Camp Code - Leadership & Staff Training Podcast for Camp Directors

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!The Camp Code team is proud to host upcoming ACA National keynote speaker Deborah Gilboa M.D., aka Dr. G, on the show to share her ideas on what parents are struggling with today and how camp can help. Dr. G. answers questions about how to make staff training great and get the behaviors out of our campers (and staff!) that we want. One of the best tips we picked up from Dr. G is that parents today often strive to keep their children happy always. However, for a child to be able to seek out his or her own happiness as they grow older, they must learn how to cope with setbacks and seek internal motivation and rewards on their own. Best Practice for Leadership Training Check out Dr. G's YouTube Channel for a parenting videos (uploaded every Monday) for tips on how to handle specific behaviors in your campers. These make for great content for your camp's social media, as well as training tools for your staff.       

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!The Camp Code team addresses what makes all-girl camp different and how to train your staff to embrace those differences to foster the best experience for participants. This is an episode for anyone who has females on staff, not just those in a single gender environment. Listen in for insights on exactly what it is that women want and how to empower your female leaders.      

Explore the importance of building a strong summer camp leadership team, cultivating and developing team members from within, and selecting leaders through personal connections. Set clear expectations for the team, find leaders with qualities like responsibility and problem-solving skills, and prioritize effective communication and being a role model. Discover best practices for leadership training and the value of self-reflection in camp leadership.

Planning and preparing for leadership training at a camp is crucial. Reflecting on previous training, getting buy-in from staff, and gathering resources are important steps. Asking staff for tips and tricks provides a foundation for training. Rest and rejuvenation, getting inspired, and debriefing previous summers are also important. The importance of organizing and resetting physical spaces and attending conferences for professional growth is emphasized.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App       

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!“That’s not the way we did it last year.” “The former director let us do this…” Whether you are a new director who is running the show for the first time or a veteran who just had a rough summer, how do you hit the ground running this summer towards positive change? A Best Practice for Leadership Training: Help your staff members to learn to arrive to training sessions on time by making the times memorable. Have your sessions begin at times like: 9:03, 10:47 or 2:18. If they still have trouble, take a page from Michael Brandwein and wait for the stragglers to arrive, calming and gently explain that you will all leave the room together and, in 2 minutes, all come in together to begin the session. Chances are, they will never be late again.      

Topics discussed include the importance of well-planned leadership training, learning staff names, different training programs and schedules, limiting free time and ensuring enough rest, effective session scheduling, designing intelligent leadership training, addressing cultural norms within camp staff groups, timing and communication in training sessions.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Because there are a couple of different strategies, because they are critical for accreditations, because yours could make or break you...because there is lots of room for creativity. A Best Practice for Leadership Training: “Wreck this Journal” is a book that has instructions for destroying it. Check it out and see how you can add this concept into your staff manuals. Here are the 1st three instructions in the book (1) carry this with you everywhere you go (2) follow instructions on every page and (3) order is not important.      

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Read more about Tom Heck (and Duct Tape Team building Games) at http://www.teachmeteamwork.com/      

The podcast discusses the challenges and importance of training returning staff at a camp, including strategies for engaging repeat leaders, benefits of repeating activities, setting expectations for facilitating training, and tips for training and supporting returning staff.