First Class Counselors

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/first-impressions-campers - What to do the first time you’re alone with campers… It’s arguably the most stressful time in a camp counsellor’s life. It’s the first day of camp, the caregivers have just left and it’s now just you and the campers. As 10 sets of eyes stare...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/60-second-games - Have 60 seconds? Here are 8 awesome games you can play with campers! Do you need a minute?  How about a short quick way to play a game that makes a “meh” moment a “Yay!” Moment. It’s episode 60, so we’re talking 60 seconds or less to play a game or add...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/you-and-your-phone-at-summer-camp- - No phone, no problem! Maybe? The modern world has always tried to make its way into camp. That’s because camp is meant to be a refuge from the world’s pressures.   In the 90s and early 2000s, many camps even introduced coding. But th...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/how-to-kindly-raise-gritty-campers You don’t have to sacrifice care and support in order to promote grit! Perhaps you have heard of Angela Ducksworth’s book  “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” Or if you have been in the camp conference circuit awhile and the...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/our-biggest-baddest-blunders It’s not if you’ll make a mistake…it’s when you’ll make one. We all make mistakes, but the best part about making them at camp is that you are in one of the most supportive work environments ever. Making mistakes is how you know that you’ve...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/taking-camp-home - Welcome to Season 5 of First Class Counselors! Summer is over and you have scrolled through your gallery a bunch remembering how much fun you had.  Camp offered a lot - fun, food, friends. But it also taught you a lot and equip you for life after camp...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/6-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-prepare-for-the-summer Summer is coming…here’s what every First Class Counselor should be doing to prepare! If you’re listening to this podcast in real-time, then we are in the home stretch. Camp is coming and you can’t stop it now! This...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/self-evaluations Being able to do this truly separates the counselors, and the First Class Counselors! One of the best parts about working at camp is the incredibly dynamic skill-set that you leave the job with. Not only do you gain super-human skills when it comes to w...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/be-your-directors-best-counselor You heard it from the pros…now here’s how to be the best they've ever seen. If you missed the last episode, you’ll want to listen to it before this one. Listen here: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/your-directors-best-...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/your-directors-best-counselor Straight from the horse’s…er…camp director’s mouth! It’s a special episode of First Class Counselors. Oliver and many of our Go Camp Pro Podcast hosts are at the Tri-State Camp Conference, so we thought we’d use that time to our advantage....

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/ages-and-stages-2 The kings, queens and royalty of sass. These campers need a little bit of extra patience and love. Last episode, we introduced the emotional, physical and mental triangle of care and how it informs how counselors work with 5-11 years old at camp. This...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/ages-and-stages-1 How to understand, play with and take care of the delightful wee ones at camp. 97.2% of camps in North America run an “ages and stages” session during their staff training. Ok, we made that number up, but what ISN’T made up is the fact that it’s one of...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/ace-your-next-interview Do you ever wish you could get inside the head of the person interviewing you? Well wish no more! It’s interview season for many camps! Around the world, camp counselors are preparing to share why they are the right fit for a camp position this s...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/international-counselor-experience Whether you’re an international staff member or welcoming an international staff to your camp this summer, this episode is for you! Did you know that in a normal year, there are over 20,000 international camp staff members that come to...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/taking-campers-on-trip-101 Tripping is in-tents! Here’s how to be a First Class Counselor on trip! A big event for many camps is the Overnight, the camp out, the out trip. It has many names but is the night where your campers and you are out of the cabin and in some cap...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/pandemic-practical-skills The pandemic has taught us some important lessons…here’s how to apply that learning to camp (and how to talk about it in a job interview!) Since the beginning of the pandemic, have you… Had to wait in a super-long line? Be hyper-aware of how ri...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/intention-in-camp-day-pt2 You’ve rested up from siesta, now how are you going to crush the rest of the camp day? Missed part 1? Check it out here: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/intention-in-camp-day This is part 2 of Oliver and Matt going through the Cam...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/intention-in-camp-day From the rising of the sun to rest hour - here’s how to absolutely rock a camp day. Every day at camp is a new opportunity. An opportunity to connect, an opportunity to have fun, or an opportunity to change a camper’s life forever. However, it can...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/make-a-cabin-home Home is where the bunk is…at least it is at camp! For nearly 8 weeks a small converted shed will be your place of residency. For many camps a cabin is a room with just bunks. Sometimes you are lucky to have walls and those with a bathroom could be cons...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/cabin-bonding-ideas Camp friendships last a lifetime - here’s how to help your campers make them! Counselors know how strong that camp friendships are. But do you remember way back when you were a camper? Do you remember your first camp friend? Chances are, your counsel...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/wild-weather Rain or (extreme) shine, it’s First Class Counselor Time! What a gift the rain is. Many kids are growing up to learn that the moment it starts raining, that outdoor playtime is over. At camp, we have the opportunity to flip the script, and through our examp...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/reflect-on-last-summer Lots of learning from Season 3 of First Class Counselors! Here’s what will help you MOST for this coming summer! Welcome back to another season of First Class Counselors! We’re starting this season off where the summer of 2021 ended. For some camp...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/lessons-from-season-3 Lots of learning from Season 3 of First Class Counselors! Here’s what will help you MOST for this coming summer! And what a season it’s been! We’ve covered everything from camp counsellor financial decisions to essential skills, with some good ol’...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/expectations-covid-times Here’s the inside scoop on what being a counselor is like at camp is going to be like during the COVID-19 pandemic Today we’re speaking to counsellors who will be working at camp during a global pandemic.  That’s right DURING! COVID isn’t over j...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/8-Mistakes Let’s pre-learn from our pre-mistakes. No, seriously. We all make mistakes. It’s okay. In fact, camp is built to make sure people can make mistakes to learn and grow from. As a community that fosters growth, it is like a petri dish of mistakes. And like Flemi...