Camp counselors have the most important job at summer camp. Period. A great camp staff will have kids wanting to come back to camp year after year. First Class Counsellors is here to make great camp staff. Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counselor skills. Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan, Summer and Families Camp Director at YMCA Camp Jewell and Matt Honsberger from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counselors.
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Congratulations! You’re having a wild, wonderful bundle of CAMP!
Staff training season is upon us (that is, if you’re listening to this episode in May) and while camp staff around the world are finishing up the school year, camp directors are putting the final touches on staff training.
If you’ve never been, or are newer to staff training before it’s this entirely different world, within an entirely different world. It’s school, but way better, and way more tiring.
But this is an extremely important time for you to prepare for the wonderful work ahead so this episode is dedicated to not just what to expect at staff training, but Oliver and my pro-tips on how to thrive in staff training.
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E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
Level up your Camp Counselor skills with these resources!
Oliver: The Learning Pyramid - Stack the learning style of the session with another one to maximize the learning
Matt: A staff training fidget to help you stay engaged - A good fidget is one that doesn’t distract you or others from absorbing the material of the session. 1-handed, silent, solo.
Gather ‘round the campfire for these funny, impactful and straight-up bizarre stories!
Today is not a topic but a feel. A vibe if you will.
We’ve been in camping for some time now and that means we have collected a few stories to share. Not a campfire story but just personal stories of our time as camp people. You might have run into an old camp friend and feel like a moment has never passed. Sometimes you can run into another person who has done camp and can swap stories.
This is one of the things camp does, brings us together.
Enjoy our short and special stories:
Funny stories (fart pillows and pudding)
Impactful stories (friends getting fired and septic tank fighting)
Heartwarming stories (seeing starts and talent shows)
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E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
Level up your Camp Counselor skills with these resources!
Oliver: Digital Organization tips for young camp pros
It's the most wanted summer job in the world. Honestly, with the recent pay increases, workplace experience and the amazingness of camp it truly is a job people from around the world seek. So how do you stand out in your interview? Today we are going to cover the application process and some of the important parts of the interview.
We recorded this in January so you’re getting Matt and Oliver who have been sitting through interviews for the last month. So take it from these camp directors who have seen over a hundred applications - these are truly insider tricks.
In the hierarchy of things we love, food reigns supreme.
But, let’s be honest, camp food can be…well camp food. Sometimes, it’s a step above high school lunch but also not as great as your typical college food hall. It serves the purpose of caloric intake and satisfying the picky eating of a 10-year-old who only likes chicken nuggets in the shapes of dinosaurs. But it becomes repetitive or lacks the flavour and complexity of your young adult's heightened taste.
So as someone that’s going to be at camp all summer, how will not just survive on camp food, but thrive on it!
What to do the first time you’re alone with campers…
It’s arguably the most stressful time in a camp counsellor’s life. It’s the first day of camp, the caregivers have just left and it’s now just you and the campers. As 10 sets of eyes stare in anticipation, it dawns on you that what you do and say next really matters.
How you spend that first little bit with your campers will set the tone for the session. If you don’t treat it intentionally, it’s going to be something that you, and likely the rest of camp is going to have to work on for the rest of the session.
This episode, we’ll cover:
Why be intentional
What to do in the first 5 minutes of being alone
Things after that
What doesn’t work
Pretty intense, right? So intense that Oliver and I couldn’t take on this one alone. We’re joined by Robynne Howard from the Cairn Family of Camps - a camp who does this first impression thing REALLY well.
So tune in to this “longy, but a goodie”!
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E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
Robynne: Carry a garbage bag around with you. When kids inevitably hand you garbage or need a bandaid, you have space to put your garbage. Plus then you can help pick up garbage that you find around camp
Have 60 seconds? Here are 8 awesome games you can play with campers!
Do you need a minute?
How about a short quick way to play a game that makes a “meh” moment a “Yay!” Moment. It’s episode 60, so we’re talking 60 seconds or less to play a game or add an element to make your moments the moments!
To explain each game Matt and I have 60 seconds on the clock to explain and provide an example. So strap in, because this one will move quickly!
The modern world has always tried to make its way into camp. That’s because camp is meant to be a refuge from the world’s pressures.
In the 90s and early 2000s, many camps even introduced coding. But the invention of the smartphone changed the story, not just for camp but the world. The connection the phone provides means fostering connection off of it has become harder.
A person can only be in so many places at once. So how do we as staff do it? In a world that may only allow us to look away from our phones for an hour, how do we do it for 6 to 10 weeks? That is what we will dive into today.
Camp Directors, this Podcast 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.
How to (Kindly) Raise Gritty Campers - First Class Counselors #58
You don’t have to sacrifice care and support in order to promote grit!
Perhaps you have heard of Angela Ducksworth’s book “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” Or if you have been in the camp conference circuit awhile and the opportunity to listen to Dr. Deborah Gilboa speak about resilience.
Or maybe you’ve heard of Jimmy Donaldson, or Mr. Beast speak about the subject of grit, it seems to be found in all successful people.
This idea of overcoming obstacles and pushing through tough situations is part of camp. While camp may be fun and full of games it is also a learning opportunity for your campers. This episode, we want to identify areas where grit building can be found on camp and what you as a counselor can do to help in its development.
Oliver: Swaps - Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Little craft giveaways. They are made typically on bobby pins and you make them in large quantities as memorabilia. Girls scouts to thank for this one.
It’s not if you’ll make a mistake…it’s when you’ll make one.
We all make mistakes, but the best part about making them at camp is that you are in one of the most supportive work environments ever. Making mistakes is how you know that you’ve pushed your comfort zone, so if you’re lucky enough to make a bunch, you’re going to learn a bunch, too!
Matt and Oliver share some stories of bad decisions, lapses of judgement, or just plain absent-mindedness they made back in the day as summer staff. Then, they’ll share some perspectives on why they made the mistake and how that mistake made them better camp professionals.
Summer is over and you have scrolled through your gallery a bunch remembering how much fun you had.
Camp offered a lot - fun, food, friends. But it also taught you a lot and equip you for life after camp. As you unpack, we unpack all the ways you never truly leave summer camp behind.
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.
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.
Matt: Look at your camera during zoom interviews - makes it look like you’re making eye contact with the interviewer
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!
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!
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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!
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.
-
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!
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!
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