The Art of "Camp Radar": Teaching Staff How to Notice
In the high-stakes environment of summer camp, every director has muttered under their breath: "How did you not see that?" Whether it’s a camper quietly struggling, a conflict brewing on the sidelines, an overwhelmed counselor, or a safety hazard sitting in plain sight, we see it instantly. This frustration usually stems from assuming that our staff possess the same situational awareness that we've spent years developing. However, as explored in this episode of Camp Code, noticing is not an inherent trait—it is a skill that must be explicitly taught.
To build on our framework of initiative (Notice, Think, Act, and Communicate), we have to dive deep into that crucial first step: noticing. When new staff miss the obvious, it's rarely because they don't care. More often, it is due to an experience gap, a cultural loss of observation skills driven by constant smartphone use and scrolling, or a lack of explicit permission to step outside their immediate tasks. Furthermore, staff often trap themselves by jumping straight from a loose observation to a heavy-handed judgment—such as deciding "that camper hates camp" instead of gathering factual data like "that camper hasn't participated in the last three activities." Observation gives us data; judgment gives us a wrong conclusion.
To help staff develop their own "director's eyes," directors can introduce practical tools like the energy axis, teaching staff to categorize group dynamics by evaluating whether kids are connected versus disconnected, and chaos versus calm (aiming always for chaos-connected). By teaching staff to ask "What changed?" rather than just looking at a static snapshot, and by carving out moments to "watch, listen, sit still, and see," we transform awareness from a vague expectation into a concrete practice. Next summer, instead of telling a counselor what they missed, stand beside them and simply ask: "What do you notice?"
Best Practice for Leadership Training
From Gabz,
The key takeaway for camp leaders is to look ahead and leverage your network by pre-booking guest speakers and brilliant colleagues early. Text those charismatic friends and peers during the off-season (around October or November) to lock them into your staff training schedule for the following summer—even if you don't have the exact topic hammered out yet. This simple proactive step spares you immense springtime stress, ensures your staff benefit from diverse, expert voices, and guarantees you have dynamic leaders ready to inspire your team when camp rolls around.
Your Hosts:
Beth Allison, Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
Gabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp Ouareau
Thanks to our sponsor…
Well prepared staff deserve an intentionally curated schedule. Camptivities cuts hours of building schedules, helps prevent staff burnout, and makes sure campers get the activities you promised. You can schedule more confidently, use your staff and resources more effectively, and create a camper experience families want to come back to. Check out Camptivities.com and get back outside with your campers.
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.