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 Ideal Workplace
Camps have an opportunity to create the “ideal workplace,” a place where every employee is a valued member of the team. While I always felt this to be true, spending a week at the Clifton Strengths Summit last June caused me to see just how ideal it really can be.
Overnight Vs. Day Camp
There is no single recipe for building a successful camp, but there is one key ingredient that must be included—an exceptional staff. After spending almost 30 years immersed in camp culture, most recently
Where Have All The Camp Staff Gone?
In recent months, I find myself humming the modern folk song, “Where have all the flowers gone?”, written by Pete Seeger (although in my opinion—best sung by the Kingston Trio). This melancholy tune has been a
Cast The Right Net
I recently attended a summer job fair at Louisiana State University (LSU) with hopes of finding my “aha moment” to explain what makes college-aged kids want to work at camp. It was no surprise that I came
Part 2--Growing From The Inside
Successful internal leadership development (ILD) programs are those which clearly define what leadership is and how leaders mature. Having reviewed the philosophy and proposed a
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.
Staff of the Year, 2003
Most camp directors agree that it's not a camp's philosophy that makes camp great. It's the counselors, administrators, directors and other support staff holding the camp's mission in unity and excellence that makes it great.
Staff of the Century - Connie Reeves, 1901-2003
Meet Connie Reeves, a Lone Star camp legend who lived up to the legend. While Texans may be accused of being a wee bit overzealous about their history, even the proudest of New Englanders would admit that Texas legends are legendary.
Starve The Ego, Feed The Soul
As an eager freshman at the University of Georgia, I sought out opportunities to volunteer for organizations whose purposes were meaningful to me. Extra Special People (ESP) immediately
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.
Conference-Style Staff Training
“This isn’t relevant to me.” “I already know this.” “Do I have to sit through bullying again?” “Sessions were too long and boring.”
Roll Up Your Sleeves, DIYers
Recently, I decided to upgrade the camp’s recruitment website, and since then I’ve not only made recruitment much easier, but found that it has helped me to hire a better caliber of staff members!
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,
Ready, Set, Action!
My husband, a TV and film producer, often compares my summer camp life to a film shoot—a 24/7 job filled with trouble-shooting and dealing with a wide range of personalities.
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