The CampHacker Podcast

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! How many of our camp brochures or websites preach that our camp teaches kids about grit and resilience? Okay everyone , put your hands down.  Now, home many of us can say that we put that same effort into fostering grit and resilience with our staff ? Sure, we may have staff check-ins and encourage staff to write motivational notes to each other, bu...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! It's that time of year again. Registration has been open for a bit, staff applications are rolling in and school groups are calling to book for Outdoor Education. You've made that first big push. Way to go! Now, let's get at it, shall we?  Summer Camp is the main reason why most of us are here. We believe that every camper deserves a...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Camp is counterculture. Camps (for the most part) don't care about fashion, we encourage people to embrace what makes them quirky, and we don't have cell-phones at camp. Now, policies differ, and some camps are even experimenting with plugged-in weeks at camp, but we can all agree on is that there is indeed a benefit that we give to our ca...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!   Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp Director Travis: w ww.camelcamelcamel.com - Amazon price tracker Dan: Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi Matt: The Better Board - Message Matt for a more detailed explanation Joe: Google Photo Scan - iOS - Andoid Your Hosts: Travis Allison , Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker. TV, Founder at Go...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! How do your staff answer the phone? What story does the home-page of your website tell? Who meets families on opening day? How do you train your super-awesome, yet awkward teenagers to talk to parents? What is your camp's "wow factor" that people experience as they are driving down the camp road? Take a second and answer those questio...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! In the world of technology, nature deficit disorder and climate-change, it's time for camps to raise the bar. From the philosophies, to the policies, to the on the ground environmental practices, we need to start thinking intentionally about what we can do to be leaders of environmental stewardship. To discuss ways that we can step up their sus...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Way back in the way back - 2013, we talked about Partnering With Parents. Back then, we were living in a world where Social Media coming from camp was still a pretty newish thing and there weren't nearly as many channels of connection between camp and a camper's home. Also, in the last 4-5 years, more and more camp pros have been rolling t...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! No matter how far your "draw" is for campers, it's absolutely critical that camps have a good relationship with their neighbours and local communities.  If you have close residences (especially on a lake), it's important to recognize the fact that you're a noisy, bell-ringing, song-sining (screaming) place. If your camp is a...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! What's on your mind right now? It's fair to say that it's getting into "crunch time", but it's also probably fair to say that there's still some time to think. And when there's time to think, there's sometimes a space created in a section of our brains that is reserved for vulnerability. Whatever that is...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Happy January and happy 2017! If you're anything like Joe, that means that the summer of 2017 is already preparing to sneak up on you. It's a New Year and people all around the world have made (and possibly already broken) New Year's Resolutions for themselves. These changing of the calendar prompts people to "shake things up&quo...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! On this episode of the CampHacker Podcast, the "Business Brain Trust" (aka - Travis, Joe, Johnathon Lee and Sarah Kurtz McKinnon), have re-assembled to talk all about their best budgeting practices and how the budget can paint clearer pictures when it comes to looking at your camp's pricing. As well, tune in to hear about the host&apo...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! That's right, it's a Tool of the Week EPISODE! This one is for all of the masters of chrome extensions, the efficiency junkies, the royalty of DIY online design and for those people who's last panel on their phone is full of apps from listening to the Tool of the Week section on our show. With doing literally no research to back this...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Even when it's not the off season, a Camp Director's inner monologue can be their best friend, or their arch nemesis. Hashing things out with your brain can spark new ideas but can also slow you down with your own insecurities or doubts. We preach that mental health is something that we need to nurture in our staff and campers, but how kin...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! All of the things that we know and love about camp – campfires, singing songs, high-ropes, canoeing on a lake are all incredible, but they all won’t exist in a camp that is mismanaged from a business standpoint. For most full-time Camp Directors, this big-picture thinking about camp as a business is absolutely critical to create a sustainable and th...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Kevin Kelly (Authour of The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future), joins Travis in this special Interview Edition of the CampHacker Podcast. Together, Kevin and Travis discuss his views on how not only the world as a whole, but our little camp world will surely be shaped by the integration of technology in...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!                 Our free Resilient Camp Blueprint diagnostic is available at: https://camp.mba/travis

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! As our parting gift to you to keep you cool until we meet again in the fall, we have the whole team together to fill the last few pages of your spring journal with our top tips for this time of year. We hope that this episode gives you what you need right now whether it's a reassuring helping hand, or a fire under your rear. Either way, Dan, Jo...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! This episode of the Podcast is dedicated to help our staff members get the most out of their daily, weekly, and seasonal experiences at camp. Whereas we usually delegate the camper’s nightly devotions to the counsellors (Ep. 88 has some ideas on how you can be that person too), we, as directors need to present our staff teams with those same types o...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! The spread of age and experience on site at camp can make things a little tricky at times. That being said, we all know that camp relies on a generational turnover to not just survive, but thrive. As directors, it's our job to reach our staff on a common ground. In this episode of the CampHacker podcast, Travis, Dan and Gab are on hand to share...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! The camp day is full of transformative moments; sometimes, there’s almost too many to keep track of. By prompting some mindfulness at the end of the day, it gives campers the chance to unpack all of their conversations, moments of growth and feelings and go to bed thinking meaningful thoughts. This episode of the Camphacker Podcast, prompted by Go C...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! This episode of the CampHacker podcast is dedicated to these kinds of big trips and the camps that have them down to a science. Travis is joined by 3 Directors whose camps specialize in these epic excursions. These 4 Camp Pros put their heads together to discuss not just the logistics of these trips (which are super interesting!), but the transforma...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! If you've been tuning in to the last two episodes of the podcast, you'll know that we're talking all about full time work at camp. So far we've covered, asking yourself if camp is right for you as well as making your full time camp job a sustainable one. This episode, we wrap up the mini-series with an entire episode dedicated to...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! This week, CampHacker Travis is joined by camp pros Marc Cooper from Camp Tamarack and Topher Aderhold from Camp Gray. Travis, Marc and Topher put on their thinking caps to share their secrets for what it takes to not only survive in the full-time camp world, but thrive in it. From balancing your camp and personal life, to your every day demeanour d...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Hello friends and welcome back to another season of the CampHacker Podcast. In the spirit of starting something new, we wanted to dedicate today's show and few more this season to those who are considering pursuing camp into a full-year commitment. As well, we'll be talking about you directing veterans can begin the process of mentoring th...

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! On this episode of the CampHacker podcast, CampHackers Travis, Joe, Gab and Dan break down the ins and outs of all things staff evaluations. You will find excellent discussions on why evaluations are important, how to teach your staff to evaluate each other and some awesome best evaluation practices from four different veteran director perspectives....