First Class Counselors

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/working-with-pandemic-kids A preview of the camper behaviour you’ll see this summer, from some firsthand experience. This episode is for the first summer you are back to in-person programming after/during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Matt and Oliver are here to share their e...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/avengers-camp-games If The Avengers took part in Color Games…who would win? We’re here to answer the big questions. This episode, we team up with William Glasser and the Substantiate Podcast to take our teams of Avengers and put them to the test in some unique Color Gam...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/supporting-new-staff Every year you come back to camp, it becomes less and less about yourself. Here’s how to support the newbies! We have a 2 for 1 episode for you! First up, we bring you an exclusive interview with one of the newest and youngest Executive directors of...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/fill-5-minutes Every moment is precious at camp…even those 5 minutes before you go into a meal! 10 ways to spend 5 minutes with your campers. You need these as a counselor. The days are structured but there will forever be break times and they are vitally important to c...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/6-camp-myths Don’t listen to the movies - working at Summer Camp is nothing like it - it’s much more real, and much better! The mythos of camp is one filled with legends and mystery. While much of it falls in the realms of you just need to be there to understand or it’s...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/better-camp-programmer Every camp counselor is, or will be, a programmer someday. No matter how basic your session is, there are a few things that you can do to make them the best they can be Programs.  At most camps you are going to end up leading a program. It could b...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/camper-friendly-language A camp counselor’s words can change a child’s life. Here’s how to handle that incredible responsibility with care, grace, and skill. You are a hero to your campers. Whether you like it or not, those kids are going to think you’re the coolest thi...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at:  https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/humble-brags-2020 Let’s purposefully reflect on 2020 and prepare for the year ahead. We’re posting this as 2020 comes to a close. If you’re viewing this from the future, congrats, you’re still here! 2020 was a weird year, but COVID certainly didn’t stop the learning, g...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/10-counsellor-jobs Camp Couneslors do whatever needs to be done to give campers the best summer camp experience they can. “Other duties as required”. It's a short sentence at the end of a job description that means an awful lot. Today we are going to share some of...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at:  https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/ally-to-women It’s time for the men of the camping industry to step up, step down, and better support our women colleagues in camp. The camp industry, as a whole, participates in structural inequality. Period. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of believing that becau...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find more at https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/camp-counselor-financials Should you spend your own money on camp stuff? No. Well…sometimes…well…okay, just listen to this episode! This one has been a bee in our bonnet for a long time. Camp counselors make so little money, but often spend so much of it on things they use at camp and we’re...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/blog/women-of-gcp-podcast What do you call it when you gather a bunch of female camp and podcasting pros in a room? You call it AWESOME. In today’s special crossover episode, Beth Allison from Camp Code hosts a conversation with several of the women who podcast with Go Camp Pro. Today’s episode f...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/sensational-stories Being able to spin a great story: A skill for every First Class Counselor to learn. Joe Richards, Camp Director, Podcaster and Storytelling Wizard is here to teach you how. Telling a great story is much more than sitting down on a stump, shining a fla...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/6-essential-skills If you can master these 6 skills, you’re probably a First Class Counselor! Let's cut to the chase. These 6 skills are absolutely essential for a camp counselor to have. In this episode, Oliver and Matt break down the skills and how you can work o...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/wonder-and-magic With this skill, First Class Counselors create an extraordinary world to welcome campers into! Let’s make it magical! Do you ever wonder why some counselors are next level, you could almost say first class?  How do they create wondrous moments and stori...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find links and show notes at https://gocamp.pro/fcc You’re back to school and we’re back to Podcasting. Welcome to First Class Counselors Season 3! It’s so great to be back. Now we’re excited to be back to the podcast…but you may not be so excited about being back to school. We get it and we hear you. So in our mission to keep talking about the thin...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Thanks for the season, friends! Let’s recap and set some goals for whenever your next summer at camp will be. Welcome to the season finale of season 2 of First Class Counsellors!  At the end of every summer, it’s important that you, as a counselor take some time to reflect on the many lessons that you learned from the summer.  It’s equally important...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! First Class Counsellors show their maturity when they are able to receive and follow through on feedback. Here’s how to do it. Welcome to episode 20 of First Class Counsellors!  Feedback. As a counselor you get a lot of feedback. Most of it is typically tough to hear or difficult to adapt to.  You are ultimately responsible for your behaviour and th...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Learning how to be a great co-counselor will be one of the most important life skills you take away from camp. Here’s how to do it. Welcome to episode 19 of First Class Counsellors!  One of the best parts about camp is that we get to live and work with people that can become our nearest and dearest friends .  However, to get to that point, you have...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Being a great, active, engaged supervisor is what really sets a First Class Counselor apart. Here’s how to do it. Welcome to episode 18 of First Class Counselors!  When you hear the word “supervise” it may conjure up a picture of a parent sitting on a park bench watching their kid play on a jungle gym. Let’s get this straight. That is NOT what we’re...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Be the cleanest (and the coolest!) counsellor this summer! Welcome to episode 17 of First Class Counsellors!  This episode was recorded in mid-March, 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought that it would be the right time to address something that will definitely be useful this coming summer and every summer after it. Camp is a dirty...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! *Please note: First Class Counsellors is moving to it's own Podcast feed. The next episode, releasing on March 26th will not be in this feed. Look for First Class counsellors is your favourite Podcast App and subscribe there! * How to make the type of friends that will be in your wedding party - at camp! Welcome to episode 16 of First Class Cou...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Every all-star camp staff we know is an excellent initiative-taker. Here’s how to learn it, and do it.  Welcome to episode 15 of First Class Counsellors! A raised hand. Someone picking up garbage. A voice, calling out in the darkness, “what else can I do?”. A Camp Director’s dream! How have we not talked about this yet!? There may not be any studies...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Being the “cool” counsellor really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be… Welcome to episode 14 of First Class Counsellors! One of the best things about producing a podcast is when you get to hear from your listeners. Even if it’s just a “hey, thanks!”, it really is appreciated to hear someone “talk” back after hours of us talking into our unresponsive mi...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Cleaning your cabin with campers. It doesn’t need to be as painful and boring as it usually is! Welcome to episode 13 of First Class Counsellors! Don’t you hate it when you watch people litter? Or how about when people leave their shopping cart in the middle of the lot? It probably makes you think, “dang, I bet that person didn’t go to summer camp!”...