A diverse staff team is a stronger staff team. Since 2020, camps have been more and more aware of their staff’s needs - particularly their pay, schedule flexibility, and the amount of burden they carry. But meanwhile, our staff have very similar additional needs as our campers do - and while we’re super patient and accommodating with our campers, we struggle with the balance and concept of accommodating our staff. We discuss this mental block we seem to have with Allison Krabill and Jordanna Grossinger, and it’s an excellent conversation that’s sure to make you see things a little bit differen ..read more

Increase your staff efficiency by maximizing your staff’s abilities. In today’s world of $4000 camp counselors, camps need to do everything possible to be efficient in how we staff our summer programs. We discuss this topic and more with Thomas Coffey from Southampton Day Camp, and the one and only Matt Kaufman from Camp Ramaquois. This topic transcends all camps, especially Sam’s municipal program, where it’s all about efficiencies. So kick back and enjoy it - THIS, IS THE DAY CAMP POD! - Do you read the show notes? Let us know - click the following link to receive 10% off a lifetime subscrip ..read more

Looking to appreciate and recognize your staff better? Come listen and learn from the best in the business! One of the best parts of attending the CODA and ACA National Conference is meeting super smart day camp pros from all over the country, and I am so happy that we can share the genius of Dave Boyle and Meaghan Springer from Camp Cristina, of the Tampa YMCA. These two are awesome, and geysers of knowledge which they are eager to share with us, especially in the realm of staff recognition and appreciation. So get your notepad out, and get comfy - THIS, IS THE DAY CAMP POD! - Do you read the ..read more

No one becomes a director overnight. Taking over an existing camp operation is no small feat, and today we’re joined by two seasoned, self-made camp professionals who have each had unique challenges. It’s a great podcast for anyone looking to one day become a day camp operator, as we also explore the challenges of just getting into the camp director pipeline. Prepare yourself, people - THIS, is the DAY CAMP POD! - 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 ..read more

Hiring parents as staff can be a double edged sword… There’s no better way to get adult staff to buy into your camp and your culture than to have their kids attending camp, and drinking your kool-aid. That said, there’s a lot of ins and outs, a lot of positives and a lot of negatives. And, it’s sort of a Day Camp thing - so let’s explore it with our guests Joe Smith, and Jay Milde. This, is the Day Camp Pod! - 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, cl ..read more

Do you know what keeps your campers coming back? Getting campers through the door and keeping them there is an art form of empathy, creativity, and execution. Today we speak with two experts in the field who have literally created a playbook that can be utilized and appreciated by day camp pros, young and old… THIS is the Day Camp Pod! - 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 ..read more

What’s the best way to ensure our staff keep coming back? Since the staff revolution of summer 2021, most camps have put more focus on the staff experience than ever before. If we’re being honest SOME focus, as opposed to hardly any, as most of us realize that we’ve been taking our workforce for granted. So, less stress, less burden, less responsibilities, with more pay, more support, more attention - AND STILL… It often doesn’t feel like enough. Gen Z Justin and Millenial Jack join us today to reframe the staff experience things from their perspective, and help us better understand what’s nee ..read more

When it comes to crisis, prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent. With all the crazy stuff going on in our country and the world, camp directors often have to become crisis managers. One of our friends, Dave Thoenson from Tamarack Day Camp outside of Chicago, joins us to debrief his experience from the Highland Park parade shooting in the Summer of 2022. We also welcome Joel Bennett who was at the parade with his family and saw the situation from the perspective as a camp parent and an ACA accreditation visitor. This, is the Day Camp Pod! This podcast discusses the incident and fallout of ..read more

What lessons can we learn from summer 2023? Summer 2023 is in the books, and we not only survived, but we thrived - very much like it’s 2019 again… Our super-thoughtful friend from the West Coast, Kelly Jones, joins us to talk about last summer, and we’ll try hard not to just talk about staff stuff, but that seems to be what people want to hear… THIS, is the Day Camp Pod. 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!) (cl ..read more

“Whoever needed help, Doug was there with his sleeves rolled up.” - Jay Jacobs Doug Pierce was a larger than life camp director and industry leader who set the standard for Day Camping, ACA volunteerism, positivity, and sharing. Doug passed away last April, to the shock of his friends and colleagues - as his omnipresent personality made him seem immortal. Now that we’ve had a few months to gather our thoughts, I wanted to have one of his friends and contemporaries - Jay Jacobs, come onto the pod and talk about one of the greatest guys that we ever will know, and a true day camp legend, Doug P ..read more