Turn Around Strategies: Managing Leadership Transitions - with Heath Levine and Jonathan Gold - The Day Camp Pod #127
Turning Around Underperforming Day Camps: Strategies and Success Stories
When a day camp starts to lose its spark, what does it take to bring it back to life? In this episode of the Day Camp Pod, the hosts sit down with Heath Levine from Shibley Day Camp and turnaround expert Jonathan Gold to unpack what really goes into reviving an underperforming camp. From rebuilding a positive culture and engaging the community to tackling staff retention and marketing hurdles, they share real stories and strategies that have helped transform struggling programs into thriving ones. Listeners will gain practical insights that go beyond the basics, covering both the emotional weight and the rewarding triumphs of leading meaningful change. Whether you’re a camp professional, director, or just someone passionate about youth development, this conversation is packed with takeaways that will reignite your camp’s potential.
Highlights:
03:50 Heath Levine's Camp Journey
08:39 Jonathan Gold's Turnaround Insights
11:18 Establishing Camp Culture and Values
27:06 Marketing and Community Engagement
32:17 Flexible Work Schedules and Expectations
32:45 The Relevance of Face-to-Face Interaction
33:23 Marketing Strategies for Camps
34:00 Resurrecting Tamarack: Challenges and Strategies
34:57 The Importance of Community Engagement
40:51 Balancing Tradition and Innovation
52:51 Staff and Camper Retention
58:12 The Emotional Challenges of Leadership
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Episode Links:
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
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Your Hosts:
Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood
With:
Heath Levine, Director - Shibley Day Camp
Jonathan Gold, MBA, PhD, Camp Owner/Director - the Arbor Group of Camps
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Sponsors:
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:
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