Building Sustainable Camps: The JCamp 180 Model - with Herschel Singer - The Pudding #15
Insights into JCamp 180’s Camp Research and Consulting Model
In this episode, Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison talk to Herschel Singer from JCamp 180 about the critical work being done by his organization in supporting Jewish camps across North America, focusing on organizational effectiveness and financial sustainability. Herschel shares his thoughts about the economic landscape of camping, the importance of data-driven yet context-aware decision-making, and the trends observed from their research, particularly regarding costs, revenue, and deferred investments. He offers a refreshing take on the importance of understanding parent dynamics in camping and hints at the broader impact of implementing a data culture among camp professionals.
Episode Guide
00:41 Meet the Hosts and Guest
01:08 Herschel Singer's Journey into Research
03:27 Overview of JCamp 180
05:58 Research Methodologies and Applications
09:54 Economic Landscape and Financial Sustainability
12:27 Impact of Research on Camps
19:43 Trends and Challenges in Camp Staffing
21:37 Deferred Investments and Resilience
25:43 The Role of Parents in Camping
29:52 Conclusion and Contact Information
Your Hosts
Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
Thanks to our sponsors!
The American Camp Association - Illinois
The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.
Camptivities
You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.
