A Compassionate Approach to Feedback at Camp

Why "Calling In" Makes a Difference

In a busy camp environment, it’s easy for stress to build up. "Calling in" is a way to address issues with respect, kindness, and understanding. Rather than pointing fingers or making someone feel embarrassed, calling in invites growth and helps everyone move forward together.

When we call someone in, we're saying, “I see you, and I want to help you do better.” This approach builds trust and encourages improvement, especially when we’re all working hard in high-pressure situations. It creates a space where feedback feels safe and constructive, rather than stressful.

Simple Ways to Give Kind Feedback

Here are some helpful methods you can use to offer feedback in a positive way:

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
  This method helps you speak about issues clearly and kindly:

  1. Observation – Share what you noticed (e.g., "I saw the group became noisy during cleanup").

  2. Feeling – Let them know how it made you feel (e.g., "I felt worried when that happened").

  3. Need – Share why it’s important (e.g., "We need a calm space to help the kids focus").

  4. Request – Suggest how to do it differently next time (e.g., "Could we try a quieter method next time?").
     This keeps the conversation focused on actions, not blame, and encourages improvement without defensiveness.

• Open The Front Door (OTFD)
  A quick and easy method for giving feedback:

  1. Observe – What happened.

  2. Think – What’s your perspective.

  3. Feel – How did it make you feel.

  4. Desire – What would you like to see happen.
     Example: "I noticed it got loud at lights-out. I think that made it hard for the younger kids to sleep. I felt concerned, and I’d like to try something calmer next time."

• Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI)
  This method helps you stay clear and focused:

  1. Situation – Where did it happen.

  2. Behavior – What did you see.

  3. Impact – How did it affect you or others.
     Example: "At lights-out last night (situation), you raised your voice (behavior). This made the campers uneasy (impact)." After that, you can discuss what might work better next time.

• Restorative Conversations
  If there’s tension, this method brings people back together. It’s about repairing the relationship, not placing blame.
  It involves listening to each person’s point of view and working together on a solution. This is especially helpful if there’s been a bigger issue between staff members. A camp director might bring staff together for a meeting where everyone shares how they felt and agrees on how to move forward.

Giving Feedback with Care

Here’s a quick guide for having a helpful, kind feedback conversation:

1. Choose a Good Time and Place
   Make sure you’re in a private space and that it’s a good time to talk.
   Example: “Can we chat for a minute? I want to make sure we’re on the same page about something.”

2. Describe What Happened
   Talk about the behaviour you noticed, without judgement.
   Example: “When the noise level went up during cleanup, I felt a bit stressed because I need a quiet environment to keep the day running smoothly.”

3. Offer a Solution Together
   Ask for their ideas and share your own.
   Example: “Do you think we could try a more relaxed way to get everyone’s attention? Maybe we could use a countdown.”

4. Finish with Appreciation
   Thank them for listening and working with you.
   Example: “Thanks for taking the time to chat. I know we’re both working to make things better for the campers.”

Building a "Call-In" Culture

To make "calling in" a regular part of your camp culture, here’s what you can do:

• Talk About It Early
  Let your staff know right from the start that giving kind feedback is a part of how you work together.
  Example: “We all want to do our best for the kids. When we give each other feedback, it’s to help us get better together.”

• Practice Giving Feedback
  Have staff practice giving and receiving feedback during training. This helps them feel more comfortable when the time comes.
  Example: “Let’s practice how to give each other feedback that’s kind but honest.”

• Provide Simple Guides
  Give your staff easy-to-remember tools for giving feedback.
  Example: A quick checklist like:

  • Pick a good time and place.

  • Talk about what happened.

  • Suggest a solution.

  • End with thanks.

• Lead by Example
  Show your staff how to give feedback by doing it yourself. If you make a mistake, own up to it and show how to fix it.
  Example: “I made a mistake earlier, and I’m sorry about that. I’ll do better next time.”

• Make Feedback Part of Daily Life
  Encourage staff to check in with each other daily. Small moments of feedback can be really effective.
  Example: “Before we finish today, let’s quickly talk about what went well and what we could do better tomorrow.”

Conclusion

When you call in your colleagues with care, you help create a camp environment where feedback is seen as an opportunity to grow, not as criticism. This builds a stronger team and helps everyone perform better for the campers. Everyone, from the newest staff member to the camp director, is part of the same mission, working together to make the camp experience the best it can be.

---

****a note about AI use: I'm using it all of the time for about 95% of my communications and consulting work. AI helps me solve for my learning/writing disorder AND helps me respond to contribute more to making the job of camp director a little bit easier.