The CampHacker Podcast

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/camp-2035 How are you doing at pushing past the overwhelm and considering the big picture? If you’re reading this on release (mid-May) - it may feel impossible to get out of the weeds and think about the future. That’s fair - and - in order for our industry, and even our camps to make it the next 10 years, we ne...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/04/13-tips-for-new-camp-pros New and new-ish Camp Directors, this one is for you. Kick some butt this summer. There are a TON of full-time camp professionals that have entered the industry post-COVID. For those of us that have been around for a while, we know how incredibly diffic...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/04/what-they-dont-get What is one thing you learned working at camp that surprises people when you talk about? The fact that people don’t understand what we do full-time is not just and “us” problem - it’s a problem for our entire industry. It’s annoying as all heck - yes. And. It...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/03/choice-based Elective-based, choice-based, whatever you call it, it just may be the future of camper programs. We welcome back one of our original hosts, Dan Weir and welcome back Jack Schott from The Summer Camp Society (and TSCS Podcast!) to unpack all things choice-based pro...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/03/our-advice-to-new-staff What are the most important things staff need to know to be successful this summer? Right now (March), camp directors everywhere are starting to think about staff training…or, intending to do so at least. There are a trillion things that we want to teach...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/gen-z Unlocking the Potential of Gen-Z at Summer Camp Staffing continues to be one of the biggest thorns in the paws of our industry. It’s a challenge that isn’t likely to go away soon, so what can we do to ride this wave, rather than just letting it crash into us? Travis and Mandi di...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/power-between-people With great power comes…well, you know the rest. We all know that even in the sunshine and butterflies that is summer camp, there is evil lurking about. An evil that affects people and communities from all over. It has a name, too. Are you ready? Power. Okay, maybe...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/02/retain-staff The number one recruiting tactic? You got it - retaining! As the summer creeps closer, the staffing woes of the industry rear it’s ugly head again. Wouldn’t it be great if staffing wasn’t the thing that stole your focus from creating the best program you know you c...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/01/camps-and-ai Is AI going to ruin the summer camp industry? AI really proliferated right before we all went to camp in 2023. Some of us started playing with it, but over the summer, while we were living in our “unplugged” utopia, many parts of the world began to change without u...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/good-for-everyone Just BEING at camp is a good thing - the science proves it! We intuitively know that camp is a good thing. We can tell a million heart-filled stories about how camp changes lives. But as you all know, the proof is certainly in the pudding - so for the discerning camp...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/01/climate-change Recycling programs and talking nature education programs are only step 1. When we talked about climate change and camp 10 years ago, the conversation usually was about how we can be a bit more sustainable, how to teach campers about nature appreciation and maybe...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/12/giving-up-on-dei Where did the momentum go? We believe that summer camp should be an accessible place where individuals feel welcome and included for the unique and wonderful things they bring to the community. Right? While many camps would say that they believe this - but if t...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/being-in-nature And are we thinking about “nature” too specifically? Being in nature is good for us - we know this intuitively. But did you know that science backs this up? It is proven, beyond doubt, that being in nature decreases anxiety, decreases rumination, and alleviates low moo...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/12/demographics-tcsc Are you being thoughtful about how a changing demographic will affect your camp? Whether you are a camp with a wait-list, or you’re hoping for a few more “bums in bunks”, something that we need to seriously be thinking about is the potential to serve a the dem...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/11/no-tech Is the “no technology” policy at your camp compatible with the campers of today? “No technology at camp” is a sacred part of many of our summer camp cultures. The value of unplugging. Being “in the moment”. “Being real” are all things plastered all over our website and...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/11/parent-coms-2023 How confident are you that your camp parents will read and act on your emails? Getting your information to parents. The most necessary and maybe one of the most difficult parts of the job. Even though the communication landscape is constantly shifting, what rem...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/11/camp-magic How do you measure magic? Every camp professional, whether new or seasoned, knows what we mean when we say “camp magic”. For most of us, we think of camp magic as this ethereal, indescribable, ever-present part of camp. This “magic” is what many of us feel sets camp...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/11/small-systems It doesn’t take as much as you think to set yourself up for long-term efficacy. Travis is joined by Dr. Lydia Hughes Evans to discuss systems of project management, personal efficacy and organizational development that any camp pro can pick up and start using toda...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/10/decoding-research What is research, and what can it be for camp pros? We need to start here.  Before we get into how to use research to empower our marketing and recruiting efforts, we need to unpack the basics of research. So, whether you’re a research buff or not, this episod...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/10/setting-and-honoring-boundaries - We are good at so many things as camp pros. Boundaries, writ-large, is not one of those things. We are excited to kick off this, the 13th season of CampHacker with an episode that will especially resonate with those coming off of a wild summer....

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/08/the-intersection-of-camp-and-research Did you know that the positive experience of summer camp is a proven fact? Yes. It is! In this new mini-series from Go Camp Pro, join Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison to focus in on prominent and emerging research in the summer camp world...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/06/30-tools - What will you be putting your brain to keep you focused this summer? Well folks, if you’re reading this in June - you’re in it now! Us, too! As we wrap up this season to take our focus to the summer, we want to leave you with a wickedly practical one. Producer Matt a...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/05/alumni-community - Do you wish your camp had the benefits of an engaged alumni community? It’s a gift to have a group of people that intimately “get” what your camp is all about. And, alumni can be like getting a gym membership or Ikea furniture as a gift. Ultimately useful, bu...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/05/new-career-new-camp What would we do if we were starting at a completely new to us summer camp? We’re so grateful to have one of our founding CampHacker hosts Dan Weir join us this episode. Welcome back, Dan! To support the vast number of new camp directors, Dan, Chris, Joe and...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2023/04/staff-and-boundaries How much do we really need to accommodate this generation of camp staff? Okay, that header is a little misleading. Don’t mistake this podcast for one big “okay boomer” rant. This conversation about summer staff and meeting them where they are at (to an exte...