Send us Fan Mail

https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/first-summer

What does it take to turn the dream of a new camp into a successful first summer? Stacey Levy and Lauren Beckwith share the joyful moments, unexpected challenges, and hard-earned lessons from launching their first season. From building strong staff and family relationships to navigating startup costs, refining communication systems, and rethinking leadership roles, they offer an honest look at what it takes to build a camp from the ground up. Tune in for practical insights, candid reflections, and a behind-the-scenes look at how Camp Eastwood is using its first summer to make 2027 even better!

• 08:15 First Summer Verdict
• 11:31 Pre Camp Pressure
• 15:47 Eastwood Philosophy
• 20:33 Successes Reality Check
• 22:36 Startup Costs Debt
• 26:49 Wins Staff Families
• 29:33 Registration Pipeline
• 32:15 Parent Communication Loop
• 34:02 Sharing Camper Snapshot
• 36:11 Scaling Communication Systems
• 38:32 First Summer Staffing Wins
• 42:03 Dividing Director Roles
• 44:57 Session Break Reset Magic
• 48:50 Program Tweaks for Next Year
• 51:13 Facility Strengths for Ages
• 54:11 Coed Lessons and Flexibility
• 57:08 Homesickness and Cabin Drama
• 58:43 Offseason Guilty Pleasures

-

• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

-

• Lauren Beckwith - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood
• Stacey Levy - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood

-

Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com

Your staff work late into the night to create perfect camper schedules. Prevent mid-summer burnout with Camptivities — the smart scheduling software that saves time, reduces mistakes, and keeps your team energized. Find out more at camptivities.com

---

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

Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/valuation

What is a camp worth in today’s changing market? Season 7 of The Camp Owners Podcast kicks off with camp consultant Robert Lebby, who breaks down the current state of camp sales, valuations, buyer interest, and the financial forces shaping the industry. From understanding valuation multiples to navigating bank lending, owner financing, and preparing for a future sale, this episode is packed with practical insights for camp owners at any stage. Whether you’re thinking about selling now or simply planning for what comes next, this conversation will help you better understand the value of your camp and the market around it.

• 05:09 Meet Robert Lebby
• 08:06 Building Camp Owner Networks
• 10:30 Bankruptcy Fallout Explained
• 18:19 Buyer Interest Surges
• 26:53 Selling Prep And Finding Buyers
• 33:25 Market Shifts And Valuation Basics
• 36:03 Valuation Variables
• 37:23 Free Cash Explained
• 38:51 Multipliers and Ranges
• 42:29 Banks and Interest Rates
• 43:53 Owner Financing Basics
• 49:27 Tax Strategies and Depreciation
• 52:24 Private Equity in Camps
• 53:28 Industry Values and Transparency
• 58:02 Bankruptcy Valuations Recap
• 59:26 Selling Timeline Advice

-

• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

-

• Robert Lebby

-

Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com

Your staff work late into the night to create perfect camper schedules. Prevent mid-summer burnout with Camptivities — the smart scheduling software that saves time, reduces mistakes, and keeps your team energized. Find out more at camptivities.com

---

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

Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/building-a-vision

Launching a brand-new camp from scratch is no small feat, and in the final episode of season 6, Lauren Beckwith and Stacey Levy pull back the curtain on how they turned a shared vision into Camp Eastwood. Drawing on decades of experience at some of the industry’s most respected camps, they share practical insights on everything from designing age appropriate programming to creating culture, traditions and staff systems before the first camper even arrived. Whether you’re dreaming about starting a camp, refreshing your current program, or simply love hearing how great camp ideas come to life, this episode is packed with thoughtful leadership lessons and real world strategy. It’s an inspiring look at what it takes to build something meaningful from the ground up and why intentionality matters every step of the way.

• 04:52 Meet Camp Eastwood
• 06:58 Friendship Origin Story
• 10:06 Why Eastwood Exists
• 14:09 Property Site Setup
• 17:00 Timeline Roles Split
• 20:46 How They Got Asked
• 26:10 Building Program Philosophy
• 34:55 Designing For Young Kids
• 39:27 Forest Friends Values
• 41:37 Session Length Flexibility
• 43:04 Staff Training Approach
• 46:57 Reset Between Sessions
• 52:05 Developmental Programming Wins
• 54:18 Mentorship Leadership Lessons
• 56:51 Rapid Fire Favorites

-

• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

-

• Lauren Beckwith - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood
• Stacey Levy - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood

-

Your staff work late into the night to create perfect camper schedules. Prevent mid-summer burnout with Camptivities — the smart scheduling software that saves time, reduces mistakes, and keeps your team energized. Find out more at camptivities.com

---

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