Ripping off the Band-Aid - Lessons for your 2021 Drop-off Day
Opening Day, 2020 - during which parents did not get out of the car
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Just rip off the Band-Aid. Even saying those words is enough to make us cringe, and yet, we all know there are times when it's best to grimace and go for it.
The reality of running a traditional summer camp during a global pandemic challenged our team to come up with new and creative solutions, and yes, to rip off some Band-Aids. What we discovered, however, was that these adaptations did not take away from our campers’ experience and in many cases actually made them better than ever before.
The most striking example of this was a drive-through drop off on Opening Day, during which parents did not get out of the car. Like many camps, the routine of parents walking their child to their cabin and helping them settle in has been a staple of Opening Day for 75 years and the idea of ripping that away from campers and their parents was scary.
It turned out to be the best thing we did all summer.
Why did it work? Here are the best things about the drive-through drop off, and three tips for executing a great opening day this summer.
1. It was better for our campers
a. We saw a significant decrease in homesickness on Opening Day because campers were able to connect to camp and other campers more quickly. Specifically, the cabin remained a ‘parent-free zone’, what it was always designed to be, allowing a clean break and uncluttered association for our new campers in particular.
2. It was better for our staff
a. Our counselors still had the opportunity to meet parents during drive-through drop off, but as parents left the property, they were able to more fully focus on caring for campers, which resulted in them building trust and rapport more quickly than ever before.
3. It was better for our parents
a. This is the one that really surprised us. The drive-through drop off actually made saying goodbye easier for our parents. It was quick and they knew exactly when it was going to happen (more on this later), which prepared them for as painless a separation as possible. Plus our veteran parents loved the efficiency.
Three ways to set yourself up for success for Opening Day.
1. Over-communicate beforehand
a. Give your families as much information about exactly what will happen, when it will happen, and what it will be like on Opening Day. Our camp filmed a short “Opening Day Preview” video so parents could visualize every step. This allowed parents to mentally and emotionally prepare for drop off.
2. Make sure parents see the right faces during the drive-through
a. Nothing sets a mind at ease like a smiling face. Make sure your parents see lots of them, and all of the most important ones. For us, that meant making sure parents met the directors, medical staff and their child’s cabin counselor at least while driving through the property.
3. Efficiency is king. Lines are the enemy
a. Nobody enjoys waiting in a line. Work hard to create a staggered drop off plan so that cars are never stopped in line for more than a minute or two waiting for the next step. Another fun idea is to give families an activity at the front gate to do in the car while they wait. It keeps the process engaging and is also a chance to share a little about what makes your camp special.
Great Camping!
John
Travis’ Note
We want to thank John Menendez, Camp Timberlake Director, a boys summer camp in North Carolina, for taking the time to let us know the results of the changes they made this summer! We appreciate your thoughtfulness and intentionality in writing on this topic, John!
