Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/ops From Paperwork to People: The “Ops” Deep Dive Episode Are you truly taking the operational side of camp seriously enough? If you're like many camp leaders, the answer is probably "not yet." This episode of the CampHacker Podcast dives deep into the often-undiscussed world of camp operations. Join hosts Travis Allison, Chris Hudson, and Rachel Kent, along with special guest P...
May 29, 2025•45 min•Ep. 216
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/dei-camp-2025 Is Summer Camp Inherently Racist? A Frank Discussion on DEI in the Camp Industry This week on the CampHacker Podcast, Travis Allison gets straight to the point with Chris Hudson, Rachel Kent, and Simone Gamble: Is summer camp inherently racist? They dig into the history of camping and how it's wrestled with being truly open and welcoming to everyone. The group does...
May 15, 2025•47 min•Ep. 215
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/power-of-performance Unlocking Hidden Potential: What All Camps Can Learn From the Magic of Performing Arts Camps What's the secret sauce of performing arts camps? Host Travis Allison chats with Chris Hudson, Carolyn Daniels (Meridan YMCA), and Theo Lencicki (Camp Broadway) to uncover the surprising lessons that all camps can use. Discover how embracing elements of theater, musi...
May 01, 2025•44 min•Ep. 214
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/modern-mentor What does it take to be a great mentor in the camp industry? This week on CampHacker, hosts Travis Allison, Chris Hudson, and guest Michael Garcia (author of " Becoming a Modern Mentor ") dive into the essential elements of effective mentorship. They share personal stories of impactful mentors, discuss strategies for setting boundaries, and explore how to empower s...
Apr 17, 2025•56 min•Ep. 213
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/culture-customer Mastering Camp Culture: From Disney Magic to Tea-Kettle Secrets! Dive into the latest episode of the CampHacker Podcast, where Travis Allison, Chris Hudson, and Heather Withrow unravel the secrets behind creating a vibrant and intentional camp culture. From the enchanting influences of Disney to the practical magic of a 'nurse mobile' during check-ins, this epis...
Apr 03, 2025•48 min•Ep. 212
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/talk-to-parents Save the dodging and weaving for wide-game, not for avoiding camp parents! On this episode of CampHacker, Travis and Chris are joined by Ruby Compton, and Joanna Warren Smith to really dig into the importance of communicating with camp parents. They discuss the common issue of camps avoiding communication with parents and emphasize the importance of timely, meani...
Mar 20, 2025•45 min•Ep. 211
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/spicy-questions Are these questions about the camp industry too hot to handle? In this special live recording from OCA Connects 2025, Travis is joined by Go Camp Pro podcast hosts Howie Grossinger ( The Camp Owners Podcast ), Rachel Kent ( Beyond Camp ), and Matt Wilfrid ( First Class Counselors ) on a panel discussion like no other. The group answered spicy questions while eati...
Mar 06, 2025•54 min•Ep. 210
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/adhd Is Summer Camp the Right Profession for Someone with ADHD? "I thought it was just me." This is the sentiment shared by many camp professionals with ADHD. On this episode of Camp Hacker, Travis, Kelie, and Shauna open up about their personal experiences with ADHD, sharing the struggles, the "aha" moments, and the unique strengths that come with neurodiversity. They discuss t...
Feb 19, 2025•50 min•Ep. 209
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/no-fun Is it even possible to have fun while being a camp director? This week on CampHacker, we're tackling a big question: Should camp directors have fun? It might seem obvious, but we dig deeper than just surface-level enjoyment. We explore what "fun" really means in the context of the demanding world of summer camp. Our guest, Ariella Skoczylas, joins Travis and Chris to shar...
Feb 12, 2025•38 min•Ep. 208
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2025/hire-director Expectations vs. Reality: The Camp Director Job Market Join Travis Allison, Chris Hudson, Dan Weir, and Esther Eisenhard for another fantastic episode of the CampHacker podcast! This episode dives into key challenges and emerging trends in recruiting and retaining camp staff. Learn about tools and strategies to manage camp operations more effectively, improve the c...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 207
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/scenario-planning-101 Exploring Camp Futures: Key Drivers and Scenario Planning In this episode of Camp Ahead, hosts Joe, Jess, and KJ expand on the idea of scenario planning as an essential tool for thinking about the future. They discuss key drivers such as climate change, economics, demographics, technological advancements, and social shifts that can shape the next decade of summer...
Dec 31, 2024•50 min
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/noticing Use noticing to build a culture of inclusivity and intention. In this episode of the CampHacker podcast, Travis and Chris discuss the vital skill of 'noticing' at camp. The duo share how camp leaders can foster awareness among staff and campers, ensuring dynamic and inclusive programs. They share practical tips, including the importance of diverse staff hiring, continuo...
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Ep. 206
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! A new show from Go Camp Pro! Subscribe to Camp Ahead in Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your favourite Podcasts! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/intro-to-mental-time-travel Welcome to Camp Ahead: The Futurology of the Summer Camp Industry In this inaugural episode of the Camp Ahead podcast, Joe Richards, KJ Williams, and Jess Elfring-Roberts dive into the concept of future-proofing the summer camp ind...
Dec 18, 2024•59 min
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/gender-equity Do you notice that gender equity is something we are better at talking about than doing? In this episode, Travis and Chris welcome back Gabrielle Raill to explore the persistent issue of gender equity in camps. Chris leads a discussion on how camps often roll out the red carpet for male staff due to a shortage of male applicants, sometimes at the expense of gender ...
Dec 05, 2024•44 min•Ep. 205
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/delegate Do you keep saying, “It would be faster if I just did it?” Are you a camp professional struggling with delegation? Travis and Chris sit down and discuss the intricacies of effective delegation, sharing personal experiences, strategies, and tools to help camp directors empower their team and improve camp operations. From understanding the importance of communication to l...
Nov 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 204
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/digital-detox Are we doing our staff and campers a disservice by not better managing the expectations around their phone time at camp? Travis and Chris sit down with Max Claman to chat about effective digital detox and the psychological impacts of removing screens. They also discuss the role of AI in streamlining operations and provide practical tips for integrating technology w...
Nov 07, 2024•44 min•Ep. 203
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/ai-fall-2024 The State of AI and Camps: Fall 2024 In this episode of the CampHacker podcast, Travis and Chris explore the revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence on summer camp management. They dive into AI's role in streamlining operations, automating tasks, and enhancing staff training and parent communication. Discover specific tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Note...
Oct 24, 2024•49 min•Ep. 202
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/over-programmed Are camps so packed with activities that it's actually detrimental? In this episode of the CampHacker podcast, hosts Travis Allison and Chris Hudson discuss the concept of overprogramming at camps, questioning if an abundance of scheduled activities could be detrimental. With insights from camp consultants, they explore balancing structured and unstructured time,...
Oct 10, 2024•45 min•Ep. 201
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/start-camp-2025 If we were starting a summer camp from scratch, here’s what we can do! 200 episodes and over 14 years, the CampHacker Podcast has been around literally so long that we actually can’t find the first few episodes (seriously, if you find them, holler!). After 200+ hours (that’s 1.5 weeks, people!), it’s time to put our money where our mouths are…hypothetically at...
Jun 06, 2024•47 min•Ep. 200
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/camp-pro-adhd You can be a camp professional and have ADHD - there are lots of us out there! You probably wouldn’t be surprised to know that as we have gotten more comfortable talking about exceptionalities, disabilities or diversabilities, the rate of diagnoses for those exceptionalities, disabilities or diversabilities has gone up. More and more people (kids, teens and adul...
May 30, 2024•55 min•Ep. 199
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/05/camp-2035 How are you doing at pushing past the overwhelm and considering the big picture? If you’re reading this on release (mid-May) - it may feel impossible to get out of the weeds and think about the future. That’s fair - and - in order for our industry, and even our camps to make it the next 10 years, we need to consider the challenges that we’re going to face and the opportunities we’ll discover along th...
May 23, 2024•50 min•Ep. 198
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/04/13-tips-for-new-camp-pros New and new-ish Camp Directors, this one is for you. Kick some butt this summer. There are a TON of full-time camp professionals that have entered the industry post-COVID. For those of us that have been around for a while, we know how incredibly difficult the first few years of the job are. You’re figuring out what this level of responsibility means ...
May 12, 2024•22 min•Ep. 197
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/04/what-they-dont-get What is one thing you learned working at camp that surprises people when you talk about? The fact that people don’t understand what we do full-time is not just and “us” problem - it’s a problem for our entire industry. It’s annoying as all heck - yes. And. It could be the reason why you’re under-enrolled and understaffed. One of the biggest issues facing ou...
Apr 18, 2024•44 min•Ep. 196
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/03/choice-based Elective-based, choice-based, whatever you call it, it just may be the future of camper programs. We welcome back one of our original hosts, Dan Weir and welcome back Jack Schott from The Summer Camp Society (and TSCS Podcast!) to unpack all things choice-based programming. You’ll hear: How do we actually define choice-based programming Why was this model so radi...
Mar 28, 2024•52 min•Ep. 195
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/03/our-advice-to-new-staff What are the most important things staff need to know to be successful this summer? Right now (March), camp directors everywhere are starting to think about staff training…or, intending to do so at least. There are a trillion things that we want to teach staff and it would be literally impossible to pack it all in during training and even harder to dec...
Mar 14, 2024•41 min•Ep. 194
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/gen-z Unlocking the Potential of Gen-Z at Summer Camp Staffing continues to be one of the biggest thorns in the paws of our industry. It’s a challenge that isn’t likely to go away soon, so what can we do to ride this wave, rather than just letting it crash into us? Travis and Mandi dig into this topic and share how an approach of curiosity is a Camp Pro’s best tool when working with...
Mar 13, 2024•37 min
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/power-between-people With great power comes…well, you know the rest. We all know that even in the sunshine and butterflies that is summer camp, there is evil lurking about. An evil that affects people and communities from all over. It has a name, too. Are you ready? Power. Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but it’s something nonetheless that we need to talk about when it comes to the micr...
Feb 14, 2024•37 min
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/02/retain-staff The number one recruiting tactic? You got it - retaining! As the summer creeps closer, the staffing woes of the industry rear it’s ugly head again. Wouldn’t it be great if staffing wasn’t the thing that stole your focus from creating the best program you know you could be? Well, it’s a long road, but one of the biggest shortcuts on that road is retaining last sum...
Feb 08, 2024•54 min•Ep. 193
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/podcast/2024/01/camps-and-ai Is AI going to ruin the summer camp industry? AI really proliferated right before we all went to camp in 2023. Some of us started playing with it, but over the summer, while we were living in our “unplugged” utopia, many parts of the world began to change without us. Now that we’re back, directors and industry partners are readily using AI, but in our haste to ca...
Jan 25, 2024•50 min•Ep. 192
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us! Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/good-for-everyone Just BEING at camp is a good thing - the science proves it! We intuitively know that camp is a good thing. We can tell a million heart-filled stories about how camp changes lives. But as you all know, the proof is certainly in the pudding - so for the discerning camp pros (or camp families we are trying to convince to come to camp!) this episode will be a great pla...
Jan 17, 2024•37 min
