No matter what your summer looks like, kids will need team and character development activities! Michelle Cummings is here to help.

As we approach the final stages of summer prep, staff training is an integral piece of our summer success. Many camps are planning for virtual training, in-person training or a hybrid of both. Our guest today has been an expert in our industry on in-person team building and has now established herself as a virtual team-building resource as a result of our need to shift to an online space over the past year. 

We’re excited to have Michelle Cummings, of Training Wheels share with us her best practices for team building both in person and virtually as well as ideas we can all implement with our staff this summer.

Tune-in to this episode to hear about

• In your opinion, what are the founding principles of team building that must be there for success?

• Talk to us about shifting to virtual team building and what can you share with camp directors and owners attempting their own virtual trainings this year? Virtual Scavenger Hunts/Escape Rooms.

• What are your go to training activities for camps that our listeners could consider adding this summer?

• Where do signed waivers fit into the relationship? For on-site testing, contracting COVID or activity participation in general.

• Where do we stand on COVID waivers?

Bonus Links - Thanks, Michelle!

Team Development - https://training-wheels.com/team-bonding-team-building-or-team-development/

Virtual Facilitation - https://training-wheels.com/trainings-workshops/impact-teaching/

More Resources and Handouts - https://training-wheels.com/trainings-workshops/staff-training/

Human Continuum Activity - https://training-wheels.com/tips-trainers-pocket-processor-human-continuum/

Thanks for listening!

If you have a suggestion or guest you’d like to hear on an upcoming show, please email our producer, Matt at matt@gocamp.pro.

What Inspires You?

Things that inspire our hosts and guests to be the best Camp Owners they can be.

• Kelly: Instagram Feed “Big Life Journal” & Reflections on What’s Happening in MN Right Now:  “CASTE” by Isabel Wilkerson, Brene Brown Podcast with Dr. Yaba Blay on One Drop: Shifting Our Lens on Racism and Brene Brown Podcast on Inclusion in The Workplace

• Howie: The Ontario Camp’s Association #planforcamp website

• Michelle: They say motivation doesn’t last, well neither does bathing, that’s why they recommend it daily.  ~Zig Ziglar.

  The Art of Gathering:  How We Meet and Why it Matters by Priya Parker. 

  Purchase book on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gathering-How-Meet-Matters/dp/1594634939/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+art+of+gathering&qid=1618507845&sr=8-1 

  Listen to Podcast by Brene Brown interviewing Priya Parker: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-priya-parker-on-the-art-of-gathering/

Host Links:

• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps

• Michelle Cummings - Big Wheel & Founder - Training Wheels

Thanks to our sponsors:

CampBrain

CampBrain provides management and registration software to camps and conference centers. Serving 1300+ camps since 1994, with a dedicated staff of 45+ providing personal, caring support and building beautiful, intuitive software.
For more information visit them at https://www.campbrain.com/

Camptivities

In a year where you’re juggling so many changes, let’s take activity scheduling off that list. Camptivities is specifically designed for camps by camp people. Save time, money and resources to create your best activity schedule yet! Find out more at camptivities.com

What is the Camp Owners Podcast?

Whether you are a Camp Owner, an aspiring camp owner, or a lover of some of our other Go Camp Pro podcasts, we’re so happy to have you here.

The Camp Owners Podcast is here to explore a side of the summer camp world that is experienced by those that have the privilege of running an independent program.

In this world of camp, the stakes are high. Not only do private camps have the same goals, aspirations and responsibilities that other camps have, but there is also usually a ton of personal livelihood on the line. When you OWN a camp, you really do own the successes and failures that any for-profit enterprise faces.

On this podcast, our hosts, Howie Grossinger and Kelly Schuna will be joined by some seasoned prime camp professionals to dive deep into the issues that most private camp pros will need to face, and the best practices that they use to create, and sustain a summer camp for their campers to enjoy summer after summer.

In season one, tune in to the podcast monthly to hear about topics like Camp As a Business, Camp Insurance, Buying and Selling Camps, Work/Life Balance, Pricing, Staff Training & Engagement

Thanks for tuning in! If you have any feedback, please get in touch with our producer, Matt at matt@gocamp.pro.