Working With Difficult People - The Scott Arizala Show

How can summer camp leaders best handle difficult people?

Whether it is staff, camper parents or even volunteers every camp leader needs to be prepared for dealing with people who are not nice or even just socially awkward.

With his "Punch the Shark" story Scott helps us look at difficult situations and figure out how to deal with them head-on.  This includes some things to notice about ourselves but also some specific strategies for facing our biggest social challenges as summer camp directors.​

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-04-04.

(Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/XhJTBRfH8js)​

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of the 5 summer camps of Cairn who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.

Camp TV - summer camp video producers

3Adventures - international summer camp staff​​

Free Play - The Scott Arizala Show

Unstructured Free Play Makes for Healthy Children

Parent's just don't say to their kids "go outside and play" anymore.  What have we done to our children by taking away their opportunity to entertain themselves?

In this video, Scott walks us through how to give kids the space to explore, play and grow at summer camp.

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-04-04.

(Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/j_N_lASyTlE)​

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of the 5 summer camps of Cairn who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.​

3Adventures - international summer camp staff​​

Praise - The Scott Arizala Show

Setting Your Campers and Counsellors Up for Success

(Travis' note:  I think the subtitle of this episode should be: How To Teach Your Campers To Not Poop in the Closet.)​

Praising campers (and staff) with some very specific ​recognition is the best way to build great behaviours.   Watch the show to hear Scott's ideas!​

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-03-25.

(Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/zBVopMH2rIY)​

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of the 5 summer camps of Cairn who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.

Camp TV - summer camp video producers

3Adventures - international summer camp staff​​

Essential Leadership Skills - The Scott Arizala Show.

​Accessibility, Approachability and Communication Skills Essential for Summer Camp Counsellors

​The Scott Arizala Show

​The Scott Arizala Show

Those three talents, along with team work and the ability to delegate make up Scott's most important summer camp staff skills.   Watch as he takes us through his approach to developing those skills.​

One of my favourite points Scott brings up in this discussion is: Speed.  When you, as a camp director are On The Move - hurrying constantly from one activity to another, one meeting to another - are you really being Approachable and Accessible?​

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-03-17.

If you have trouble viewing the video watch it on YouTube: Essential Leadership Skills

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of 5 summer camps who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.

3Adventures - international summer camp staff

Camp TV - summer camp video producers

First Five Minute Skills - The Scott Arizala Show.

Making Kids Comfortable at Summer Camp

We all know about First Impressions.   We work hard to make sure our website has a great, fresh design, that our Welcome letter really shows off WHY we do what we do, and that camp gives off a good impression from the moment families turn on to our lane.

Are we as conscientious as that with the children that come to our camp?  Do we insist our staff make them feel safe and comfortable as soon as they arrive? Do we begin our relationships with them by providing them tools to be more comfortable at camp.  

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-03-11.

If you have trouble viewing the video watch it on YouTube: First Five Minute Skills

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of 5 summer camps who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.

3Adventures - international summer camp staff

Clear Expectations - The Scott Arizala Show

Communicate well with your summer camp staff

1-ScottArizala-Logo.jpg
Clarity in your expectations does not mean say it louder, which is how a lot of adults do it.

Scott walks us through his system for making sure kids (and staff) understand what you are looking for in their behaviour and treatment of others.   By taking it step by step you can lead them to "ultimate clarity".​

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-02-19.

(Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/6PACiT42Z8w)​

About Scott Arizala

Scott is one of the leading experts and premier trainers on kids, staff and the experience of summer camp. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. He has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.

About Travis Allison

Travis is a former Executive Director of the 5 summer camps of Cairn who now works as an online marketing strategy advisor who specializes in the private school and summer camp industries.  

Travis produces the CampHacker podcasts and blog, the Scott Arizala show, and manages the Summer Camp Professionals group on Facebook.

A Big CampHacker Thank You!

We are so grateful to our Scott Arizala Show sponsors.  We hope you'll check them out and consider them for your camps this summer.

Camp TV - summer camp video producers