Camp Code - Leadership & Staff Training Podcast for Camp Directors

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://www.camphacker.tv/camp-code/volunteer-training-management-with-matt-wilfridVolunteer Training Management - with Matt Wilfrid-In this podcast episode with guest Matt Wilfrid, we spotlight Campfire Circle, an Ontario-based organization supporting families and children facing serious illnesses. Campfire Circle’s extraordinary volunteer program, led by volunteers aged 19 to 90, is central to their success. These volunteers contribute their time and skills to diverse roles, from the Toronto office to community programs and overnight camps, totaling over 135,000 hours of support. The organization’s training and ongoing support are tailored to each volunteer’s unique needs. Campfire Circle’s volunteer program is a shining example of the transformative power of community-driven, intrinsic motivation.- We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Matt Wilfrid-Take advantage of offsite events during staff training. Ideas can include mini golf or hiking, as long as its offsite to break the cycle that takes place off camp. What’s even better is going to these offsite events with intention. In Matt’s example, before they left for minigolf, they had their staff divide into four categories based on skill. Allow your staff to put themselves into their own group to allow them to set their own expectations going into the event. Put intention into your offsites to help include all your staff.Special Guest:Matt Wilfrid, Summer Camp Professional, Executive Producer and Consultant at Go Camp Pro-Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://www.camphacker.tv/camp-code/creating-productive-transitions-when-employees-leave-or-you-leaveCreating Productive Transitions When Employees Leave or You Leave - with Colette Marquardt-In the world of Summer Camp, staff members come and go every year.  How can we make these transitions both positive and productive.  Join us and our guest, Colette Marquardt, Executive Director of ACA Illinois, to find out!- We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Colette Marquardt-As a Director, always be IN the training. Do your best to remain engaged as it allows you to role model what your expect of your staff throughout the summer. Build your staff training around your schedule, to ensure you do not miss key leaning opportunities. Special Guest:Colette Marquardt , Chief Executive Officer, American Camp Association-Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://www.camphacker.tv/camp-code/post-pandemic-parentsParents, Caregivers, Camper’s, Grownups, How Have THEY changed since the pandemic?Just as our campers have undergone a serious shift post-pandemic, so too have the caregivers.We’re back to pick Gabz’s brain to hear more about the summer of 2024 at Camp Ouareau and how she’s looking to 2024 with a new lens.If you missed part 1 - check it out here: https://www.camphacker.tv/camp-code/kids-these-days Whether your summer felt like a success or not - these episodes will help you not only hear the raw honesty of a fellow camp director, but will help you start thinking about what you can do now to make summer 2024 excellent.-We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Beth AllisonA good mindset to have (especially with parents) - that difficult people all have a story. Stop seeing parents as an issue to deal with and start seeing them as people to fight for.-Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Thanks to our sponsor…UltraCampImagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/campcode.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://www.camphacker.tv/camp-code/kids-these-daysCan you really prepare for post-pandemic children?To kick off season 11 of Camp Code, Beth and Gabz take the time to debrief the summer at Ouareau. Part one will focus on the campers - what Gabz and her team did to meet the needs of campers (and the staff) and be successful.Whether your summer felt like a success or not - these episodes will help you not only hear the raw honesty of a fellow camp director, but will help you start thinking about what you can do now to make summer 2024 excellent.Tune in to hear about the changes Gabz made to leadership training in 2023 to be able to better support campers and how did she have to pivot once campers arrived and she was met with their needs?-We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Gabrielle RaillAlso a brother-sister tip! If you have access to a freezer, get some fun ice-cube molds! It’s a fun and silly way to add some joy and take care of people. Who doesn’t love some a cool-burst in their water-bottle!-Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-Thanks to our sponsor…UltraCampImagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagement.com/campcode.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campcode/creating-spaces-of-belongingCreating Spaces of Belonging - with Chris Rehs-DupinWe’re always working to understand how belonging can be transformative in our spaces and our world. Today we chat with Chris Rehs Dupin of Transplaining for camps to help us, as we work to build inclusive practices that will create spaces of belonging for campers and staff of all gender identities and sexualities. - We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Chris Rehs-Dupin-Leadership training starts WAY before the actual leadership training. It begins and continues with our experiences. One thing we’ve built at Camp Reimagined is a document that has very specific culture interview questions to ensure the people we interview have a deep understanding of our culture. The goal is to ensure our staff have some of the skills and understand some of the language we use. Every interview we do, has the same five culture questions to demonstrate our value for equity and justice.Special Guest:Chris Rhys Dupin, Executive Director of Camp Reimagined and founder of Transplaining for Camps -Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campcode/its-all-about-researchIt’s All About Research - with Mandi BakerWhat we do is incredibly important, WE know that and YOU know that, but how do we make sure that everyone else around us knows that? We back it up with research! Join us today with Mandi Baker as we interview one of the leading researchers in the industry. - We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Mandi Baker-Camp employment is super useful for developing social and emotional skills (affection abilities). Camp employment also prepares people for real life, keep in mind that camp is a place for people to experience and deal with real life problems. Summer camp creates a safe place for people to work through complex problems. Be mindful of social and emotional skills that your staff are developing continuously throughout the summer. Think about how to show people how they overcame a challenge and tie in how to do even better next time. Special Guest:Mandi Baker, Passionate Researcher at Torrens University -Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/camp-code/getting-myself-in-the-right-head-space-right-nowGetting Myself in the Right Head Space Right NowWe all know the excitement, anticipation, stress, anxiety, joy, eagerness, and all the other range of emotions that directors feel this time of year.  As we head into the wrap up of our podcast season, we wanted to be sure to include, as one of our last few episodes, a few ideas to get all of you in the right head and heart space, so listen in today to help prepare for the adventure ahead. - We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Gabrielle-A friend of mine made me a care package last summer that was something I could carry with me all summer long. This fanny pack was curated with my favourite pens and notebooks. Then my friend filled the fanny pack with “other stuff”, which my friend described to me as to be used when campers or staff need something from you. This “other stuff” included cheap pens, hair elastics, band aids, hand sanitizer, friendship bracelets and cue cards. This kit of supplies that I could use to help staff or campers, it makes you feel good for helping people and it helps manage your own stress levels when you know you have what you need to help make camp successful!-Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/camp-code/what-if-my-staff-hate-meWhat If My Staff Hate Me?We spend our entire careers caring for people, building community with our staff, and working incredibly closely with a wide variety of personalities.  We do all that we can to make everyone feel welcome and a part of our team but what happens if you begin to feel that someone just doesn’t like you?  We know it seems ridiculous since you are all amazing camp folks but…it happens.  What can we do about it? Listen in to find out!-We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Ruby-Be the best boss that your staff have ever had. How hard can that be? Be honest and upfront with your team that there are times throughout the summer that your staff may be upset or angry with you and that is okay. Describe to your staff that every decision you make is for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of camp as a business. Sometimes that means your staff will have to do stuff that they don’t necessarily want to do, because you are the boss. -Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/camp-code/staffaccountabilityAccountability For Your Camp ExperienceBeing accountable for our words and actions is a life skill, and it’s ongoing. How do we best prepare and mentor our staff to be accountable for all they do throughout the summer? We all know the basics: setting expectations and setting boundaries. In this episode we dive in to help you to have tools (or enable YOU to be accountable) for teaching accountability.Episode ResourcesFish PhilosophyAlliance for Camp Health-We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Beth-After teaching camp staff a topic, ask for their input. Then, ask them what happens when folks don’t practice <insert the topic/skill that was taught during the session here>. For example, Beth ran a session with staff called “Wherever you are, be all there.” During that session, Beth wrote the following phrase on a whiteboard and asked staff to fill in the blank:Own your own ________.Staff responded with answers like mistakes, space, attitude, health, drama, conflict, laundry. After, I put groups in to small discussion groups and asked “What happens when you don’t own your _______.”After some time, bring the group back together and ask “What falls apart when people don’t own their stuff.” Finally, I asked “How does this make you feel” and ask staff to reflect on issues and discuss how to avoid the pitfalls that the groups came up with. -Your Hosts:Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau-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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/camp-code/staffstaminaStaff Stamina - Camp Code #120We have been hearing across the industry that summer staff don’t seem to be quite as “in-shape” as they used to be – that is that perhaps they don’t have the stamina to make it through the physical and emotional labor of the summer. Let’s talk about the training they need to get pumped to do their personal best.Resourceful ReadsChris Bailey - The Productivity ProjectGretchen Ruben - The Four Tendencies-We hope you love this episode of Camp Code! If you do, please consider subscribing to the show, and leaving us a rating in your Podcast app. It’s SO easy, just head to https://ratethispodcast.com/campcode-Best Practice for Leadership TrainingFrom Ruby-With Ruby’s experience in outdoors training, often they speak about the five ways that a body loses heat. There’s a simple metaphor when translating body heat to employee stamina. For today’s best practice, we’re going to explore the metaphor of a body losing heat with a body losing energy. How do we lose heat/energy?-Radiation – Heat lost from exposed skin - Exposure from vulnerabilityConvection – Heat lost from wind displacing a layer of warm air near your skin  - Camp and community environments are draining and will pull energy from you. Evaporation – Heat lost when the body loses water from sweating - Working hardConduction – Heat lost though contact with a colder object such as cold floors or ground - giving & maintaining other people’s energyRespiration – Heat lost from breathing cold air - lost energy through maintaining the status quo. Once discussed and shared with the team, have your staff discuss how to insulate their energy loss. Your Hosts:Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp OuareauBeth Allison, Camp Consultant - GoCamp.ProRuby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby OutdoorsThanks 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 ultracampmanagement.com/campcode/