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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/teaching-staff-how-to-notice-things

On this episode of Camp Code, Beth and Gabz dig into one of the most overlooked and most essential skills in camp leadership: teaching staff how to notice. Not just supervising for safety, but observing with purpose. It’s the difference between running an activity and truly understanding the campers within it. From spotting the quiet camper who’s pulling away to recognizing moments of connection, joy, or leadership, noticing is what allows great counselors to step in early, build relationships, and shape meaningful experiences.

The challenge? Noticing isn’t instinctive, it’s learned. Many younger staff haven’t had the chance to develop observational awareness, often due to structured environments, screen-focused attention, and a growing fear of being judged themselves. That inward focus makes it harder to read the room. The solution is intentional practice. Beth and Gabs share simple, practical ways to build this skill into training: using observers in scenarios, breaking down cues like facial expressions, body language, and group dynamics, and asking predictive questions like “What might happen next?” to help staff think ahead instead of just reacting.

By embedding noticing into everyday moments, whether through reflection, shared observations, or guided practice leaders can help staff shift how they see their role and the campers in front of them.

From Beth,

Instead of simply telling staff to “pay attention,” build noticing into a daily habit. A simple question like “What did you notice today?” encourages reflection, sharpens awareness, and helps staff connect their observations to action. Over time, this consistent practice strengthens empathy, improves decision-making, and helps staff feel more confident and prepared in the moment.

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/the-best-and-most-effective-staff-training-schedule

On this episode of Camp Code, Beth and Gabz sit down with consultant and former camp director Shoshi Rothschild to explore how to design a staff training schedule that truly prepares people for the realities of camp. Instead of cramming information into a packed week of lectures, Shoshi encourages leaders to think intentionally about the staff experience; building a sequence that develops confidence, relationships, and practical skills. Great training, she argues, should leave staff energized and empowered, not overwhelmed.

The conversation dives into practical strategies: structuring training around either the individual or the community, balancing session types (interactive, peer-led, recreational, and lecture), and prioritizing experiential learning wherever possible. From creative simulations like a “day-in-the-life” relay to thoughtful scheduling that accounts for energy levels and returning staff experience, the message is clear—learning sticks when staff are actively involved. By designing training that emphasizes shared experiences, reflection, and clear expectations, camp leaders can build teams that feel confident, connected, and ready to create an incredible summer for campers.

From Shoshi,

One of the most effective ways to improve staff training is to ask your staff what they actually need. Shoshi recommends surveying staff twice: once before training begins and once near the end of training week. Sending a short survey after contracts are signed allows leaders to understand what staff are excited about, what they’re nervous about, and what skills they hope to build. That insight can help shape a training schedule that speaks directly to their needs—and shows staff their voices matter.

She also suggests surveying staff a day or two before training ends rather than on the final day. This timing gives leadership teams the chance to adjust or reinforce topics if staff are still feeling unsure about something. Instead of discovering gaps after training is over, leaders can course-correct in real time—helping ensure staff leave training feeling confident, supported, and ready for the summer.

• Shoshi Rothschild, Founder and Principal - in.tent Consulting and Facilitation

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/howtobeaboss

On this episode of Camp Code, Gabs and Kate unpack what it really means to be a good boss. The throughline? Trust. Through transparency about decisions, honest follow-through, and prioritizing their own mental health, leaders model the kind of steadiness they hope to see in their staff. They explore tools like 360-degree feedback, empathetic language (“the story I’m telling myself…”), and giving credit generously—simple practices that build credibility and confidence across a team.

The conversation also challenges leaders to take off their “admin goggles,” remembering that frontline staff don’t see the full picture. By holding high standards, communicating the why, and leading with empathy instead of ego, supervisors don’t just manage people—they develop them.

From Carrie Lawson - Camp C,

At the Women in Camp Summit, Carrie Lawson from Camp C shared that their team has shifted from using the term “inclusion” to “camper support.” The change helps remove stigma that can label certain campers as different and instead recognizes that every child has unique needs. At Camp C, the camper support team acts as project managers for problem-solving and support across camp—serving all campers, not just those with a diagnosis or identified difference.

• Kate Taylor, Consultant - Stephane Richard Development Consulting

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/ourfavouritebeth

When Beth “Topaz” Allison isn’t in the room, you feel it. So this week on Camp Code, we did what made the most sense: we turned the episode into a tribute—surfacing the Beth practices that have quietly (and not so quietly) shaped how so many of us lead.

Emerging is a clear picture of Beth’s core philosophy: start with people, lead with intention, and build everything from the end backward. From empowering staff to develop judgment rather than dependence, to using tools like the Four S’s to filter decisions through safety, stewardship, self-esteem, and service, Beth’s influence shows up in how camps think—not just what they do. Her insistence on front loading learning, naming the “why” before the “what,” and reverse-engineering training from the final feeling or outcome makes learning stick and gives staff confidence in the moment, not just during training.

Just as powerful is how Beth leads behind the scenes. Whether it’s building metaphor-rich training experiences, creating shared language through personality frameworks, or choosing presence over perfection by sitting down at meals and genuinely connecting, her leadership is rooted in relationship. She models clarity without cruelty (“let me be perfectly clear”), care without coddling, and consistency without rigidity. At her core, Beth is a connector—someone who sees people, names what matters, and reminds us that when leadership is intentional, the impact lasts far beyond the season.

From Ruby (and Beth of course),

This Beth practice centers on clarity as an act of care. By intentionally using the phrase “let me be perfectly clear,” Beth signals to staff that what follows is the true takeaway—the headline they need to remember. It’s a teaching tool that reduces confusion, reinforces expectations, and protects both people and camp, especially when stakes are high. Whether clarifying safety boundaries or consequences, Beth models that being direct isn’t about being harsh; it’s about preventing misunderstandings that can cost someone their job or put others at risk. Paired with warmth, restraint, and a well-timed stern face, this approach shows how clear communication—used sparingly and intentionally—builds trust and accountability.

• Kate Taylor, Consultant - Stephane Richard Development Consulting

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/re-release-bestinterviewpractices

Though we often consider the first day of staff training the time when we begin absorbing our new team into the camp culture, the reality is that staff orientation starts during the application process. Is the person trainable? How will he or she work on the team that is assembled? Does the applicant "get it?" Join Gab, Beth, and Ruby for a discussion of their favorite interview questions and time-tested ways to figure out if an applicant is a good fit.

From Beth,

Training Your hiring process has to be what is best for camp. It is a hard job but you, as the director, are the one that has the big picture. You must put the effort in to make the hiring process be whatever the camp needs. It may involve re-interviewing return staff and asking some hard questions. These are the most important decisions you will make all year. If something feels off, trust your gut. Ask questions to your return staff about things that didn't follow your camp philosophy that happened the year before. You can say "I am offering you a job but here is my concern from last year and that cannot happen again." Hiring is not about being their friend. Make sure they understand that you must do what is best for camp. And never apologize for high expectations.

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/preparingstafffortherealityoftodayscampers

This Camp Code episode explores the realities children are facing today and how those realities must reshape the way camps train their staff. Beth, Gabrielle, and Ruby unpack how comparison culture, constant visibility through photos and video, heightened global awareness, anxiety, loneliness, sensory overload, and shortened attention spans are showing up in camper behavior. They emphasize that today’s campers arrive overwhelmed, not broken, and that many challenges labeled as “behavior issues” are actually signs of stress, disconnection, or unmet emotional needs.

The hosts connect these challenges to concrete shifts needed in staff training: moving away from assumptions about campers’ skills, teaching counselors how to respond to big feelings with both validation and regulation, building predictable routines with flexibility, supporting attention and sensory needs, and proactively addressing loneliness and inclusion. They also highlight the importance of trust, intentional quiet, team-based problem-solving, daily camper check-ins, and giving staff language and practice for difficult moments. The core message: when staff are trained to understand today’s kids, their confidence grows, camper experiences improve, and camp becomes a place of belonging, growth, and meaningful connection.

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From Beth,

Camp environments are loud, busy, and unpredictable—energizing for some kids but overwhelming for others. Sensory sensitivity is increasingly common, and overload can show up as meltdowns, withdrawal, or sudden emotional reactions that seem to come out of nowhere. These moments are not misbehavior; they are signals that a child’s nervous system is overwhelmed.

Staff training should help counselors recognize early signs of sensory overload and intervene before campers hit their limit by offering quiet breaks and access to calm spaces. Creating designated low-stimulation areas allows kids to reset and return to activities when they’re ready. When staff understand sensory needs and are given tools to respond with empathy and intention, their confidence grows, camper experiences improve, and camp becomes a safer, more supportive place where kids feel seen, understood, and able to thrive.

• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/anxietyinyoungstaff

This Camp Code episode explores how anxiety is increasingly shaping how 17–25-year-old staff show up at camp, even when they don’t name it directly. Beth, Gabrielle, and Ruby connect the rise in anxiety to global instability, declining trust, perfectionism, constant visibility, heavy phone use, and missed developmental “practice reps” during the pandemic. At camp, anxiety often appears as repeated reassurance-seeking, freezing on decisions, difficulty accepting positive feedback, irritability or aggression, withdrawal in groups, defensiveness (“no one told me that”), and projection that everything is “the worst ever.”

Our hosts also call out how traditional staff training can unintentionally worsen anxiety—surprise scenarios, long lecture-heavy blocks, information overload, and public correction. Their solutions focus on predictable structure, clear expectations, normalizing learning over perfection, teaching simple problem-solving frameworks, building in low-stakes practice (with no surprises), doing corrections privately and praise publicly, creating regular check-ins, and using returning staff as emotional “regulators” who help others stay grounded. The core message: staff aren’t fragile—they’re overloaded—and intentional training can turn anxiety into confidence and leadership growth.

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From Ruby,

A simple but powerful way to reduce staff anxiety is to think intentionally about the first face they encounter—both during hiring and when they arrive at camp. When the person who interviews or communicates with them disappears at arrival, it can feel unsettling and increase uncertainty. Anxiety drops when staff know who will greet them and what to expect, even if that person is just the handoff to someone else. Sharing a photo, name, or short video ahead of time—“This is who you’ll see at the welcome tent”—creates familiarity and trust. That early human connection helps staff feel grounded, welcomed, and more confident before their first day even begins.

• Ruby Compton, Chief Exploration Officer - Ruby Outdoors

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.

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Find full show notes and links at: https://www.gocamp.pro/campcode/navigatinghardconvopt2

In this second installment on having hard conversations, Beth and Gabrielle welcome back HR consultant and longtime camp person Diane Slater to do what staff training needs most: practice. Moving through real camp scenarios, they dig into how leaders can stay clear and kind when feedback gets messy. Diane starts with the “defensive star”—the beloved staff member who shuts down whenever coaching arrives—and reminds us to lead with safety, reflect specific behaviors (not assumed motives), and sometimes even give people time to process before they can really hear what’s being said. From there, they tackle gossip as camp’s unofficial currency, not by demonizing it, but by naming intent and impact: what’s the staff member trying to get from sharing, and how does it land on the people around them?

The episode keeps building into tougher terrain: chronic excuse-makers, entitled veterans challenging new directors, emotionally flooded staff, and even outright denial or lying. Across each situation, Diane’s throughline is consistent—anchor on facts, ask what someone can control, use curiosity over confrontation, and prepare your key points ahead of time so you don’t get pulled off course by tears, anger, or a debate that isn’t actually up for debate.

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From Diane,

When a staff member has to be let go, the work isn’t over once they leave. Diane reminds leaders that the rest of the team is still living and working together, and everyone will react differently—some with relief, some with sadness, some with judgment, and some with gossip. Because of that, leaders need to follow three key steps: first, debrief with the leadership team to reflect on what was missed and how to catch or prevent similar issues earlier (even back at hiring). Second, support the remaining staff by addressing the departure at a high level—grounding it in camper safety and team wellbeing—while protecting the privacy and dignity of the person who left. Third, actively monitor morale, normalize mixed emotions, and invite staff to process with leadership if they need to. The goal is clarity without cruelty, and reassurance that feedback and consequences are communicated clearly, not sprung on people out of nowhere.

• Diane Slater, Camp HR Consultant

• Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
• Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau

UltraCamp

Imagine camp registration software that actually gives you MORE time for what you love - CAMP! With UltraCamp, you can effortlessly track attendance, manage staff, streamline registration, and more. Explore now at ultracampmanagemnent.com/campcode.