Staff Training

Camp’s long hours can wear on even the most dedicated staff. Learn the difference between stress and burnout, the warning signs of “quiet cracking,” and practical strategies to protect your well-being and stay engaged all summer.

Alex, a seven-year-old, first-time day camper, arrives for his first day at camp. Almost from the moment he steps out of his mom’s car, he appears restless, constantly on the move...

Learn how camps can prepare for severe weather and heat stress by understanding risks, recognizing warning signs, and implementing safety strategies to protect campers and staff.

Camper misbehavior is often a sign of an unmet need. Learn how to pause, observe what you see and hear, respond with positive strategies, and work with your supervisor on a behavior success plan when challenges persist.

Strong counselor teams make camp work. Based on Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team, here are five practical ways counselors can build trust, address conflict, clarify roles, share accountability, and stay grounded in purpose.

When a camper comes to you with a problem, the instinct is to fix it. Learn how to use the GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward) to coach campers through conflicts so they build confidence and problem-solving skills of their own.

Camp work is rewarding but hard. Learn what grace is, how giving it to yourself and others reduces stress and builds resilience, and 10 everyday ways to practice it with campers and fellow staff this summer.

Ropes courses do not teach teamwork, leadership, or confidence. Facilitators do. This is one of the things I tell staff when I kick off challenge course training. What I love most...

So, you’ve decided to work at camp this summer? First of all, thank you. We need people just like you. Whatever brought you to this place — a love of kids, a return to a place that...

Child and adolescent therapist Bob Ditter shares practical advice for new and returning counselors: how to earn campers’ trust, what makes a counselor unforgettable, the difference between being in charge and leading, and what to do when you’re overwhelmed.