The Day Camp Pod - From Go Camp Pro

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at  https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/washington From Capitol Hill to Camp: Why Advocacy Matters More Than Ever for Summer Camps As conversations around childcare, workforce development and youth mental health continue to grow, summer camp has an important story to tell and this episode takes listeners straight to the front lines of that advocacy work. Andy...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/enrollment-cliff Birth Rate Drops, Demographic Shifts, and How Day Camps Can Adapt Enrollment isn’t just “feeling” tighter, there’s real data behind the shift, and it’s coming for camps faster than many leaders expect. In this episode, Jake Sorenson and Jonathan Gold break down the demographic cliff, what it means for you...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/pause-plan-play Burnout doesn’t have to be the cost of caring deeply about your work. In this episode of The Day Camp Pod, executive coach Tiffany Yvonne returns to share a powerful framework, “Pause, Plan, Play to Win.”, that helps camp professionals realign their values, reclaim their energy and lead with intention. Fro...

Send us Fan Mail Make your first impressions, your best impressions. Welcome back to the Day Camp Pod! Whether you’re joining us in our beginning season, or if you’re reading this in the vast nethers of the future, we’re so glad you’re here! Open Houses are time and time again, one of the best ways to get the final “yes” from potential camp parents. If done well, parents will register their child,...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/conference-debrief Day Camp Survival: Feedback, Neurodiversity, Social Skills & the Coming Enrolment Cliff What happens when camps are forced to rethink everything from culture to communication and even their core values? In this episode of The Day Camp Pod, the team unpacks key takeaways from the winter conference ci...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/camphacker/iil-andy-p Raising the Bar: A Masterclass in Camp Intentionality with Andy Pritikin In this episode of Intentionally Intentional Leaders , Matt Wilfrid sits down with Andy Pritikin , a true powerhouse in the summer camp industry. From founding Liberty Lake Day Camp to producing the New Jersey Renaissance Fair and hos...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/emergency-prep From Plans to Practice: Building Calm, Capable Leadership in a Crisis When it comes to camp leadership, few responsibilities matter more than being prepared for the unexpected. In this episode of The Day Camp Pod , your hosts are joined by Dr. Barry Garst, Tracey Gaslin and Tim Huchton to unpack what true e...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/preschool Managing Preschool Day Campers: Tips, Strategies and Success Stories Working with preschool day campers requires a completely different playbook and this episode breaks down exactly what that looks like. The hosts and guests dive into the real world challenges of programming, staffing, routines, transportation a...

Send us Fan Mail Clipboards, Kaizen, and Connection: Revolutionizing Camp Attendance with Ryan Rosen *This is a piece of sponsored content by our friends from Camptivities and Whereabouts . We are so grateful for Ryan and the Camptivities team for their support of many Go Camp Pro podcasts and we're excited to bring you this episode to share more about Whereabouts and it's intentional de...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/weather-operations Smart Weather Strategies Every Camp Leader Needs Right Now Extreme weather is no longer the exception, it’s part of the new normal for day camps. In this episode of The Day Camp Pod, “camp weatherman” Steve Maguire breaks down how camp leaders can prepare for heat waves, wildfire smoke, tropical storms...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/intentional-leader Handling Staff Behavior with Purpose, Not Panic Since the pandemic, many camp leaders have found themselves spending more time managing staff behavior than camper behavior, and it can feel exhausting. In this episode the hosts sit down with renowned educator and camp trainer Michael Brandwein to explore...

Send us Fan Mail https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/community-engagement Building Community Partnerships: How Day Camps Can Connect Locally What if your day camp was known not just as a program, but as a true community partner? In this episode of The Day Camp Pod , guests Marissa Allaben, Ali Rothenberg and Heath Levine join the hosts to discuss how camps can build authentic, local connections that r...

Send us Fan Mail Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mail-bag Your questions, our answers and plenty of camp stories along the way As another camp season wraps up, the Day Camp Podcast team is taking time to reflect, laugh and learn alongside the community that’s been with them for seven years. In this special year-end episode, our hosts open their first-ever listener mailb...

Send us Fan Mail https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/doing-it-right Mastering Day Camp Registration: Expert Tips & Strategies with Eric Wittenberg Registration season doesn’t have to feel like chaos and this week’s episode of the Day Camp Pod proves it. Hosts Andy Pritikin, Sam Thompson, and Jordanna Grossinger sit down with Eric Wittenberg to unpack what really drives successful day camp enrollme...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/thriving-shared-facilities A Guide to Communication, Collaboration, and Camp Culture in Shared Spaces Running a day camp in a shared facility brings both challenges and opportunities. In this episode, guests Brianne Feinour and Megan Snape share what it takes to run vibrant, community focused camps inside schools,...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/turn-around-strategies When a day camp starts to lose its spark, what does it take to bring it back to life? In this episode of the Day Camp Pod, the hosts sit down with Heath Levine from Shibley Day Camp and turnaround expert Jonathan Gold to unpack what really goes into reviving an underperforming camp. From rebu...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/sleepaway-spirit What makes sleepaway camp feel so special and how can day camps capture that same magic? In this episode of the Day Camp Pod, hosts Andy Pritikin, Sam Thompson, and Jordanna Grossinger are joined by camp pros Dan Johnson and Dan Weir to unpack exactly that. Together, they explore creative ways to b...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/maximize-your-camp Expanding reach, building partnerships and creating sustainable revenue Ever wondered what your camp could become after the last camper goes home for the summer? In this episode, Andy, Jordanna and Sam are joined by Peggy Aylmer, Senior Program Director - Day Camps and Retreats - YMCA Camp Copnec...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/summer-2025-debrief Riding the Post-Summer Vibe: Wins, Wildcards, and What's Ahead In this episode, Andy, Sam, and Jordanna reflect on the summer of 2025, sharing their biggest wins, unexpected challenges, and key takeaways as they transition into the off-season.  The trio dives into the nuances of camp life a...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/final-thoughts-25 Gearing Up for Glory - Have a great summer, Day Camp Pros! The countdown to Summer 2025 has begun, and before we immerse ourselves in the smiles and hugs of camp life, we're hitting record one last time! This episode is packed with essential insights as we reflect on our recent advocacy effor...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/staff-accountability Raising the Bar: Practical Strategies for Staff Accountability This Summer This week on The Day Camp Pod, we dive into the essential topic of staff accountability, exploring how to foster a professional environment where team members are responsible and contribute effectively. Hosts Andy Pritik...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/roz-jed-2025 Maximizing Your Staff Training: Connection Before Content There are a lot of staff trainers out there in the camp world- But there are very few who actually helmed a large day camp themselves, dealing with the ins and outs, trials and tribulations, and the challenges of training hundreds of seasonal st...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/kids-arent-listening "They Just Won't Listen!": Expert Tips for Managing Camper Behavior Challenges It’s the second week of camp, and you can anticipate a good percentage of your frontline staff going to their supervisors and declaring, “the kids aren’t listening to me!”  What do you do? What do you...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/arrival-dismissal Mastering Day Camp Chaos: Arrival & Dismissal Secrets Revealed How we start our days at camp sets the machine in motion, in regard to intentionality and building community. How we end is what they remember each day, and is just as important! Today, we’ve got Jordanna from Camp Robin Hood, Onta...

Send us Fan Mail Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/sunrise-camps The Sunrise Association: Transforming Lives of kids affected by Childhood Cancer The Sunrise Day Camps started as an optimistic idea less than 20 years ago- and has grown into an unbelievably wonderful reality in which 2500 children- cancer patients, survivors, and their siblings- attended day camps l...