That staff member who wants to quit midsummer - with Emily Golinsky - CampHacker #229
Managing Mid-Summer Staff Departures with Strategy
Join Chris, Travis, and Emily as they tackle one of the most stressful moments for any camp director, which is the mid-summer staff resignation. The conversation centers on why traditional "Camp Magic" marketing often sets counselors up for failure by hiding the gritty realities of childcare like exhaustion and physical stress. They explore the critical distinction between a staff member who is simply venting and one who has truly decided to leave, arguing that forcing an unwilling counselor to stay is a liability for both safety and culture. The team shares strategies for offboarding staff with dignity while protecting the camp community from the social fallout of a sudden departure.
Key takeaways include:
Recruit with Brutal Honesty. Avoid using only high-energy or positive imagery on your staff application pages because it fails to prepare young adults for the 17-hour days and high-stress moments. Showing the difficult parts of the job during the interview process ensures that the people who show up are truly ready for the responsibility.
Respect the Decision to Leave. When a staff member declares they are done, the best move is to let them go rather than pressuring them to stay for the sake of ratios. An employee who no longer wants to be there is a risk to the children and a drain on the overall staff morale.
Control the Departure Narrative. Have a clear policy for how staff leave the property, whether they are fired or they quit. Removing departing staff quickly and professionally prevents "pity parties" and keeps the focus on the campers while allowing the remaining team to move forward without unnecessary social drama.
Tool of the Week - Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Chris - Dot Cards
Travis - How to Shift your Sales Mindset and Sell Without Feeling Uncomfortable, Carole Alalouf
Emily - 2 Sips Rule
Your Hosts
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro. Contact Email
Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant - Planet Chris Consulting. Contact Email
Emily Golinsky, Consultant & Trainer - Bright Moose Training. Contact Email.
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