The Day Camp Pod - From Go Camp Pro – Details, episodes & analysis

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/turn-around-strategies

When a day camp starts to lose its spark, what does it take to bring it back to life? In this episode of the Day Camp Pod, the hosts sit down with Heath Levine from Shibley Day Camp and turnaround expert Jonathan Gold to unpack what really goes into reviving an underperforming camp. From rebuilding a positive culture and engaging the community to tackling staff retention and marketing hurdles, they share real stories and strategies that have helped transform struggling programs into thriving ones. 

Highlights:

• 03:50 Heath Levine's Camp Journey
• 08:39 Jonathan Gold's Turnaround Insights
• 11:18 Establishing Camp Culture and Values
• 27:06 Marketing and Community Engagement
• 32:17 Flexible Work Schedules and Expectations
• 32:45 The Relevance of Face-to-Face Interaction
• 33:23 Marketing Strategies for Camps
• 34:00 Resurrecting Tamarack: Challenges and Strategies
• 34:57 The Importance of Community Engagement
• 40:51 Balancing Tradition and Innovation
• 52:51 Staff and Camper Retention
• 58:12 The Emotional Challenges of Leadership

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Episode Links:

Camp’s Golden Metric

Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change

Your Hosts:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

With:

• Heath Levine, Director - Shibley Day Camp
• Jonathan Gold, MBA, PhD, Camp Owner/Director - the Arbor Group of Camps

Sponsors:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) 
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Campminder
  • Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more at camptivities.c

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/sleepaway-spirit

What makes sleepaway camp feel so special and how can day camps capture that same magic? In this episode of the Day Camp Pod, hosts Andy Pritikin, Sam Thompson, and Jordanna Grossinger are joined by camp pros Dan Johnson and Dan Weir to unpack exactly that. Together, they explore creative ways to bring community, connection, and spontaneous fun into the day camp environment.  

Episode Links:

Camp Robin Hood’s Hands are Strong Sing-a-Long

Liberty Lake Spirit Calendar

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

Center for Nonviolent Communication

Your Hosts:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood
• Dan Weir, Senior Consultant - Immersive1st, Day Camp Community
• Dan Johnson, Day Camp Director - Kennolyn Camps

Sponsors:

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) 
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Campminder
  • Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/new-owner-jason

Want to own your own camp? Here is the perfect case study from Jason Samuel!

 We've had a series of awesome podcasts this season with inspiring stories about making the jump to being a director or even an owner operator. Since we shared the Jonathan Gold podcast with our friends Howie and Kelly on the Camp Owners Pod, they're sharing back another great podcast with Andy’s former camp sidekick Jason Samuel, who recently found his way to becoming a camp owner operator himself.

We're proud of you, Jason! This is the Day Camp Pod.

Highlights:

• 00:00 Introduction to the Episode
• 00:30 Podcast Overview and Sponsors
• 02:25 Introducing Jason Samuel & Jason's Journey into Camping
• 07:27 The Appeal of Day Camps
• 09:07 Purchasing The Nature Place
• 15:30 Networking and Finding Camps for Sale
• 21:56 Financing the Camp Purchase
• 30:53 Navigating Lease Agreements
• 34:23 Making Improvements and Investments
• 37:26 Transition Challenges and Communication
• 46:42 Lessons Learned and Advice
• 52:46 Rapid Fire Questions

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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

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Your Hosts:

• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch
• Jason Samuel - Owner & Director - The Nature Place

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Sponsors:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AMSkier
  • AMSkier is a leading insurance and strategic partner for many of the finest camps in America. AMSkier partners with camps to provide public relations, legal, medical, behavior support and more - Experience the AMSkier difference. Learn more at amskier.com.
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) 
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• CampMinder
  • Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com

Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here:

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/sleepaway-spirit-pt3

“The Mont-sters of Day Camp” are here for our annual episode on harnessing the spirit of overnight camp at your day camp!

If YOU have experienced both day camp AND resident camp, agree that a great day camp captures the “Sleepaway Camp” Spirit- This episode, our third annual episode on this topic, attempts to solve the riddle of WHAT IS the Sleepaway Camp Spirit, and what can we do in our meager little day camp setting between the limited hours, staff going home every night, and kids ratting us out to their parents- The answer, we can do a whole lot.

In this episode, we cover:

• What do people who don’t know day camp, not understand about the culture?
• What are we even talking about - sleepaway camp spirit?
• What concepts are we able to “bring over” from the overnight camp experience?
• What cool things our camps do to give that vibe
• Challenges to achieve this - Staff that go home at night, parents who interrogate their kids every afternoon, etc.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Games like capture the flag and other wide games that kids sometimes don’t get to do in a day camp experience.

Sam T: Find a giant cardboard distributor - backdrops, cardboard regatta, photo boards, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

Tiff: Run a New Years eve slumber party - ginger ale, ball drop, toast at noon, pyjamas, movies, popcorn, the whole 9-yards!

Sam B: 6 Team Olympics in One Day - use stories to fuel the excitement

YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Sam Borek, Camp Owner/Director - Woodmont Day Camp
• Gordon Josey, Owner/Director - Breezemont Day Camp

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!

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Here are some art projects that teens will actually enjoy!

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On this mini-pod, Sam sits down with Cricket to tell you about some of their favourite art projects that are winners with teens!

And since it’s hard to do an audio-only show of crafts, here is a write-up of the crafts!

Thanks, Sam and Cricket!

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Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

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YOUR HOST:

• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA Illinois

GUEST:

• Cricket Snearing, 30 years as Administrative Director and Rockwood Adventures Teen Travel Director at Sesame, Current Summer Ceramics Teacher at Camp Walden, NY

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Send a text

Find full notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/2021-staff-recruitment-and-retention

We’re not exactly sure what the summer of 2021 will look like, but we know we’ll need a great team of staff! Here’s how to get them on board, and keep them around!

As we navigate the pandemic waters, the staffing landscape has skewed a bit. Some might say that potential staff are more available than ever. But are they willing to work at camp? Are their parents willing to allow them to work at camp? And how has the proposition of working at day camp changed.

We have tremendous benefits over most any other summer jobs, and our challenge continues to be figuring out how to translate the camp experience into a language that neophytes can understand and appreciate.

We welcome Kim Aycock and Jolly Corley to the Pod to help share some best practices with our listeners.

In this episode, we cover:

• Recruitment: what advantages do we have within/coming out of a pandemic?
• Internships and travel abroad cancelled or limited
• Utilizing alumni connections
• How to get people back to your camp in 2021, when your camp didn’t run in 2020?
• Staff Culture = Camp Culture
• Panic & being “stuck”  is real
• So many questions, so few answers
• Importance of communication/transparency
• Be a Stress Detective
• Return to Your Values (before, current, ideal)
• Why reinvent the wheel - look to great leaders in times of crisis  (Winston Churchill) for guidance “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” — Winston Churchill
• Frame the Summer, Invoke Destiny, Define Victory/Success, Redefine Hardship

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Intentional Staff Bonding - Tie Dye Night

Sam: Mafia Game

Tiff: Survey staff what victory/success looks like at the end of this summer (goals). Cool tool Opinion X helps with surveys: https://www.opinionx.co/

Kim: Disruptus Game (great for ideation, innovation...Disruptus revolves around new ways to create, transform, or improve ideas or objects)

Jolly: Pool Noodle Games for Social Distancing

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YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jolly Corley, Speaker and Director - Camp Robindel
• Kim Aycock, Speaker, Trainer, Teacher and Go Camp Pro Contributor - www.kimaycock.com

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   

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Find more at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/eleanor-eells

Celebrating a foundational Camp Professional. Tune in to learn about Eleanor Eells and her legacy in camping in part, through Title XX funding.

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Eleanor P. Eells was a leader and inspiration within the field of camp throughout her life. She was an active participant in the Settlement House and Social Service Agency camp movements and a pioneer in therapeutic camping. She was one of the founders of the Fund for Advancement of Camping and served as its director through FAC's formative years.

Eleanor Eells had an equally important influence on the American Camp Association. She worked with FAC to support programs such as ACA's 1970s standards research and rewrite; the pilot Camp Director Certification Institute; the Camping Unlimited/Intergrouping Project; ACA's last reorganization; and securing government funding for campership use. 

Her greatest contribution was helping individuals and camps start new programs. When these programs were operating, she shared results with countless others.
Eleanor Eells' life was an example for the camp professional. The first recipient of ACA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, Eleanor Eells passed away in her 94th year in Calgary, Alberta.

We’re so excited to welcome Gordie Kaplan to this mini-pod to discuss an extremely important figure in the camping industry, Eleanor Eells!

Tune in to hear about:

1. How did you end up working with Eleanor?

2. What was the societal problem that the two of you were trying to remedy that led to Title XX?

3. Describe Tittle XX?

4. Title XX in the COVID year, how we adapted program’s to still serve campers.

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Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

YOUR HOST:

• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA Illinois

GUESTS:

• Gordie Kaplan, Camping Industry Veteran - ACA-IL

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Send a text

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/blog/women-of-gcp-podcast

What do you call it when you gather a bunch of female camp and podcasting pros in a room? You call it AWESOME.

In today’s special crossover episode, Beth Allison from Camp Code hosts a conversation with several of the women who podcast with Go Camp Pro. Today’s episode features Rachel Kent and Cassie Bloy from Beyond Camp, Sam Thompson from the Day Camp Pod, Kelly Schuna from The Camp Owner’s Podcast, and Ruby Compton from Camp Code and Gabrielle Raill from CampHacker and Camp Code. 

Listen in as these women discuss their mentors who inspired them in the industry, challenges women face working at camp and advice for new camp pros. Interestingly, all of these women have also attended the Women in Camp Summit in previous years. During the episode, they discuss some of their biggest takeaways from the event as well as what they are most looking forward to for this year’s Live Virtual Summit taking place December 2-3. Find out more about the Women in Camp Summit Live Virtual event at https://www.womenincampsummit.com.

Gabrielle announced this year’s Summit will also feature the first of the “Becoming Allies” series with an event titled “Becoming Allies: Supporting Women in Camp” on December 4. Folks who want to participate in the Allies event can register through this link: https://acai.wildapricot.org/event-4051965

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The Women in Camp Summit needs your support! 

The planning team for the Summit has set a $7,500 fundraising goal to offer scholarships to attendees and off-set the costs of hosting this unique professional development event. Every dollar counts. Donate today and donate again on the Day of Giving for the Women in Camp Summit on November 24. Donate here: https://acai.wildapricot.org/allies/

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Love this episode?

Find more Podcast goodness at gocamp.pro/podcast. Also, if you want to support the work that we do, please consider subscribing to the shows, and leaving us a rating in your favourite Podcast app.

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On This Episode:

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant and Co-Owner - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch
• Cassie Bloy, Consultant & Freelance Camp Director - Stephane Richard Development Consulting 
• Rachel Kent, Coordinator, Member Risk - Girl Guides of Canada

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Find show notes and links at - https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/day-camp-from-scratch

Post-COVID, the world is going to be in need of more connection than ever. What better way is there to connect than at camp? Here’s how to start your own!

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If only one out of every six American children attends summer camp programs, there’s a whole lot of potential campers out there, just waiting for YOU to create a day camp closeby to their neighborhood. 

So now what? How do you go from that great little idea to a fully functioning day camp that’s signing up campers, hiring staff, and getting ready for opening day? Stay tuned- and we’ll let you know.

In this episode, we cover:

• Location location location!
• Business, marketing and branding plans
• Quick and easy camper registration.
• Set up open house- “Meet the Director” events- Zoom, in-person, etc.
• Create YouTube/Facebook/Instagram videos- Tell them who you are, why you’re doing this, and how awesome it’s going to be!
• How do you ingratiate yourself with the local community and become a partner
• How do you position your proposition? What does the local community need? 
• Who is the oversight in your area? DCFS, Health Department, ACA?
• And much much more!

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Portable Ga-Ga Court- Inflatable, wooden, plastic- whatever. Create “camp” anywhere!

Sam: T-Shirts for winter that say “Ask me about my awesome camp” or follow me to…

Tiff: Google

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YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Send a text

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/day-camp-kitchen

Happy Kitchen - Happy Camp. Here are some best practices for camp kitchens of all kinds!

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Running a food service at your day camp is not typical, and it certainly isn’t in the talent wheelhouse of most camp directors. 

But for those who can pull it off, it can be an awesome perk for your camp families- while hopefully not being a huge financial or managerial burden upon you. 

We’re joined today by Sam Borek, who honed his kitchen skills at resident camp, and who actually enjoys managing the ins and outs of the day camp kitchen.

Tune in to hear about:

• Determining Menu
• Choosing food vendors
• How do the kids ORDER their meal each day?
• How is it served, non-pandemic, during pandemic (next summer)
• Desserts
• Allergies
• Healthy
• Not Healthy- Snacks, Ice Cream/Ice Pops

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

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YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

GUESTS:

• Sam Borek, Camp Owner/Director - Woodmont Day Camp

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SPONSORS:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/
• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Please review and subscribe!

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy! 

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp  

Thanks, Camp Pro!