Welcoming and Including 1st Year Staff with Kim Aycock - CampHacker #218
How to Make Every New Staff Member Feel Included and Supported from Day One
This week on the Camp Hacker Podcast, Chris Hudson, Travis Allison, and Kim Aycock dive into how to make camp's most beloved "magic moments" genuinely welcoming and inclusive for both first-year staff and new campers. The crew challenges the notion that camp success relies on "magic," arguing that true inclusion comes from intentionality, strong communication, and better systems. They discuss tangible barriers new staff face (from packing list costs to pre-camp training fees) and share practical, low-effort strategies—like welcome videos, segmented communication, and first-year feedback loops—that boost engagement, reduce anxiety, and cultivate immediate buy-in. Learn how to explicitly communicate the value of the camp job and why a little flexibility can secure staff for life.
Key Takeaways Include:
Segment Your Communication: Avoid overwhelming new staff with an 80-page PDF. Break down essential information into multiple mediums (audio, video, simple graphics) and frequently reinforce the most crucial rules and camp lingo to appeal to different learning styles
Make Tiny Pockets of Safety: Intentionality means equipping new people with little wins before they arrive. Teach them one song, one chant, or one ritual via video before the first day so they can immediately participate and feel like an insider.
Create a High-Retention Feedback Loop: Actively survey first-year staff two weeks into the season with the key question: "What do you know now that you wish you knew on the first day?" Use their suggestions to implement quick changes and communicate the change back to them to build powerful ownership and retention.
Simplify the Onboarding Process: Eliminate unnecessary barriers in hiring. Use short, simple interest forms instead of full applications up front. Use personalized video handoffs between different people in the hiring process to make new staff feel seen and build early connections.
Tool of the Week - Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis - Simple tricks for defensive calendaring to take back control of your time, by Andy Polaine
Chris - I wrote this for you, by Iain S. Thomas
Kim - How to Work with Complicated People, by Ryan Leak
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Your Hosts
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight
Kim Aycock, Camp Consultant and Staff Trainer - https://kimaycock.com/
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