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https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/onboarding-part2

Creating a positive first time camper experience takes thoughtful planning, clear communication, and a team that’s ready to make every family feel welcome. In part 2, Jackie Port and Maria Horner share practical strategies for preparing new campers and their families, from preview days and staff briefings to dedicated camper ambassadors and early parent follow ups. Learn how to get the right information into the right hands, ease first day nerves, and build consistent onboarding practices that help families feel confident choosing your camp!

• 01:33 Preview Day Blueprint
• 04:25 Buses Ease Anxiety
• 05:51 Meet and Greet Options
• 07:05 Open House Booths
• 09:51 Camper Profiles and AI
• 15:21 Briefing Frontline Staff
• 17:15 Reports and New Camper Flags
• 19:00 Staff Briefing Rhythm
• 20:34 Sharing Info With Discretion
• 20:53 Helping First Time Parents
• 24:19 Mental Health Forms
• 27:23 First Day Check Ins
• 29:06 Ambassadors For New Campers
• 31:27 Surveys And Metrics
• 33:51 Consistent Session Onboarding

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

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• Jackie Port, Assistant Director - Camp Ramaquois
• Maria Horner, Executive Director - Catalina Island Camps

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more at camptivities.com.
• Campminder
  • 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

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy!

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp‍ ‍

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Send us Fan Mail

https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/onboarding-part1

A great first time camper experience can be the difference between a one summer family and a family that returns year after year. In Part 1 of this two part conversation, your hosts are joined by Jackie Port and Maria Horner to explore practical ways to welcome new campers, build parent confidence, and create a sense of belonging from the very first interaction. From personalized communication and thoughtful welcome packages to setting realistic expectations and helping families navigate the bumps along the way, this episode is packed with strategies you can put into practice. Tune in to discover how intentional onboarding can turn first time families into lifelong camp community members!

• 00:00 Why First Timers Matter
• 07:04 Camp Is A Business
• 09:21 Retention And Metrics
• 12:29 Care Package Welcome
• 16:33 Day Camp Onboarding Tactics
• 19:01 Segmenting New Families
• 22:27 Personal Emails Build Trust
• 24:35 Lead Liaison Routing
• 25:25 Instant Brochure Automation
• 26:21 Segmentation And Hype Emails
• 28:27 First Time Family Outreach
• 29:37 Keeping Big Camps Personal
• 30:04 Calls Versus Emails
• 32:48 Preschooler Prep Events
• 34:14 Setting Parent Expectations
• 35:17 Struggle Plus Support
• 39:34 Parent Education And Reunions
• 43:32 Director Authority And Trust

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

-

• Jackie Port, Assistant Director - Camp Ramaquois
• Maria Horner, Executive Director - Catalina Island Camps

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more at camptivities.com.
• Campminder
  • 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

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy!

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp‍ ‍

Thanks, Camp Pro!

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/summer-2026

In this Summer 2026 debrief, Andy Pritikin, Sam Thompson, and Jordanna Grossinger look back at the wins, challenges, and unexpected lessons from another summer at camp. From smoother transportation and stronger staff growth to wildfire smoke, extreme heat, staffing challenges, and evolving parent expectations, this episode gets real about what worked and what needs to change. You’ll hear practical ideas for improving operations, strengthening staff culture, gathering better family feedback, and preparing for increasingly unpredictable weather. If you’re already thinking about next summer, this conversation is packed with lessons worth bringing into your fall planning.

• 02:12 Sam’s Summer Wins
• 03:12 Busing And Parking
• 04:28 Pandemic Changes Stick
• 05:53 Wagon Water Bottle Hack
• 09:16 Wildfire Smoke Pivot
• 10:05 Heat And AC Debate
• 11:33 Parents Value Camp More
• 14:58 First Time Families Focus
• 16:14 Jordanna Runs Camp Solo
• 21:09 Andy’s Generational Shift
• 23:13 Leading Through Change
• 27:16 Accountability And Fear
• 28:25 Staff Identity And Ecosystem
• 30:39 Gossip And Body Talk
• 31:35 Background Checks Gray Areas
• 33:21 Heat Protocols And Inspections
• 38:10 Wildfire Smoke Closure Call
• 39:44 Refunds Credits And Policy Updates
• 43:05 Climate Risks And Shelter Planning
• 47:05 Emergency Response And 911 Reflections
• 51:36 Fall Planning And Feedback Loops
• 57:00 Lost And Found Science

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

-

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more at camptivities.com.
• Campminder
  • 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

If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

It’s so easy!

Just click here: https://ratethispodcast.com/dcp‍ ‍

Thanks, Camp Pro!