ADDIE To The Rescue
Camp directors who feel overwhelmed by the challenge of staff training are far from alone.
Head Master Of Ice Cream Production
Skylake Yosemite Camp in Wishon, Calif., has been producing its own ice cream and Italian ice for almost 10 years. Not only is it fun, but it’s easy. Plus, it’s a better product than can be purchased, and the “word-of-mouth” impact is incredible.
Strive For Success
By the time I was 14 and had finished my first summer as a camp leader in training, I knew I wanted to be a camp director. It became one of my major life ambitions. As I worked my way from counselor
It’s Lonely At The Top
As a kid, a teenager, and even as a young adult, I loved camp. I planned my camping career path tirelessly as I worked my way from counselor, up through the ranks to senior leadership—program director
Not So Much—Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, I noted respect for different camps’ styles and catalogued the first half of my commonly rejected suggestions for program improvement. Here, in Part 2, I will outline four more best
Going it Alone
In January 2013, I moved from Tennessee to rural Nebraska to become the new director of Kamp Kaleo, a small Christian summer-camp facility in a town of around 1,200 people.
Great Expectations
Are you preparing for a new camp season or are you preparing for another camp season? Are your sights set on the beginning of your camp season or are they set on what you will be able to do when the camp
Letting Go
I’m about to give some bad news to a multi-year summer staff member: “It’s time to move on.” Saying no: A camp director's toughest job. I will say it better, with more grace and love, but that’s the
Summer's Over; What Now?
Editor's Note: This timely Week-Ender is from our Camp Business archives. It originally ran on Aug. 26, 2011.If you are like many camp directors, the summer turns into a black hole of busyness. From
Mid-Season Reminders
I assume that many of you who are reading this are in the middle part of your summer season, and because of this I thought it would be a good time for some reminders that will set your camp up to
Director's Camp Video
Summer camp directors -- Have you ever wanted to experience camp for yourself?Get away from it all at Director's Camp, a professional development weekend/retreat in a summer camp setting.This year's
Trust: The Currency Of Our Work
I’ve been thinking and talking about trust a lot lately. It usually comes up in conversations I have about the reason why parents choose one camp over another. I believe that reason is trust. This is
Podcast: Working For A Camp Board
About 60 percent of camp directors will work for a not-for-profit board at some point in their summer camp career.This provides certain challenges--and opportunities--that directors at privately
Each And Every
During a recent visit to a boarding school, I was impressed by a meeting led by the Associate Head. After my morning of faculty development workshops, the faculty broke for lunch and then returned
Jewish Camp Leaders Assembly
The Foundation for Jewish Camp is gearing up for its Leaders Assembly this March.This year's conference will include an extra day of skill-building workshops for camp professionals and camp lay
Rehabilitate Or Replace?
We have all inherited staff at some point in our lives. If you are like me, you find that some you instantly connect with and have an agreed vision for the future of your camp.But with others, it
Camps And Child Abuse
The Penn State football scandal has shocked us all.It resonates especially with camp professionals and those who work with children.Hopefully such a situation will never occur at your camp. But if it
A Forum For You
Want to chat with other camp directors and camp staff?Find out about the latest trends in programming, social media, staffing?Keep up to date with conferences and training?Check out The Summer Camp