive from the Women In Camp Summit - 2019!The Women in Camp Summit was held in November of 2019. Female identifying camp professionals from across the industry joined together for three days of networking, discussion, and professional development designed specifically for those who identify as women working in or in support of summer camp.Our Day Camp Pod host, Sam Thompson put the call out and gathered some incredible women together for some interviews.Listen in to hear stories, words of wisdom and more from Peg Smith, Cat Curry, Jane Sanborn, Peggy Brothers and Lauren Somogyi.We'll be back with our regular episodes next Tuesday!-YOUR HOSTS:Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA IllinoisPeg Smith, Former ACA CEOCat Vaux Curry, Director of Latin 360Jane Sanborn, Author, Executive Director at Sanborn Western Camps/Colorado Outdoor Education CenterPeggy Brothers, Director of Camp Programs, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest IndianaLauren Somogyi, Camp Greene Wood, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Send us a textMeetings are important, and they don’t have to be painful!You may have read a ton of material about why meetings are killing businesses or are the worst thing since un-sliced bread. They’re useless, they’re boring, they’re a waste of time and they kill productivity.That’s not completely, wrong. Meetings CAN be that way, but they don’t have to be. When we have to have meetings, like we do at Day Camp, we should strive to make our meetings the best they can be.We don’t have staff constantly on email, slack or other digital communication tools. Things come up that can’t be covered in an email round-up at the beginning or end of the day. You may indeed need to cut down your amount of meetings, but for the ones that you need to keep, you should do it right.We’ve brought some big guns to help you make your meetings more memorable. Andy, Sam and Ehren are joined by THE Chris Thurber and THE Steve Maguire. Yeah, that’s right. Could you imagine a more stellar crew?Tune in to this episode to find out why meetings should…Have a purposeHave an agendaOnly cover what is relevant to everyone who is in the meetingNOT be run by a stressed-out Camp DirectorBe friendly, kind and conscienceRequire participants to have a pen and paperSwitch up the location, format and type (standing, moving, etc.)Sometimes have food, water or music as people are coming inBe communicated to people who can’t make the meeting (office staff, etc.)Do your meetings suck? Do they rock? Tell us about them! Let us know in the comments or send us an email to daycampquestions@gocamp.proAny questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEKAndy - Perfect attendance award for your staff - $10 convenience store gift card. Chance to win $100 at the end of the summerSam - Scatterball - Tune in to this episode to hear the rulesEhren - Supervisors sharing moments about how the other staff have made camp better - $10 Coffee Card as a RewardChris - Getting campers to help out with admin work! You can make it fun and also optional!Steve - Shout out to Dan O'Neil- A camp mascot for pick-up and drop-off!YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president

Send us a textAn insider look into 3 Non-Traditional Day CampsReview us on iTunes!How great are camp tours?Getting the inside scoop on how a fellow camp pro does their “thing” is an absolute blast.(Ps. there are tons of opportunities to be a volunteer accreditor for your local camping organization. Do tours AND help the industry!Getting to see “under the hood” isn’t just fun too, it helps us be our best. Even though all of our goals are the same, the nuances of how we get to those goals can always use some outside inspiration.Even more, when we look outside of the “traditional” way of doing things. To help you find some outside inspiration, Sam, Andy and Ehren are joined by 3 camp pros who are running some unique and awesome day camps. Tune into this episode to learn from Jeff Poole from Second City Improv, Chicago, from Annie Labus, Chicago Botanical Gardens and Scarlett Shankles, Honolulu Zoo Society Zoo Camp.Tune in to learn about:How each of these day camp programs runThe unique challenges that come with running camps in public spacesPro tips that could only come from people who are running unique programs like theirsStaffing, transportation, food, and all the usual Day Camp Pod goodness,Do you know any awesome camp programs that we should feature in a follow-up episode? Let us know in the comments or send us an email to daycampquestions@gocamp.proAny questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEKAndy: Drumming Programs at your camp - use Home Depot buckets for a low-budget optionEhren: Visual summaries of the day so that kids can remember and communicate what they did at camp that daySam: A “user-guide” for your leadership style. Give this to your leadership staff to fast track them getting to know you. (Thanks for this, Sam!)Jeff: Using popular or funny names to name kids groups or locations at your camp (ex. the kids at Second City are grouped into Second City alumni (the Colbert’s, the Martins, etc.)Annie: “Photographer” - Kids go in pairs and observe a nature activity quickly (like a camera), and then share it.Scarlett: “There’s always tomorrow” reminding staff that they can’t control what happens to them today but to start tomorrow with a clean slate.

Send us a textCamp begins when kids get on the bus!There are a lot of reasons why Sleepaway and Day camps are the same and 95% of our podcasts are chalked full of ideas that ANY camp director can take to improve their camp.However, this one is a shout out to every Day Camp Director’s biggest and most unique logistical headache:THE BUSSESWhether it’s 10 or 100 busses, Day Camp Pros know how much work goes into effectively getting to and from your camp. When you add the prefix bus- to any common camp term like staffing, logistics, hiring, training, programming, it opens up a WORLD of unique and wonderful challenges to address.Joining Ehren and Andy to get those bums on the bus effectively is Howard Thall from Banner Day Camp, Adam Wallach from Camp Mohawk, and a very special guest - Larry Bell from Camp Robin Hood.Tune in to hear more about:How Day Camp transportation has changed over the last 50 yearsHow do you grow transportation to accommodate more campers?Logistical tips (routes, pickup & drop off, communication, staffing)Bus ProgrammingPricing, surcharges and more!Do you have a question that we didn’t cover in this episode? Let us know in the comments or send us an email to daycampquestions@gocamp.proAny questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEKThe DCPTOFW (for short) will be back next week!YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president

Send us a text…Because it IS a business! Don’t get us wrong, camp is the best, most fun, amazing, happy-go-lucky place there is. It has to be that for the staff for the campers, but as a director, if you want your camp to be around of the long run, there’s a more serious side that you need to consider, and that’s the reality of the fact that your camp is a business.Let’s be clear, we’re not here to tell you that spreadsheets, budgets and financial statements are fun, but they are necessary. As our guest, Jonathan Gold says, “you don’t love putting gas in your car, but you sure need it!”Along with Jonathan are our regular hosts, Andy, Sam and Ehren to dive deep into taking care of business at your day camp.Tune into this episode to hear more about:Jonathan Gold’s camp origin storyJonathan’s camp pyramid of importance from cash flow at the base, all the way up to the easier day to day problemsHow to build a culture of financial prudency among other people that spend money at campThe changing landscape of the camping industry and their financial implicationsPractical steps for intentionally planning out your budget and managing cashflowEven more practical and important tips…Do you have a financial tip or question that we didn’t cover in this episode? Let us know in the comments or send us an email to daycampquestions@gocamp.proAny questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEKAndy - Homebase App for hourly employees. Tracking hours, reminders, notes for absences, and transferring it to payroll.Sam - “Funraising” game - Penny Wars. (You’ll have to listen to this episode to get it)Ehren - Giving out “fake” money to the staff for shout-outs, buying special snacks or privileges. You can also use them to purchase some program equipment. You can call them “Gluck Bucks” if you want.YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder <

Send us a textConquering the dreaded 6th Week Slump“HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED”.That’s a little bit like how we treat that time mid-way through the summer when things start to drag. You know it when you see it though. The staff start to feel the long days, you are getting tired of the same issue coming up over and over, grumpiness can prevail and the magic of camp loses a little bit of that shine.You know what, JUST SAY IT! It’s the 6th Week Slump! It happens, people!If we don’t talk about it, how will we ever address the underlying causes, the effect that it has on morale and how it can burn even the best camp staff out?After all, the campers deserve your best all summer long. They need your staff to always be at their best and that means you as a director need to effectively prepare for the potential (inevitability) that this mid-summer-blues will rear it’s ugly head.Now, on a quest to conquer something HUGE like this, you need a team of companions on your side - and we brought out the big guns on this episode! Ehren, Sam and Andy are joined by the brilliant and legendary Steve Magure from Go Turnstone.Tune in to hear more about:Steve Maguire’s camp origin storyWhat is the 6th Week Slump? Where does it come from?Why does the 6th Week Slump happen to Day Camps all over North America?What are some things we can do to prepare ourselves or even prevent the slump from happening?If and when it does happen? What can we do to be resilient mid-summer?And much more!Any questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proTHE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEK WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK!YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs ProjectEhren Gluckstein, Assistant Director - Camp Robin Hood - Robin Hood Leadership Centre & Corporate Rentals, Volunteer Ontario Camps Association (OCA) annual conference/accreditation visitorSam Thompson, Recreation Su

Send us a textThe Spirit of Overnight Camp…at Day Camp! (Again!)You asked for it and it’s here!We’re throwing it all the way back to episode 1 of the Day Camp Pod to re-hash one of our most popular topics from the first season.(Episode 1 - Here)Our friends from the sleep away camp industry have an amazing thing going for them. Having a kid stay overnight and be fully immersed into the culture and rituals makes it so much easier to get them to buy in and love camp.We may not have the overnight privilege, but it’s no excuse for making the camp experience anything less than magical for your day campers.Well… it’s a good thing our industry is built on sharing because within the traditional overnight camp experience are things that your Day Camp can implement very easily!To give you some inspiration, Ehren, Sam and Andy are joined by 3, Sleep Away Camp turned Day Camp Pros! We’re excited to have Jaime and Dane Pickles from Everwood Day Camp and Eric “Shendy” Shendelman from Shendy’s Swim School join us and share their many years of both overnight and day camp knowledge.Tune in to hear more about:The Pickle’s and Shendy’s Camp Origin StoriesWhat exactly is the “sleepaway camp spirit” and how can you bring that to your camp?What are the specific ideas that are cost-effective and easy to implement to give your campers an extraordinary day camp experience?What do you do during staff training to get your staff to buy-in to the spirit?And more!Any questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proDAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEK!Andy: Moustache Day!Sam: Pinterest - For crafts, program ideas and wayyyyy more!Ehren: Gottcha game at staff trainingThe Pickles: Minute to Win It GamesShendy: Milk Carton BowlingYOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs ProjectEhren Gluckstein, Assistant Director - Camp Robin Hood - Robin Hood Leadership Centre & Corporate Rentals

Send us a textA Day Camp Pod Interview with Audrey Monke Sometimes, when comes to selling our camp, we shoot ourselves in the foot. We’re just a little bit too humble. We either don’t want to be too “pushy” or aggressive and we end up undervaluing what we do.Hello!? We change lives! We give kids the type of community experience that they don’t get ANYWHERE ELSE. You are great, we are great and we need to get those 80% of kids who don’t go to camp, to camp!You should be shouting it from a milk-crate on the street corner. Except this is 2019 and there are many virtual street corners that you need to be on.To help you find, and speak from your milk-crate, The Day Camp Pod is joined by Chief Visionary Officer and Gold Arrow Camp, Author, Blogger, Brand Manager and mom, Audrey Monke.Audrey Monke is the brains behind Sunshine Parenting and the author of Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets from Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. She joins Andy, Sam and Ehren to talk about:Audrey’s camp origin storyHow Audrey used her love of summer camp and entrepreneurial spirit to create Sunshine ParentingHow to use email newsletters, podcasting and blogging to become your community’s expert on children and youthHow to capture the attention of your key decision makers: ParentsAnd more!Any questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.proDAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEK!Andy: Teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to your campers, as young at 5 years old!Sam: Cheese Ball Relay (see pictures below)Ehren: PlaymeoAudrey: 5 Things Game & Home-made question ball - All you need is a marker, questions, and a beach ball!YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs Project

Send us a textBring up the bad, bring up the good, make next summer better. No matter what time of year it is, if you haven’t intentionally looked back on your past summer season, you need to.There’s nothing worse than a problem that keeps coming up, summer after summer. You say to yourself, “didn’t we talk about this!?”. Well, did you?This type of review can be something that can be looked on lightly, or dismissed for putting more effort into marketing for the following season. However, in your marketing, you’re promising this this upcoming summer is going to be the best one yet, right? Well then what better way to commit to improving your program than to hash it out while it’s fresh in your mind?Whether it’s a CPR (Complete Program Review), Glitch List Review, Better Board, summer reports, or Go Camp Pro’s Back on TRACK review, a tried and true system for making the bad good and the good better, is essential for making things better for the future of your program.For hashing out the best review systems, Andy and Sam are joined by Will Pierce from Pierce County Day Camps and Howie Grossinger from Camp Robinhood. Tune in to hear more about:Ready to use systems for debriefing your summer in October and NovemberThe do’s and don’ts when it comes to running the debrief meetings effectivelyHow to leverage the knowledge of staff of every level through meetings and reportsHow to take what comes up in the feedback and keep people accountable for the changes that need to be madeAnd more!How do you effectively debrief your summer? Let us know in the comments! And, if you have any questions, send us an email at daycampquestions@gocamp.pro DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEK!Andy: Giant SlideSam: Electric Current ContestHowie:  Running the campers around site to give high 5’s to all staff (ESPECIALLY the office & maintenance staff)Will: Colour Run YOUR HOSTS:Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs ProjectSam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA IllinoisWill Pierce, 4th Generation Owner/Director -