While no recruiting tool can replace personal time spent with prospective camp counselors, an effectively designed media tool can strengthen the camp's overall recruiting plan. Suggestions are offered for determining which media tools fit the camp's needs, selecting elements and themes to include in a recruiting video, and using key interview…

A marketing model for camps includes a mix of services, presentation, and communication elements that promote the virtues of camp, convince potential campers and their families of the benefits of camp, and successfully distinguish the camp from others. Includes resources related to marketing strategies, theme merchandise, and market trends…

Provides suggestions for creating a professional image for camps that includes paying attention to the first impressions of campers and their families, the importance of staff telephone etiquette and public speaking abilities, and the use of directional signs to help campers find their way around the facility. (LP)

Customer service can help increase camp enrollment, set the camp apart from competition, and improve camper retention. Strategies include encouraging parent and camper feedback; using proper telephone etiquette; handling complaints professionally; increasing parent contact; and surprising families with gifts, discounts, and other special offers.…

How a camp responds to a crisis may determine whether it can survive financially. Effective risk management requires total commitment from ownership and management, and staff involvement. Steps in formulating a risk management plan include identifying all potential crises and their frequency and severity potential, developing responses,…

Strategies for recruiting camp staff include tailoring messages to the needs and interests of prospective staff; utilizing former staff; hiring older workers; encouraging parents, former campers, and special interest groups to volunteer; and offering competitive pay. Provides an example of a target population (Generation X, born 1963-83) and key…

Ten suggestions to camp directors explain ways to communicate with parents, handle their complaints, and thereby protect and promote the camp's image. Strategies include assigning staff skilled in conflict resolution to resolve complaints, focusing on prevention or early resolution of parent complaints, maintaining communication, avoiding heated…

Camps should always have a crisis management plan, but the events of September 11, 2001, make it especially important. Honest communication with parents is paramount--directors should choose their words carefully and control the tone of their voices. Examples are given of crises involving weather, transportation, and a shooting. Questions to…

Describes adapting an organizational technique used by cartoon animators to camp planning. A story board is a bulletin board on which are posted tasks on file cards. Columns for "to do,""doing," and "done" make it easy to track progress, add and save information, involve other staff members, set priorities, organize…

Presents staff tools for dealing with upset campers whose parents are divorced or separating, such as acknowledging and listening. Gives tips and sample legal language on how to determine marital status and parenting arrangements; whom to call with questions; and which parent can enroll, visit, authorize medical treatment for, and pay the bill for…

People in an organization have explicit (codifiable) and tacit (noncodifiable) knowledge about customers, products, processes, programs, mistakes, and successes. The process of knowledge management within camp organizations includes creating and collecting internal and external information sources, knowledge exchange among staff, and supportive…

Camp directors who do not seek feedback from staff, campers, and parents waste valuable resources, need to develop their leadership skills, and could obstruct camp growth. Combined with satisfaction surveys and goal setting, ongoing feedback will contribute to a more accurate camp program evaluation than one based on the camp director's memory.…

An effective camp marketing strategy should address both parents' and children's concerns that influence decisions about camp. Includes strategies for developing a targeted message through print media or video that addresses these concerns and persuades families to choose camp. Stresses the importance of following up with parents and children. (LP)

Training can generate long-term benefits for both camp staff and the camp, but camp administration must commit to creating a positive learning environment. Describes the benefits of training, how to identify training needs, key components of training, determining the delivery format, follow-up and retention, and seeking feedback from participants.…

The benefits to camps of connecting to the Internet include reaching a new market, providing interactive opportunities for campers, providing up-to-date information for parents, having an up-to-date brochure available, easily taking care of billing and other camp business, recruiting staff members, and participating in discussions with other camp…