Hey Reader, This week might be feeling long. Your team might be running on fumes. Here's something small that helps. Try this at your next staff huddle Pick one person. Name what they did. Say why it mattered. "Jordan noticed that camper sitting off alone, invited her in, and helped her laugh. That moment made her whole day." Thirty seconds. That's it. Your staff are doing things like this every day. They just don't always know you saw it. Recognition like this shows up in our data, too....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Go Camp Pro's USELetter - May 2026 - Part 2Let 'em be bored, Reader. I've been learning a lot from Go Camp Pro's new podcast, Camp Programming, By Design. In the most recent episode, Chris and Ariella showed me perspective on boredom that I hadn't considered. You should listen - but if you don't have time right at this moment, here are two lessons that we should all be thinking about when it comes to us, and our camp programs this summer. The Default Mode Network (DMN): When you are "bored" -...
3 months ago • 5 min read
You've heard a lot from me lately. The Last-Minute Marketing Masterclass, the 12-month program, more emails than I hoped (but we've got 2 dozen camps increasing their 2026 camper numbers right now!). I'm not pitching those again here, Reader. If the budget doesn't fit right now, this is for you. And if you'd like a perspective that isn't only mine, this is for you too. Dan Weir, Eric Wittenberg, and I are sitting down for two free one-hour conversations. Dan runs Day Camp Community. Eric is...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, *AI Helped Me Write This. (You know the drill.) TRAVIS20 ⬅️ Save This! - This is the discount code just for TOWsies. The Camp Resilience Blueprint resources have launched with the Less Overwhelm, More Impact: A Camp Director’s Guide workbook. I'd love it if you use this 20% off code - my Thanks for being a TOW subscriber. 🛡 Camp Resilience Blueprint TOWs: How to Shift Your Sales Mindset and Sell Without Feeling Uncomfortable - Carole Alalouf - This article gently reframes sales as...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Winter camp planning has a quiet weight to it, Reader. You’re reviewing camper numbers, replaying last summer, and trying to predict what families will do next, all while answering emails and juggling budgets. That’s not a motivation problem. It’s an overload problem. The Camper Recruitment & Retention Playbook was written for this exact moment. Not to hype you up, but to give you a steady place to start, with month-by-month guidance that works even when energy is low. Buy Your Copy of the...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Most directors don’t resist change because they’re lazy — they resist because change feels like “more work.” But here’s the rub: staying the same already costs you, Reader. 2 a.m. email loops with parents that you're convinced they aren't reading Staff walking because onboarding was fuzzy Feedback from staff and families that comes too late to be useful. The diagnostic you completed already showed you where the cracks are. If nothing changes, those cracks widen. This book is designed for...
12 months ago • 1 min read
You already did the hard part, Reader: you diagnosed your camp’s resilience gaps. That puts you ahead of most directors. But here’s the truth: insight without action fades fast. This fall is your best window to make next summer calmer and safer on purpose. That’s why I pulled together the Resilient Camp Blueprint book — it translates your diagnostic into field-tested tools like: Growth Note Texts that deepen parent trust in 60 seconds One-Minute SOPs that turn chaos into confidence Tough-Talk...
12 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Lately, camp staff have been sharing a lot online—and not just on job boards. In fact, right now on Reddit, there are dozens of posts from counsellors venting about burnout, poor leadership, lack of support, and even serious safety concerns. And here’s the twist: many of these posts are showing up on forums that parents and prospective staff read. 💬 “I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. My directors are forcing me to say I’m 100%. My counsellors call me negative and gossip...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, In the past few months, I’ve been on calls with camp directors so worn down they’ve been in tears. They love their purpose as a Camp Maverick — but the staffing battles, admin overload, and constant red tape have stolen the joy from their work. I hear it all the time: “I never get to the part of the job I actually love anymore.” That’s why I created the P.A.T.H. Decision Compass (part of our Resilient Camp Blueprint)— a simple, two-page guide to help you quickly decide what...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read