Conceptual Steps
Often, new camp leaders, either counselors or unit leaders, are discouraged when the go to their supervisor for approval of an activity, and they feel "unsupported" when the supervisor has a slew of
The Nature of Fun
We've all heard the shocking statistics about the rise in childhood obesity caused by inactivity and too many snacks. Communing with nature is an ideal way to get kids moving instead of staring at a video screen.
Out in Front
So the summer is coming to a close and all most people want to think about is well-deserved rest and relaxation... Heck, maybe even get to bed before 10 p.m. for the first time in 12 weeks!
On Deck & Beyond
Achieving a cost-effective and successful pool environment needs to be predicated on a pool deck and surrounding facility that is "built right" on the first try.
The Relationship of Relationships
Successful camp business owners understand the value of building a strong and loyal base of customers. Building positive relationships with campers, parents, vendors, and even the businesses in your local
Minnesota State Fairgrounds Has Increase In Events With New Outdoor Shelters
Known as the largest state fair in the United States by average daily attendance, the Minnesota State Fair attracts nearly 1.8 million people annually. Often referred to as the “great Minnesota get-together,” this end-of-summer tradition has taken place since 1854.
Everyone Can Play!
Physical disabilities affect how the body moves. The most common physical disabilities found in children and young adults include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries.
Designing Your Marketing Budget
Knowing how much you are going to spend on marketing is important to the success of any program. That may sound very simple. But for many businesses, summer camps included, the idea of marketing at all,
Making Tradition Last
Tradition is an important part of the camp experience. These long-standing legacies are what define a camp's character and its story. These perennial practices are what campers think about while they are day
The Tailor
Quick! Who signs 95 percent of your camp's registration applications? Mom. Who do you think makes the decision as to whether it's time for her child to go to camp, and which camp to go to? Right again. So
What for WiFi
Don't you just love all the technological acronyms floating around these days? It's almost like being in the army... "Hey, my PDA is AWOL!"
Me a Mentor?
"I was the only one…I felt all alone…Not a single person said hi to me..." These are all words that we, as camp directors, hope we never hear come out of the mouths of our campers or staff as they reflect upon their
Kids & Obesity
The topic of nutrition has been appearing more frequently around the state of Texas, where I live and work, over the past year. Though Texas is unique in many ways, it is not unique in nutritional trends, and our
Staff Recruitment - Beyond the Resume
If you've never hired someone who didn't work out, or never had vacancies when summer started, then don't bother reading this. Still reading? Then you already know that finding enough staff, and more
It Was An Accident
It’s the beginning of camp season and everything is going great—staff members are trained, the campgrounds look and feel safe, and campers are happily exploring every program you have to offer. And
Skills Verification For Lifeguards
You wouldn’t hire a new staff member without an interview and references, so why would you rely on a lifeguarding certification without in-water skills verification? Because every camp waterfront is different,
Offer Swim Lessons
“We don’t offer swim lessons because… We don’t have any experience running a lesson program. We don’t have any instructors.”
Adrift In Adventure
“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
Touch Up The Marketing Messages
As parents look for that “perfect” summer camp, they scour websites and brochures to find one that helps their child have fun while gaining new skills. Often camps highlight the amazing ropes course, trail rides,
Day to Day
Sara Perna does the little things every day to give the kids in her care that something special that only camp can deliver. Fort Meigs YMCA Day Camp serves the Perrysburg/Toledo, Ohio, area, and sees a