How to Make a Cabin a Home for Campers (and Yourself!) - First Class Counselors #43

Home is where the bunk is…at least it is at camp!

For nearly 8 weeks a small converted shed will be your place of residency. For many camps a cabin is a room with just bunks. Sometimes you are lucky to have walls and those with a bathroom could be considered pampered. But how do you make this temporary residence feel like home for you and for your campers?

For day camp counsellors you have the challenge of doing this but without the physical 4 walls. How can you take all of the personalization, the rituals and the leverage you get from using the physical space? It’s tough, but it’s totally possible. This episode will have something for everyone, so tune in and let’s figure out how to help your campers feel at home at camp.

On this episode you’ll hear:

  • The reality of cabin life for you and campers - how to not be de-feeted!

  • Creating an environment of belonging - right from the beginning

  • The look of a cabin that says “welcome home”

  • Creating “home” throughout the week

  • How to use tradition and ritual to help keep that feeling of home strong even when campers actually go home.

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Show Links!

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E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning

Matt: Daily gratitude journaling.

  • 5 things you’re grateful for, 3 things you’re proud of from the past 24 hours, 1 goal for the next 24 hours

Oliver: Tea! For any occasion. Seriously…Oliver’s been on a huge tea-kick lately!


Host Links


What is First Class Counselors?

Camp Directors, this Podcast isn’t for you. It’s time to delegate! First Class Counsellors is for your counselling staff, the ones who are on the ground, playing with kids and changing lives.

Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counsellor skills. These are things every counsellor should know, but that you may not have time to teach in staff training.

Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan and Matt Wilfrd from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counsellors and up and coming staff, who they believe, have the most important job at camp.


This is free professional development for your counsellors! We would love your feedback. Please leave your comments below, or, send Matt an email! Thank you!