More Than Bandages And Aspirin
Of all the tasks required to keep a camp running, one of the most critical is organizing the medical center. Although no one--staff or campers--intends to be sick at camp, illness is
If I Had Three Wishes
There’s only one reason kids want to return to camp--friends. Yet when I tour camps and ask what staff members do to specifically help kids make friends, I find out why the average
Scouting For Counselors
Remember the last camp counselor you saw--a 16-year-old high-school student with a death glare that made you shiver, an iPod super-glued to his ears and a general ignorance of the
Protocol, Prevention And Pro-Action
When the economy takes a nosedive, camps and organizations that sponsor camps take a real interest in cutting expenses and maximizing savings. Bargain-shopping for arts-and-crafts
Selling “The Brand”
Merchandising can be a vital part of the marketing landscape of a camp, and imprinted merchandise helps get a camp’s name out to the public. You want to do all you can to promote
Going Green While Saving Green
Would you like to make your camp more environmentally friendly, but the budget is too tight right now? Let’s face it--while it would be great to run on solar power, it’s just not practical or
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
Riding Out The Winter
While campers are busy with school in the winter, you probably look at an under-used campground and say, “How can I bring in more business?” or “How can I use my facilities in the off-season?”
Face to Face(book)
In these articles, I try to show you the realities of building and conducting effective marketing campaigns. From Web sites to brochures and videos, I have featured about every kind of marketing material out there.
Make Your Camp More Marketable
The slowing economy has impacted the camp industry in a variety of ways. This shift has taken many forms--from reducing the workforce while asking others to increase their workloads to
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,
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
Postcard Marketing
While I spend a lot of time in these articles discussing high-tech solutions for marketing your summer camp, I’d like to turn the clock back a little to discuss one of the standards of direct marketing--postcards.
Your Campers Are Safe
Camp professionals conscientiously protect campers’ physical safety and security. However, many of us aren’t trained to think in the same way about the safety and security of the personal information we collect.
Solely Responsible
Ask me how to keep 100 campers happy on a rainy afternoon, and I’ll rattle off a list of activities. Do you need directions on how to tie-dye T-shirts? No problem. I can even tell you how to do it wit
Keep The Conversation Going
The Web is split between two separate but equally important sectors--traditional Web sites and the new 2.0 applications that make a Web presence more interactive.
Reduce, Reuse And Recycle
The motto “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” is a familiar call for those who care about protecting the earth and conserving its resources. It is often seen in environmental literature and heard
A Present From The Past
“Jon?” The big guy standing in front of me, with baggy pants, duct-taped gloves, a helmet and goggles, looked like he was born on a snowboard.
Get ‘Em On The Same Page
Cultivating cooperative, caring and compassionate staff members can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned camp director.