Treating Your Day Camp Like A Business - With Jonathan Gold - Day Camp Pod #23
…Because it IS a business!
Don’t get us wrong, camp is the best, most fun, amazing, happy-go-lucky place there is. It has to be that for the staff for the campers, but as a director, if you want your camp to be around of the long run, there’s a more serious side that you need to consider, and that’s the reality of the fact that your camp is a business.
Let’s be clear, we’re not here to tell you that spreadsheets, budgets and financial statements are fun, but they are necessary. As our guest, Jonathan Gold says, “you don’t love putting gas in your car, but you sure need it!”
Along with Johnathan are our regular hosts, Andy, Sam and Ehren to dive deep into taking care of business at your day camp.
Tune into this episode to hear more about:
Jonathan Gold’s camp origin story
Jonathan’s camp pyramid of importance from cash flow at the base, all the way up to the easier day to day problems
How to build a culture of financial prudency among other people that spend money at camp
The changing landscape of the camping industry and their financial implications
Practical steps for intentionally planning out your budget and managing cashflow
Even more practical and important tips…
Do you have a financial tip or question that we didn’t cover in this episode? Let us know in the comments or send us an email to daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
Any questions? Ideas for shows? Topics? Guests? Please send them to daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
The Day Camp Program Tip of the Week
Andy - Homebase App for hourly employees. Tracking hours, reminders, notes for absences, and transferring it to payroll.
Sam - “Funraising” game - Penny Wars. (You’ll have to listen to this episode to get it)
Ehren - Giving out “fake” money to the staff for shout-outs, buying special snacks or privileges. You can also use them to purchase some program equipment. You can call them “Gluck Bucks” if you want.
YOUR HOSTS:
Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs Project
Ehren Gluckstein, Assistant Director - Camp Robin Hood - Robin Hood Leadership Centre & Corporate Rentals, Volunteer Ontario Camps Association (OCA) annual conference/accreditation visitor
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA Illinois
Jonathan M. Gold, MBA, PhD, Camp Owner/Director - the Arbor Group of Camps
Sponsors:
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:
American Camp Association, NY & NJ http://www.acanynj.org/
AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/