More with Less - The Scott Arizala show

Making camp staff training fast and effective

When I first heard Scott's timeline for his summer camp staff training I was floored.  I know that we felt like we couldn't fit it all in to 8 days (plus a weekend) and here Scott was doing it all in 2.5 days.

In this week's show Scott walks through prioritizing the few important things to being a great camp staff and making sure that they know those things VERY well. 

Watch Scott's show here: 

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-06-03.

Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/PEFimSt1TFw

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

A "HINT" to Avoid Cancellations - Joanna Warren Smith

Summer camps are reporting last-minute cancellations

They do happen because of illness or summer school, but the cancellation without justification can be avoided if you nurture your relationships with campers and their parents right before camp.

Even though you are in high gear now, it's worth the effort to ...

TAKE ACTION NOW!

  • SEND A 'CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT CAMP' NOTE.  Campers love getting snail mail, but if that's not possible, send a camper email to parents requesting that 'they print it out for their camper.'  Age-specific comments about the great times ahead with a terrific visual or two can help campers feel more comfortable about their approaching adventure.  The language of the first-time camper note should be different from the one sent to returning campers.
  • PRIORITIZE 2013 PARENT CALLS & EMAILS.  Go on heightened alert to respond immediately to each communication from a current family.  If their concerns or questions are not addressed instantaneously, they may get 'cold feet'.
  • REMIND FAMILIES OF ACCESS.  Even though you have said it repeatedly, it is comforting to parents when you send a focused email that gives details of how to communicate with you during the summer.  Send this just before their child comes to camp, be certain to give an emergency number and define a truly urgent situation.

Please do what you can to avoid the possibility of developing a cancellation trend.

Have a great, safe summer... 

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/) 

 

Special Needs - The Scott Arizala Show

Find out each child's unique interest to motivate them to participate in summer camp

I've been lucky enough to always work at camps where kids with special needs have been directly integrated into the cabin group with kids who's need are a bit more traditional.    I think it has added so much to our camp program and the spirit of the place.

I was so grateful to Scott for choosing this topic this week.  He has so many great ideas to share about how to help the campers, work well with their parents and show your staff how to shine in this environment.​

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-05-27.

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

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

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

​Camp TV - summer camp video producers​​

Favourites - The Scott Arizala show

Developing a consciousness to be fair to all your staff and campers

A camp director's time is the best currency we have to offer.   We, obviously, don't pay our staff what they are worth (for all of the responsibility that they have) but giving a moment to truly listen to a staff member or camper can mean a great amount.

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-05-13.

I love Scott's trick of tracking how much time, and whether it is positive or negative, that he spends with each staff member.  By being conscientious and measuring he can make sure he counters his natural human instinct to play favourites. 

Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/pZhzm05-iGo

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

A "HINT" to Increase Retaining Campers - Joanna Warren Smith

Training Your Summer Camp Staff to Help You Keep Campers Coming Back

(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/)

​hint for retaining summer campers from Joanna Warren Smith.

​hint for retaining summer campers from Joanna Warren Smith.

Imagine if you will ...

A camper is walking down a path with a favorite counselor.  They are laughing, talking and bonding in such a special way that when you see them, you smile because these relationships are what camp is all about.

The lively, engaging conversation continues; the camper looks up fondly at the best role model in the world and eagerly asks, "Are you coming back to camp next summer?"  And the counselor quickly responds "No, I'm going to grad school."

Please know that the camper who asked the question will likely not be back because in that response, the counselor took away a "personal" reason for the child to return.

Now, I don't advocate lying to campers but we must encourage counselors to realize their impact on children.  It's essential for them to see how the ramifications of a response to a tough question can be mitigated.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

  • RUN A SHORT INTERACTIVE SESSION FOR ALL STAFF.  Act out the above scenario and let counselors come to their own conclusions about the impact on the camper.  If they see it, rather than get lectured about it, they are more likely to understand your intention.
  • PROVIDE EASY RESPONSES.   Encourage counselors to anticipate the question and be ready with authentic responses like "I love camp so much, I want to come back every year."  Or "Camp is the best place, I always want to be here, don't you?" And remind counselors that if they do have negative reactions about camp, they should be shared with leadership ... not with campers or their parents.
  • FOCUS BACK ON THE CAMPER.  Guide the counselor to move the child to thinking about what can be accomplished in the next summer.  "You'll be a Pathfinder next year ... I bet you're looking forward to that canoe trip!" Or "You'll get your third year pin next year, right?"
  • PRACTICE.  Give leadership and staff the opportunity to role play a number of times to let everyone become comfortable with the question and their responses.

Retention can be increased with this one simple focus.  Give it a try!

Want some other last-minute retention techniques?

Give Joanna a call at  310-451-1876  or email campconsulting@verizon.net

 

 

Bullying and Teasing - The Scott Arizala Show

People bully because it works

Scott's model for how human relationships work: a cycle of asking yourself Am I Cool? ​then there are Freak Outs and finally we take some Action. 

Uploaded by Scott Arizala on 2013-05-13.

What can we do, as camp leaders, to create good connections with our kids and help them have to tools to build good relationships?​

(Trouble seeing the video? Watch: http://youtu.be/GTVBphvWUk8)​

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

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

​Camp TV - summer camp video producers​

​summer camp marketing video