Camp Nation's Podcast

itunes pic [https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/2b/db/ea/campnation/1400x1400_2893553.jpg] At the end of our summer, camp staff are feeling drained and energy levels may be low, but it's such an important time of year. What can camp directors do to help staff through those last couple of weeks and ensure they are happy and 'left wanting more' when they leave for home? In CampNation #16 we talk about tips and tricks to ensure your best camp staff and counsellors return back next summer! Staff parties, trips, gift exchanges and more.

itunes pic [https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/2b/db/ea/campnation/1400x1400_2893553.jpg] LINKS - NEWS ABOUT THE CAMPING/RECREATION INDUSTRY 1. New Spice guy [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs](if you are interested in the social media phenomena of the summer - theOld Spice commercials [http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/07/16/how-to-spice-up-your-marketing/]you might like this article describing the making of the commercials) 2. Use social media toboost email open rates [http://blog.blueskyfactory.com/best-practice/how-to-use-social-media-to-boost-email-marketing-open-rate/]- 3. Mitch Albom -Cell Phones and Summer Camp [http://www.freep.com/article/20100704/COL01/7040475/Cell-phones-at-summer-camp?-Just-say-click] 4. http://www.simonstamp.com/ [http://www.simonstamp.com/] PICKS OF THE WEEK - A TOOL THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER CAMP DIRECTOR * Joe -Bat Boxes [http://batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house.html] * Travis -Kodak Zi8 [http://www.amazon.ca/Kodak-1080p-Pocket-Camcorder-Black/dp/B002HOPUPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279626090&sr=8-1] * Gab - Camp Ouareau Pocket Counsellor OTHER INTERESTING BITS * For the best source ofsummer camp information on Facebook [http://facebook.com/ourkidsgotocamp]become a fan of CampNation.  Ask your staff to join - for every 1000 fans Our Kids Media (our parent company) will be donating a campership to an Ontario summer camp. * Ask the CampNation hosts anyquestions about summer camp [http://www.formspring.me/CampNation]. * We want to thank our long-sufferingamazing audio editor [http://www.whereitsatproductions.ca/]Donovan Romanyk from  Where It's At Productions. Thanks for the evening, friends.

itunes pic [https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/2b/db/ea/campnation/1400x1400_2893553.jpg] This week we had a good long chat about summer campStaff Commitmentand how to get staff engaged in their job.   It was really fun to welcome two guests this week: Beth Allison from Walking Maverick Consulting (a business andsummer camp consulting company [http://walkingmaverick.com/about/]. Full Disclosure: Beth is my wife and long-time camp co-director) and Adam Issadore who’s involved inteaching drumming at summer camp [http://www.pathtorhythm.com/]with his Path To Rhythm Company. LINKS - NEWS ABOUT THE CAMPING/RECREATION INDUSTRY 1. Homesick or Kid sick –advice for parents [http://marlacoleman.com/2010/06/homesick-or-kidsick-the-catch-22-of-online-summer-camp-photos.html] 2. Is summer camp dying [http://theweek.com/article/index/204123/is-summer-camp-dying]? (The Week) 3. We are Camp Campaign [http://www.ccamping.org/index.php?id=3&nid=38]featured in CCA newsletter 4. Sunset for an American Tradition [http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0616/Summer-camp-Sunset-for-an-American-tradition](Christian Science Monitor) PICKS OF THE WEEK – A TOOL THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER CAMP DIRECTOR * Joe - [http://www.pvcworkshop.com/freePVCplans.htm]Delivering Happiness – book [http://www.deliveringhappinessbook.com/] * Travis – Timer light switches * Beth – http://www.musiciansfriend.com for Boomwhackers * Adam- Maglite Flashlight

itunes pic [https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/2b/db/ea/campnation/1400x1400_2893553.jpg] Good Day and Welcome to CampNation 13 for the 3rd week of June, 2010. Links - News about the camping/recreation industry * (Travis) - The Definitive Guide To Higher Rankings For Your Blog [http://yoast.com/articles/wordpress-seo/] * (Joe) - Rob Dryan of Camp Oochigeas makes Canada’s Top 40 under 40 leaders [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/managing/top-40-under-40-2009/rob-drynan-37-ontario/article1591046/] list. Discussion Are We Marketing Camp Correctly? Picks Of The Week - A tool that will make you a better camp director * Joe -   Free PVC Building plans [http://www.pvcworkshop.com/freePVCplans.htm] and links * Travis - Referral Engine [http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/newsletters/referknows.html]book

itunes pic [https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/2b/db/ea/campnation/1400x1400_2893553.jpg] LINKS - NEWS ABOUT THE CAMPING/RECREATION INDUSTRY 1. (Travis) - PostSecret-like confessions get yearbook canned - http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/response-to-hs-yearbook-confessions-052010 [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfoxdc.com%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Fresponse-to-hs-yearbook-confessions-052010&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFxNtv8ungIywHxfYEsBcel4Q9ncw] 2. (Dan) - Time “How to Deprogram Bullies: Teaching Kindness 101” http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1989122,00.html [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fmagazine%2Farticle%2F0%2C9171%2C1989122%2C00.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH0L_WHG3iYuTWU9X0-j9ANQmmImw] 3. (Joe) - http://calitreview.com/9087 [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fcalitreview.com%2F9087&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHteSejx31v4scwf9B-3P1Zyo1NyA]This is an interesting take on how summer camp is portrayed in the media of movies - if you were hired as a camp counsellor and you went to the movie store to rent a movie to see what you have gotten yourself into - or to prepare - would you learn the right things?  Do the movies listed really show people what camp is? 4. (Gab) - http://withoutmedia.wordpress.com/ [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwithoutmedia.wordpress.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHaOgJoGy0YEbILvoxHD_UEIq9SZA]“What was is it like to go without media for 24hrs?” Students from the University of Maryland try to go unplugged for 24hrs PICKS OF THE WEEK - A TOOL THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER CAMP DIRECTOR * (Travis) - ReWork book by 37signals.com * (Joe) - Cool Tools - http://www.kk.org/cooltools/ [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kk.org%2Fcooltools%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEMgZOa1kfZ5MS_wIbSJB9WIC3L9g] * (Gab) - Shackelton’s Way, a book review on leadership and team work, with the link to amazon.com to purchase the bookhttp://leadershipissues.blogspot.com/2004/10/book-review-shackletons-way.html [http://leadershipissues.blogspot.com/2004/10/book-review-shackletons-way.html] * (Dan) Hired on MTV http://www.mtv.com/shows/hired/series.jhtml [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv.com%2Fshows%2Fhired%2Fseries.jhtml&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGyfKtXmuzxQYYkEXeIrqskkodU1Q] Your Hosts: * Dan Weir [http://twitter.com/danlovescamp], Director atFrost Valley YMCA [http://www.frostvalley.org/] * Gab Raill, Director at Camp Ouareau * Joe Richards [http://twitter.com/yoyojoer], Administrative Director atPearce Williams Christian Centre [http://www.pearcewilliams.org/] * Travis Allison [http://twitter.com/ourkidsnet], Social Media Manager atOur Kids Media [http://ourkidsmedia.com]