Camp Code - Leadership & Staff Training Podcast for Camp Directors

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!In a world where exclusion can quickly become a theme, camp professionals are remarkably good at creating a safe space where campers and staff can feel empowered to find themselves and be themselves. I think we can all agree that the world would be a different place if every child went to camp and learned how to co-exist with the community around them. Listed below are some resources mentioned during the podcast for leading sessions to promote an inclusive community. Connectability.ca Trainingforchange.org teampedia.net University of Michigan Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Best Practice for Leadership Training This episode's best practice comes not as a practice, rather more of a quote. Thanks to Maggie Howe from Gwynn Valley, she shared the insight that "The stronger an organization's culture is, the more exclusive they may become." Consider this idea as you integrate gaining buy-in from staff and campers and celebrating diversity. Camp can change the world and being welcoming to all is a place where we can really raise the bar.       Measure twice! Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis. Stop flying blind: Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis.

Learn strategies for training employees who have more knowledge and experience, including being intentional, building relationships, and offering teachable moments. Discover how to empower staff with superior skills by building relationships, understanding their role, and enabling their unique knowledge. Explore effective training tools and key concepts for staff empowerment. Plus, get involved with the podcast and learn how to promote a culture of learning and growth during staff orientation.

Explore innovative ideas for staff training in the camp industry, including overnight camping to build teamwork, reflective activities for belonging, and accountability frameworks. Learn about enhancing resilience through a pyramid model, language learning for diverse campers, and supporting employee personal projects for organizational growth.

Travis Allison, director of GoCamp Pro and a veteran in the camping world, joins the discussion on essential training for new camp directors. He emphasizes the importance of building a solid support system, including mentors and honest feedback sources. The conversation dives into crucial resources like emotional and physical safety training, networking, and the significance of community integration. Listeners also learn about how GoCamp Pro can enhance leadership skills, making transitions smoother for newcomers stepping into their roles.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!If you work in camp long enough, you will either watch a long-time staff member (director, year-round staff member, long-time seasonal staff member) leave or you, yourself, will opt for something different from #campdirectorlife. While camp directors tend to be the types to be inclined to keep this kind of news on the extreme DL, it is imperative to the health of your camp community that you create space and time for campers, their families, and staff to say goodbye. Best Practice for Leadership Training Write all of your teambuilding and group games on individual notecards (1 game per card). Divide them by type (Examples: icebreaker, active, large group, easy initiative, fixed elements). Grab an index card box and organize all of your games in the box with the appropriate labels. When it comes time to design a program, just pull out the cards you need for the day. You may want to number them too so it's easy to get them back in place! (HT to Travis for this best practice!)      Measure twice! Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis. Stop flying blind: Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Puzzled by why you can't seem to find the right staff each summer? Perhaps it is because of the wording, structure, and requirements of your staff application. Gab, Beth, and Ruby discuss the must-dos (and a few must-don'ts) to help you start your staff training before your people are even hired. Best Practice for Leadership Training Is there a way to add a creative element to your staff application so folks with a wide variety of talents can exhibit their strengths? Have you thought about sharing your expectations for a job at your program via video, podcast, or original song? Using visual tools and letting applicants hear from you and other people really sets the tone for community building and gets the expectations across in your tone.      Measure twice! Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis. Stop flying blind: Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!As camp people, we sometimes find ourselves looking around thinking "Universe, what else could you possible throw at me?" and sometimes that all happens before 9 AM. Some summers are just like that and often it is due to circumstances totally out of your control. This episode will talk about how to heal and recover from the "perfect storm" summer and how to lead your team when it feels like very little went right. Best Practice for Leadership Training Build a relationship with a local mediation organization. Face it, in camping, we are in the relationship business and sometimes an objective ear and voice can be the key to working through conflicts. Often these organizations may be able to provide training for your year-round and seasonal staff as well.      Measure twice! Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis. Stop flying blind: Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!      Measure twice! Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis. Stop flying blind: Take your free Resilient Camp Blueprint Diagnostic at https://camp.mba/travis.

This podcast discusses the importance of staff training and shares a checklist for preparing staff for camp. It covers topics such as dividing staff training, utilizing a staff board for welcoming, creating and assigning groups, acknowledging staff accomplishments, reaching out for help and delegating tasks, and the benefits of mid-summer staff training.

The podcast discusses strategies for engaging return staff during training, such as using language change techniques and involving them in teaching sessions. They emphasize the importance of clear communication and supporting return staff. The hosts also highlight the significance of leadership classes and involving return staff in marketing the camp. They encourage listeners to engage with the show and share leadership training tips. The program area fair during staff training is discussed as a way to showcase different programs and build excitement for the summer.