Staff Continuum
In 2006, 87 percent of YMCA Camp Ernst’s staff had once been campers themselves or were returning staff. According to the American Camping Association (ACA), the national average
The Power Of Positive Thinking
Many of us frequently use the phrase, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” The simplest interpretation is that we become so fixated on the small things we lose sight of the large.
Active, Involved And Interested
Familiarity breeds contempt--or, at the least, apathy--when it comes to training returning camp staff members who are so intimately familiar with the rules, regulations, policies and
What’s The Problem Now?
Relationships form the heart of the camp experience. Dynamic programs, beautiful settings and lofty missions have little value without sterling leadership (staff/camper relationships) and
Feedback For Staff
"Chris, my supervisory staff members don’t always know the best way to provide feedback to their counselors. Most of the time, they see what needs improvement but don’t say anything
Take Time Out For The Team
We know that it is important for camp staff members to bond with each other. Not only does it create long-lasting relationships, but staff members are able to work more efficiently when
Looking Forward And Back
Many Camp Business readers weren’t even born when I was a counselor in 1972 and 1973 at Forest Home Christian Conference Center in Southern California. I worked in Indian Village,
Leadership By Example
“Chris, in my early years as a camp director, I never worried about the off-season behavior of my staff. Now that staff members photograph and post most of their social lives online, I’m
Seven Steps To Success
Each summer at camp is preceded by training staff members so they can actively engage with campers in a competent and professional manner. And every year it seems there is more
Integrating The Relaxation Response
Millennia before Harvard University’s Dr. Herbert Benson documented the health benefits of the relaxation response in humans, Eastern and Western religions quietly espoused mindful
Leadership After Failure
onference workshops, camp publications, and staff training manuals are replete with inspirational advice on exactly how to get it right. This is how to lead a group. This is how to discipline children. This is how to run stellar activity periods.
Communicating With Children
Every year as I begin planning staff training, I prioritize activities that require certifications and licensing, but I really wish I could spend more time working with staff members on their communication skills.
A View From The Trenches
Some authors research their books by interviewing Sherpas while climbing Mt. Everest. Me? I spent six weeks living at a residential camp, hoping to gain insight into the minds of 19- to 32-year-olds—Millennials.
Summer of Surprises
Nine months are spent planning, recruiting, stocking inventory, and training. Then it happens… summertime. The kids arrive and with them arrives all the fun, worries and unexpected changes to all of
You’re Doing It Right
Bill George’s statement goes to the root of what makes an administrator effective. Empowering employees is a desirable trait for any leader, but it is of particular importance in the camping field. At a camp, the
Goodbye, Feedback; Hello, Point-Of-View
In Part 1 of this series, I explained how the “everyone asks for it” model is superior to the “manager gives it + employee gets it” model because it reduces anxiety about the other person’s reaction to feedback. I also
A Few Of My Favorite Things
To hear is to forget. To see is to remember. To do is to learn. As we travel around the country speaking at conferences and training camp staff, we embrace this adaptation of a famous statement from Confucius.
Parent Panel Particulars
Chris, I struggle helping my staff members understand the magnitude of their responsibility. Everything from lifeguarding to language must be approached with seriousness of purpose,