Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/big-emotions-burnout-and-better-support

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Join Dane and Matt as they reflect on the challenges, surprises, and lessons of summer 2026. From the unexpected success of screen free camp experiences to the growing mental health needs of campers and staff, this conversation explores what counselors and camp directors can learn from the season to make summer 2027 even better. They discuss how to help anxious campers adjust at their own pace, respond to difficult behavior without escalating situations, support staff through emotional challenges, and rethink how breaks are managed. The episode is an honest reminder that camp is both one of the most rewarding and demanding jobs, and that getting better starts with reflection, intentional support, and a willingness to change.

Key Takeaways:

• Screen Free Camp Can Be a Positive Experience for Everyone. Dane found that campers adapted well to a policy asking families not to send devices. When most campers understand that phones are not part of the camp experience, going without one can feel normal rather than isolating. A shared screen free environment can help campers connect with each other and fully participate in camp life.
• Staff Training Must Include Emotional Regulation and Support. Returning staff bring valuable experience, but familiarity with camp does not make every challenge easy. Counselors need practical strategies for recognizing when they are overwhelmed, taking appropriate breaks, asking for help, and responding to campers in a way that maintains emotional steadiness. Experiencing a difficult moment does not make someone a bad counselor. What matters is learning from it and building better ways to respond.
• Camp Directors Should Connect Staff With the Right Mental Health Resources. Counselors and directors can provide care, listen, and offer immediate support, but they are not necessarily equipped to address every mental health concern. Camps should establish clear pathways to appropriate professional resources and encourage staff to seek help when needed. Directors should also avoid becoming the only person staff rely on, building a broader support system that can function even when leadership is unavailable.

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(Final name to be determined)

Dane: Big emotions require gentle responses

Matt: The Simplicity Parenting Podcast

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Dane Savoury, Director of Operations, Camp Amy Molson. Contact Email.

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AMSkier
AMSkier is a leading insurance and strategic partner for many of the finest camps in America. AMSkier partners with camps to provide public relations, legal, medical, behavior support and more - Experience the AMSkier difference. Learn more at https://amskier.com/.

Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/ten-top-tips-for-summer-2026

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Join Oliver and Matt for the season finale of First Class Counselors as they count down ten essential tips for the upcoming 2026 summer. This episode provides a quick reference guide for frontline staff focusing on everything from active supervision and safety protocols to the psychology of camper behavior. The hosts discuss how to create a culture of belonging through strength based mindsets and provide actionable tools like facilitation frameworks to ensure every counselor is prepared to lead with confidence and empathy.

Key Takeaways:

• Behavior is Communication. When campers act out it is often an expression of an unmet need such as being hungry or tired. Using the HALT acronym allows counselors to address the root cause of challenging behavior while providing grace and maintaining a strong relationship with the child.
• Master Facilitation Through Structure. Effective leadership during activities requires clear communication and meaningful reflection. By using the philosophy of one goal and three steps followed by the So What and Now What debriefing method counselors can ensure safety while helping campers apply life lessons beyond the cabin.
• Model the Values You Expect. Counselors are professional role models who are always teaching through their actions and energy levels. Maintaining consistent boundaries and following camp rules regarding phone use or physical interactions ensures that campers respect the environment and feel safe within the community.

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Oliver: 3D Printers

Matt: Gratitude Jars

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/connecting-with-modern-camper-culture

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This episode explores the intersection of modern pop culture and the summer camp experience. The team discusses the transition from traditional play to the watching culture of YouTube and streaming services, emphasizing how counselors can use this knowledge to build genuine connections with campers. The conversation breaks down the differences between digital open world environments and physical skill building while offering practical advice on adapting facilitation styles for shorter attention spans and high sensory needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Modern entertainment often focuses on the finished product rather than the process, leading to a watching culture where kids witness skills instead of practicing them. Counselors should combat this by building anticipation for activities and slowing down the process to ensure campers learn the mechanical steps behind camp traditions like fire building or archery.
• You do not need to be an expert in Roblox or Bluey to connect with kids, but being curious about their interests is vital. Asking campers to teach you about their favorite digital worlds empowers them and creates a social bridge that helps new or hesitant kids feel included in the cabin group.
• Digital play has shifted towards open world exploration and constant comparison, which camps can mirror through creative gamification. By rewarding positive character traits like integrity and grace through systems like ‘Green Giant’ points, directors can ensure that comparison remains a tool for celebration rather than just another form of competition.

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Oliver: Mio Flavoured Water

Matt: Water Skip Ball & Wave / Gate Ball

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Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/so-you-want-to-be-on-leadership

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This episode explores the transition from being a frontline counselor to joining the seasonal leadership team. This episode dismantles the myth that leadership is about status or power, instead framing it as a vital shift toward serving staff and maintaining the camp mission from behind the scenes. They discuss how to identify if you are ready for the move, how to start preparing this summer for a promotion next year, and why the best leaders are often the ones who work hardest when no one is watching.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is Service Not Status. Stepping into a leadership role means moving away from direct camper connections to focus on empowering your fellow staff members. You must be prepared to give up personal glory to ensure that the counselors you lead have everything they need to succeed.
• Take Initiative While Maintaining Integrity. If you want to move into leadership, start by solving problems before they are assigned and demonstrating that you can follow camp policies perfectly. Directors look for staff who walk the walk and can be trusted to uphold safety and culture even during their time off.
• Prepare for the Reality of Tough Conversations. Being a leader often requires delivering difficult news to staff or parents and holding your peers accountable. Developing the emotional maturity to handle these moments while staying present in the daily joy of camp is the hallmark of a counselor moving into a director role.

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Oliver: Using plastic chef containers for organizing craft supplies.

Matt: The board game: Sequoia

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Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/be-better-at-giving-consequences

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Join Matt and Dane as they dive into part two of their masterclass on summer camp discipline. This episode shifts the focus from general headspace to the practical application of consequences and the art of camper reintegration. They explore how counselors can move away from punitive winning mindsets and instead use every mistake as a teaching opportunity that builds trust rather than breaking it. From navigating power struggles to deciding which hills are actually worth dying on, this conversation provides frontline staff with the tools they need to maintain a positive cabin environment all summer long.

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on Teaching Rather Than Hurting. Effective consequences are designed to help a camper learn emotional regulation and social skills rather than simply making them feel bad. When a counselor enters a situation with a teaching mindset they are more likely to remain calm and help the child understand how to make better choices in the future.
• Drop the Rope to Avoid Power Struggles. Power struggles occur when both the staff member and the camper are pulling against each other to see who will submit. By practicing self regulation and consciously choosing to drop the rope the counselor remains the adult in the situation and prevents a conflict from escalating into a relationship damaging battle.
• Use the Three Buckets of Behavior to Prioritize Interventions. Not every action requires a heavy consequence. Categorizing behaviors into typical actions, safety concerns, and the “f it” bucket allows staff to conserve their energy for what truly matters while letting go of minor issues like mismatched socks or harmless quirks.

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Dane: Taking FUN Cabin Photos

Matt: DnD Dice

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Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Dane Savoury, Director of Operations, Camp Amy Molson. Contact Email.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/are-we-disciplining-kids-enough

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Join Matt and Dane as they redefine what it means to lead through discipline in a summer camp setting. Dane shares his twenty-one years of experience working with diverse populations to explain why discipline should be viewed as a teaching tool rather than a punitive measure. The conversation explores how counselors can set themselves up for success by building intentional rela`tionships through play and shared interests before any rules are ever broken.

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on Connection Before Correction. Establishing a solid relationship through shared interests creates the necessary trust for discipline to be effective later on. If the first meaningful conversation a counselor has with a child is a correction, the opportunity for a positive influence is already lost.
• Frame Rules with Positive Language and the Why. Instead of listing restrictions like don't jump on the bed, counselors should use positive framing such as beds are for sleeping. Explaining the purpose behind a boundary helps campers understand that rules exist for their safety and the respect of the community rather than just to limit their fun.

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Dane: Games that Fit into your Pocket, UNO

Matt: Darn Tough Socks, or Great Sox

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Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Dane Savoury, Director of Operations, Camp Amy Molson. Contact Email.

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/using-stats-to-master-counseling

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This episode dives into the numbers behind great counseling, from safety ratios to camper retention. By treating camp as a measurable social business, staff can identify their strengths, improve their safety efficiency, and track their personal growth throughout the summer. They discuss how to turn qualitative experiences into quantitative success to help every staff member become a first class counselor.

Key Takeaways:

• The Behavioral Closing Rate: Professionalism is measured by how effectively a counselor can resolve behavioral issues and communicate them through proper reporting channels.
• Conversions and Friendships: Success can be measured through camper return rates and the intentional fostering of friendships that last beyond the summer.
• Personal Special Powers: Every first class counselor has a unique magic factor, whether it is a specific skill like ceramics or a jack of all trades ability to facilitate any program on the fly.

Oliver: Sorting Hat-Type Ceremony

Matt: G.M.I.C (Great Moments In Camping!)

Ultracamp
Camp is about changing lives, not chasing paperwork. Ultracamp builds tools that make camp smoother for today's camp counselor and tomorrow's camp leader. Learn more at https://ultracampmanagement.com/firstclass

• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona

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Fill out the 2026 Podcast Survey by February 28th and enter your email for a chance to with a $250 gift card from our friends at Gopher Sport. Find it at gocamp.pro/podsurvey

Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/first-class-counselors-pod/should-we-send-them-home

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We’ve all been there. It’s week four, the coffee machine is broken, you are trying to get the cabin to the flagpole on time, and that camper is dragging their feet, making fart noises, and holding the broom upside down during cleanup. You don't necessarily want them sent home, but they are absolutely testing your patience. In this "high empathy" episode, Oliver and Matt validate those feelings of frustration while offering a roadmap to get back on track. They discuss the difference between behavior that is annoying versus behavior that requires a director's intervention, and how checking your own ego can de-escalate the situation.

Key Takeaways:

• Identifying Your Triggers: Frustration often stems from specific stressors like lateness, perceived "weaponized incompetence" (like using a push broom incorrectly), or a camper's disinterest in planned activities. Recognizing these triggers is the first step to patience.
• Conformity vs. Leadership: Matt challenges counselors to ask why a behavior is frustrating. Is it disrupting the camp experience, or does it simply make you feel like you are losing control or "looking bad" as a leader?
• Connection Over Correction: You don't have to like every camper, but you do need to find a connection. Oliver shares a story about using Magic: The Gathering cards to bridge the gap with a disconnected camper.

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Oliver: Survival Tag, The Game

Matt: Find a water bottle that you love drinking from.

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AMSkier is a leading insurance and strategic partner for many of the finest camps in America. AMSkier partners with camps to provide public relations, legal, medical, behavior support and more - Experience the AMSkier difference. Learn more at amskier.com.

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• Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
• Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona

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Fill out the 2026 Podcast Survey by February 28th and enter your email for a chance to with a $250 gift card from our friends at Gopher Sport. Find it at gocamp.pro/podsurvey