As a summer camp consultant, I talk daily with families, camps and summer programs. With nearly two decades of experience, I still marvel at things I learn. And here I mean the little things that make a difference.
Yesterday I attended an American Camp Association camp professional development day on management, The Morry Stein Fall Management Conference. Its focus was on motivating staff to bring a camp to its next level. There were some great speakers on relevant topics. But my greatest take away was the sharing of knowledge amongst experienced (and novice) camp directors.
Many industries keep their practices close to the chest. Not camp directors. They share with others the systems they develop to nurture staff to maximize counselors abilities to manage campers, architectural plans to build efficient facilities, instructors and trainers who offer specialized insights; and the list goes on.
I also loved listening to how leaders in the camp community were receptive to learning new ways; realizing that others may have great ideas to make their camp operations even better. Whether a camp was privately owned or a non-profit; all ideas were welcome and appreciated.
This may seem unusual to parents, since one would think certain camps are competing against one another for new campers. But the truth is all good camp directors want the same thing: a safe camp where appropriate facilities can be built and maintained, exciting and relevant programs can be developed and implemented and the best staff/trainers can be recruited, motivated and nurtured to create the best experiences for children.
And this is a 365 day a year commitment. Camp directors, please keep sharing.
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Posted by: Dissertation Writing | February 09, 2012 at 10:00 AM