A Letter to Our Glen Mhor & Cairn Family, With Love.

This past weekend our family made the annual trek up to Glen Mhor to help with Staff Orientation. For the last 6 years, we have cooked for them so that kitchen staff members can be a part of the training and group building that goes on during this weekend. Zoic has also had the opportunity annually to take staff photos and Topaz to lead a community-focused training session.

As we drove home today, we could not help but remark to one another how amazing it would be if parents, families, board members, ministers and members of Synod could have been present during this training weekend to see what goes into the planning and facilitating of such an important piece of camp development.

Perhaps these small glimpses of the weekend can serve as the next best thing. 

Please understand, after having been Camp Director's at Glen Mhor and Cairn for 15 years and now Camp Consultants for seven, we have a very critical eye for how a camp should be run. How wonderful it feels that our "critical eye" landed only on so many positive things. 

From the moment we exited our car, we were greeted by every staff member we encountered with a warm and genuine "Welcome Home".  Not only was the reception friendly, we were so very impressed with how clean, tidy, and organized the site was this early in the season (with a touch of camp magic, of course - like the special drawer in the kitchen labelled, 'Unicorns and Mermaids') .  The pride of the Spring Staff was obvious.  To work that hard and humbly is seen as a badge of honour and they have much to be proud of this year.

The leadership team consists of a group of veteran staff members with a passion for camp who have worked hard to acquire the skills to advance this ministry.  Their sense of servant leadership has been instilled so deeply by their Directors, it is simply a part of them. In every activity, every session, every preparation for a meal, they just noticed what needed to be done and did it with out being asked.  Those who are new to staff this year were never told or even asked to pitch in but, by the end of two short days together, had already begun to follow this example.  They are already learning that a summer camp professional always asks, "what can I do?"

We could not get over how many program staff members eagerly shared with us their hopes and plans for their program areas this summer as well as the staff and campers in their care. Their desire to develop the whole person is truly inspiring. They are force to be reckoned with.

Topaz had the privilege of leading a two-hour session on Saturday morning. She was so impressed with how attentive, respectful, and invested the staff were - including all of the first year counsellors. They were eager to share of themselves, get to know one another better, and prepare for the summer ahead. They are taking their responsibilities very seriously.  This mindset is an obvious reflection of the care and devotion of the three year-round staff members. 

What a joy it is to see the faces of returning staff when they greet Bridget Tilley, camp's administrator, for the first time each spring! This year was no exception.  Bridget has become such an important member of the team.  From her brave beginnings in 2008, when she arrived at camp knowing absolutely nothing about the culture and it's people, she has grown to become a wise and fierce advocate for the camp and its ministry. 

Rebecca "Palais" Jess and her joy for song has elevated an already strong singing tradition to a whole new level. The variety of music she brings each season, along with her passion for staff and campers to make their own music, has created an environment in which every staff member cannot wait to be part of this year's staff song (and just wait until you hear this one's!).  She understands that, for staff and campers who sing about what they stand for and what they believe and who do so with harmonies that give you goosebumps, these experiences unite people like few other things do. This is just one way she is creating opportunities for staff to live their faith.
 
It is always a privilege to witness the ease with which Chantal "Match" Jackson enters a room full of people and connects with every individual. In all of our travels to camps across the continent, we have never seen a director so focused on making people feel welcome and a part of something bigger than themselves. At the end of Saturday night's Hero's Journey, as the staff continued to sing, she moved around the circle and spoke quietly with each person, told them how pleased she was they were there, what she was looking forward to with them this summer, and embraced each one before moving on to the next.  Her way of making everyone feel valued and important is just one of her key elements to intentional programming at camp.
 
Match and Palais have put great effort over the years into developing a strong sense of legacy. From the creation of Seekers' Edge, the hill overlooking centre camp where ceremonies take place for current staff and alumni, to talking openly and often about the importance and role of alumni, to encouraging staff to reflect upon the legacy they want to leave, they have created a deep sense of history and respect for the Mission of Cairn. 

And to top it all off, we were so thrilled to see such exciting new additions to camp: a beautiful high ropes course (lovingly built, in part, by one of Cairn's former staff members, Jon "Little D" Fairley), fresh and updated washrooms in the Thicket and the Lodge, courtesy of alumnus, Neil "Fiddler" Rome, and the impressive news that registration is ahead by 130 campers compared to this date last year.  All point to promising things ahead as Glen Mhor marks it's 85th anniversary. 

As it was Mother's Day, our family prepared lunch but was leaving early so our sons could take us for our annual pilgrimage to Weber's. We would be leaving before the traditional time the kitchen staff is thanked for their work on the weekend. Match said to Topaz, "We will need to thank you early". Topaz replied, "We don't need to be thanked publicly, Match" and Match turned to her and said "I know you don't but it's important to teach our staff how to properly show appreciation to people for the gifts they share."  This understanding of acknowledging gratitude had already been impressed upon the minds of some experienced staff, who, when asked to prepare cards of thanks by Match, took the time to write each one in a personalized rap and couldn't wait for us to open them. What a great way to round off an exhausting (the good kind of tired) and fulfilling weekend.

Thank you to our Cairn Family for making us still feel so welcome and for taking up the torch so passionately. The future of camping in our Synod is in great hands. 

Love Topaz & Zoic

Starting My Summer Camp Research Project!

Last summer, all of my thirteen campers wanted to be wizards. Across an afternoon, they each went around our mountainous Colorado woods and found small sticks, bringing back to our camp’s craft center. Some campers whittled their sticks until they were smooth. Others kept some bark at the base for better grip. A few made samurai sword-looking handles out of bright pipe cleaners. By the time I’d caught up with all of them at dinner, thirteen wands sat next to forks and knives. The next day, the wands glistened as my campers found waterproofing lacquer, and the rest of the day was given to wizard fights in the camp pool. The best part of it all: my campers were fifteen- and sixteen-year-old boys.

I have tried hard to think of another place in America today where, as a teenage boy, its cool to rocket yourself out of the water and scream Harry Potter-like spells at your friends. But I can’t; it’s only at camp.

Those kinds of moments are the impetus behind this blog and the larger project that stands beside it. I am a rising senior studying politics at Pomona College and a veteran counselor at Geneva Glen Camp in Indian Hills, Colorado. In my ultimate year at college, I’ve decided to bring together my two biggest worlds and write a thesis about political education in American summer camps, the basic argument of which centers around the idea that camp addresses some of the fundamental anxieties surrounding modern childhood. That camp offers unique solutions to inherently political fears about finding children positive role models, giving them a solid moral foundation, and endowing them with a strong sense of community and tradition doesn’t come as a surprise to camp professionals, but explaining those lessons to people in the “real world”—especially in the academic world—is a behemoth task.   

Through Pomona, I’ve received a grant that will address this task by allowing me to use the beginning and end of my summer to visit camps around America in order to learn about their programs and to try to articulate the collective lessons summer camp teaches. I want to discover the reasons behind the uncanny ability, as a ‘camp person,’ to instantly identify someone else as a ‘camp person.’ In between those two trips, I’ll be returning to Geneva Glen as a counselor. My proceeding blog posts, then, will document my travels this summer and my thoughts about the camp generally. (As I prepare my trip, I would love to hear any and all advice/thoughts/observations about the formative power of camp).

I think about camp every day. And recently, I’ve thought every day about how profoundly lucky I am to have a (really) full summer of camp—of time to explore the magic of a place that can still ignite the imaginative flame of a sixteen-year-old camper wizard.  

I (pictured in the upper left corner) happily admit that I was in on the wizarding. Here’s our staged battle that took place on the last day of the session. 

Keeping Kids at Summer Camp Safe

Child Protection & Safety Training at Summer Camp

The summer camp season is quickly approaching. As you work hard to finalize preparations for a busy and fun summer, it is also important to spend time focused on child protection safety training.

Training and educating camp staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes in contact with child campers about how to best safeguard these children is a key component to preparing for a safe and fun summer season. Child safeguarding includes a range of health and safety issues, from protecting children against overheating and dehydration to preventing abuse or physical harm of children while in your care. 

Here are four useful tips to share with your staff to help ensure your child campers remain safe. 

Employ a Structured Safety and Risk Management Program

The most effective safety training is accomplished through a series of orientations, training sessions and skills assessments for all staff and volunteers. If you don’t already have one, consider developing a written Safety and Risk Management Handbook, which includes procedures to follow during a critical situation or emergency as well as safety regulations, standards, and inspection information.

Ensure Medical Care Policies are Written and Shared Among All Staff

Your camp should have written health policies and protocols that have been reviewed and approved by a physician with specialized training in children's health, preferably a paediatrician or family physician. Be sure to inquire about the previous training and camp experience of the camp health care provider and all staff, so you can identify any knowledge gaps and plan for additional training before the busy season kicks off.

Also consider establishing relationships with local dentists, orthodontists and mental health professionals who are willing to treat emergencies if the need arises.

Communicate Zero Tolerance Policies Regarding Abuse

Clearly worded, written and published rules of conduct consistent with law and camping industry standards must be established. Campers and staff must be trained, supervised and evaluated on their performance and appropriately disciplined should a breach occur, including expulsion from camp or termination from employment. It’s wise to always employ “two deep counsellor supervision,” which means that no adult will be allowed to be alone with a camper in an isolated place.

Staff should be trained to recognize signs of abuse as well as misconduct and report these to their supervisor or manager.

Train Staff to be “Upstanders” to Prevent Bullying at Camp

Bullying is prevalent and has a high impact on emotional functioning, so it is vital that summer camps take steps to tackle the problem head on. An “upstander” is someone who recognizes, responds to, and reports bullying behaviour. Dedicated anti-bullying training for staff, and campers, will stop cycles of abuse before they even begin and ensure a positive camp experience for every camper.

About the Author

Keir McDonald MBE is founder and Director of EduCare, an online training solutions company that specializes in child protection, exploitation and online safety, and bullying and child neglect. EduCare is associated with both Kidscape and Family Lives and customers include over 4,000 schools and colleges and 12,000 pre-schools as well as councils, the NHS, charities and more.

What will YOU do because camp matters?

Membership site for Professional Summer Camp Leaders

You know that moment when you say something out loud and you get the shivers because it just feels so RIGHT?

That's everyday in Go Camp Pro for us.

Since I started the CampHacker Podcast (and everything that has followed: Camp Pros, more podcasts, keynote speaches, ACT Onsite visits) I have been working hard to have maximum impact on the camp industry.   It has been so amazing to meet so many like-minded people and get to work with leaders in our industry.

I've come to realize that my personal mission in life is to get the summer camp industry to such a high level that parents will feel like they've failed their children by not sending them to camp. 

One of my biggest dreams through this whole process has been to create a place where year-round camp staff and directors could share ideas, learn new skills and get great resources to make their lives easier.   

I'm so glad that its finally happened.   

Beth and I are so excited to partner with Laura & Jack from Camping Coast To Coast and James Davis from Summer Camp Revolution on Go Camp Pro.   

It's has the elements of a great camp conference... at half the cost.

Want to make your life as a camp leader easier and more fulfilling?  Go Camp Pro

Developing Relationships With Current and Prospective Clients - Joanna Warren Smith

High Tech Requires High Touch

A number of camps and year-round facilities have gone to all-electronic telephone answering or routing systems for more efficiency in the office. This may be necessary for huge operations and it can be effective if the messaging is updated regularly, the system is user-friendly, without flaw 100% of the time and calls are returned immediately.

On the other hand, what is more important in your office than developing relationships with current and prospective clients?  Especially during this time of the year when you are busy hiring staff, managing registrations and planning program, parents tell me that there is a tendency to be rushed to the point of being rude with callers.  If you are going to answer the phones, do it right!

Take Action Now!

• Train ALL Staff.  Each individual can flavor the connections with his/her own personality, but the style should the same.

• Be Succinct & Warm.  Parents do not want complicated and extended greetings.  'Camp Run-A-Muck, this is Joanna' encourages a caller to respond with 'Hi Joanna, this is Jamie and I want to know about camp for my son." The engagement that follows identifies the boy's name/age,  mom's expectations of camp and what the experience can do for her son.

• Set the Stage for the Sale.  Secure the essential contact information and then explain that 'the summer camp decision is a critical one' and that you want to help them make the right choice.  If they are not ready to register at that moment, outline the next steps to enrollment.  Follow-up regularly and in an engaging, 'personal' way.

• Monitor Calls & Mentor Performance.  Take the time to listen to conversations with parents and help staff to create authentic connections that will produce additional conversions.

Since most inquiries arrive via the net 'anonymously', leverage the opportunity to nurture relationships when parents actually call in.

Joanna

Need an objective perspective on any aspect of camp?  Give me a call at 310-451-1876 or email campconsulting@verizon.net

(Note from Travis:   We are so thrilled to be posting the always brilliant HINTS from camp consultant Joanna Warren Smith!  If you don't already you should sign up to receive theses HINTS in your email - in the right-hand column of Joanna's website: http://camp-consulting.com/)

Getting the Story Straight - Guest Post from Michael Thompson

Making the most of your summer camp marketing opportunities

I love it when I pick up the phone to interview a camp director.  With rare exception, there’s a palpable passion that comes through, an absolute joy and pride in his or her camp home and the experience that’s created each summer.  When this shines through, it’s difficult not to get swept up into the director’s personality and love of camp. 

I’m struck, however, by the common refrains I hear once a director begins to explain his or her camp.  I’m in a unique position, having spoken to nearly 80 camp directors in an in-depth way that most parents don’t get to hear.  Part of the reason I get behind the curtain is that I know the right questions to ask. Without those, I confess that I’d be lost in a sea of commonality; left in a cloud of confusion about what is truly unique among camps.  Are we all really just the same? I fear that some parents think so.

So what do I hear?  Let me ask how many of us have ever uttered the following phrases, or something similar:

1. “We’re a family-run camp” or “have a family-feel” or “become a part of a summer family”
2. “We are definitely top-tier” or “we have a top-tier ‘x’ program”
3. “Our camp is set along a pristine lake” or “nestled next to a gorgeous lake”

The list goes on…

I have no doubt that each of the statements is true, and that each is somewhat consumable among families who drink the camp juice.  Also, I am not suggesting that these aren’t valuable marketing points.  

What I’d like to challenge, however, is the messaging.  As parents try to sort through the noise of summer choices, these common refrains are not distinctive.  They become hollow, sound well-rehearsed, and dare I say, seem disingenuous.

So what are we to do?  Yes, a family-run camp is a potentially powerful marketing point.  Yes, lakes are lovely locations for camp, and yes, if you believe you have one of the top facilities or ‘x’ programs, then it should be noted.  The key is how you message it.  It is about authenticity.

I’m an advocate for story-telling to connect genuinely with prospective families.  A good story is engaging and illustrative in a way that catch-phrases or slogans aren’t.  Anyone who’s run a camp and loves kids has no shortage of great stories.  It can be a powerful way to illustrate what a family-run business means, how homesickness can be overcome, how hiring top-talent to run programs produces results, etc.  It speaks to parents in an authentic way and allows your passion to shine through.  I often advise parents to ask specific questions to get to the heart of a camp director. I am a believer that a camp is a direct reflection of its leadership, so if you discover more about the passion of the director, you will be more likely to learn more about the camp.

Great stories aren’t long ones.  They are succinct and often humorous or poignant.  Take a little time to think about the “why” for each of your selling points, and then think back to a moment, a time or an experience that illustrates it.

~Michael Thompson, Guest Contributor

[Travis' Note: Michael is one of our partners in the CampLighter Marketing Awards and the owner of Lantern Camps - a directory of fantastic sleepaway camps. He's a righteous dude.]