Facility Homework
So you you're going to build a new facility for your camp business and you think that the next step is to contact an architect...
Ammonia And Nitrates--How They Affect Pool Water Chemistry
Ammonia is a colorless strongly alkaline gas with a very familiar pungent odor. The first complex molecule discovered in space in the galactic dust clouds of the Milky Way. It also makes up the rings of the planet
Totally Tubular
You might say that Jeff Walden is a 21st Century Renaissance man, at least in the hybrid world of day camp instruction and the best sports ever created -- surfing and skiing.
Customer Connection--The Human Touch
When talking about customer service we are definitely getting into a good news/bad news kind of situation. The bad news: Levels of customer satisfaction with service in so many industries have dropped
Digital Foundation
Whether or not you have the resources to purchase the highest end of the technology scale, there are steps you can take to ensure a solid network backbone that helps alleviate and soften the blow of the
Fear Detergent
SOAP (Strategies to Overcoming Aquatic Phobias) and Water is for those afraid to go near or in water. It offers dry-land counseling and teaches strategies to overcome aquatic phobias for all ages in a
Craft Potpourri
Spend any time around kids at camp and you'll notice some… well… smells. There's the smell of pancakes in the morning and smoke around the campfire. Let's not forget the smell of a camper's suitcase where he
The ABCs of Alumni Development
Alumni! What a difficult word in the camping industry! It is a subject with many different approaches, and many possibilities for camp support and development, but the most difficult area to really get a grasp on.
Asbestos-Free Crafts
It was the early summer of 1990, and a time of innocence in the craft world. A time when I had the greatest intention of running high quality, safe day camps in ten locations throughout the city.
Holistic Branding & Technology
Holistic branding… It's more than just a New Age term. It's a big picture view of your camp's marketing, a way of making sure that all the parts of your marketing work together.
The Heart of Surfing
For outdoor sport enthusiasts raised on the Warren Miller series of ski films and titles like On Any Sunday (dedicated to motorcycle racing), the granddaddy of them all has to be The Endless Summer. This
Top Programming Ideas 2006
It's hard to believe it's already 2006… but it is. And what better time to regroup and plan next year's programs. Whether it's an involved program, or one that's a simple icebreaker, our hope is that you'll glean
Then and Now: Why Summer Camp Is More Important Than Ever Before
Our children are growing up so much differently than we did, with so much of their lives spent staring glowing screens, accessing most any piece of information through their fingertips in seconds. But while
Five Useful Tips for Durable Summer Camp Furniture
The weather might not agree but the calendar says it is time to start planning for summer. Summer camp administrators and leaders have been busy attending national and regional conferences to learn how to
Camp Facilities Development
If you haven’t invested in a challenge course because you thought it would be too costly or put you at a high risk for camper injuries, you might be surprised to learn manufacturers have traveled light years in
Each year, thousands of suitcase-toting campers are encouraged to turn off the televisions, video game consoles and computer screens that occupy much of their time during the school year, and return to nature.
Top Programming Ideas
No matter whether you operate a day camp or an overnight camp—there is always a need for fresh programming ideas. Every year, we scour the industry looking for the latest and greatest tips and
Something Old, Something New
Many returning campers immediately ask counselors, “Are we going to play Color Wars again?” “Will we do the polar bear swim this year?” “When is the talent show?” Certain activities are a sure hit with campers,
Themed Activities
When I am running a themed activity for the youngest campers (ages 8 and 9) at camp, the kids have so much fun that the oldest campers (ages 14 and 15) feel left out and want “in.” Here are two evening