Government & Organizations
**The Day Camp Pod – From Go Camp Pro**

The Day Camp Pod is for day camp leaders who want real answers and practical advice. Each episode covers how to build a resilient camp, face daily challenges, and support every camper. Our hosts and guests are experienced camp directors who believe in problem-solving, teamwork, and helping staff grow. We talk about staff training, making camps more welcoming for everyone, and building strong connections with parents. If you want to learn how empathy and creativity make camps better, and how to keep your camp strong during tough times, you’ll find new ideas here twice a month from Actober to May.

The Day Camp Pod, from Go Camp Pro. Bringing you the best ideas, strategies and discussions in the Day Camp Industry.

Latest Episodes:

Mini-Pod - Government Advocacy & Pandemic Open Houses - with Jonthan Gold - The Day Camp Pod Mar 23, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mini-advocacy-gold

Welcome back, Jonathan Gold!

Review us on iTunes!

Please help us welcome back the man, the myth, the legend, Jonathan Gold to this Day Camp Mini-Pod!

Tune in to hear more about:

WHY Government advocacy- It’s like an insurance policy- and it’s also a bit pricey.
Forming your own State Government Advocacy program like we did. www.njcgap.org
Examples of how it worked for us
It’s really hard and frustrating, and usually doesn’t work
Pandemic Open Houses for Recruiting Campers this Summer
If you want kids to come to you face-to-face in June, their parents are willing to come to you now face-to-face and visit your camp… AND THEY WILL SIGN UP!!!
You will show them that you know what you’re doing- give them confidence
And you can figure out how to do it safely and effectively
www.youcanbook.me
https://calendly.com/
Andy’s effective Virtual Open Houses

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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YOUR HOST:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

GUEST:

Jonathan M. Gold, MBA, PhD, Camp Owner/Director - the Arbor Group of Camps

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

YOU CAN DO IT - with Kelly Espinosa and Chris Hudson - A Go Camp Pro Podcast Mar 22, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/you-can-do-it

A Love Letter for Camps Considering Running in 2021 - from Go Camp Pro

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If you’re able to run camp this summer, we want to make sure you know you can do it.

This special Go Camp Pro Podcast is for camps out there who are on the fence about running this summer. We support each other in this industry and we believe that it’s on all of us to help each other succeed.

Here’s one of our contributions.

Chris Hudson from Camp Highlight - who did no run in 2020 sits down with Andy Pritikin from Liberty Lake and Kelly Espinosa from Kennolyn Camps, who did run in 2020. Tune in to hear about why camp is more important than ever and learn about Andy and Kelly’s fears, tears and cheers when it comes to running camp during a pandemic.

We don’t know many things right now, but we know that kids will need camp this summer more than ever. They NEED you.

We are in the business of changing children’s lives and they’ve never needed a life-changing moment more than this one.

If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Kelly Espinosa, Day Camp Director - Kennolyn Camps
Chris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp Highlight

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Mike Stillson, WAIC and Save Next Summer! - The Day Camp Pod #52 Mar 16, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mike-stillson

Meet Mike Stillson - A True Day Camp Maverick!

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The Camp Industry has some great leaders. We've interviewed a bunch of them, and we’ve got another one for you. Mike Stillson showed tremendous leadership in guiding his organization to open last summer, and continue programming through the offseason.

Regionally, as the reigning President of the Western Association of Independent Camps, he’s been a steady hand in moderating the ins and outs of the pandemic for day and resident camps west of the Rocky Mountains. Nationally he co-founded “Save Next Summer” to help ensure that ALL camps in North America can flourish in 2021.

We can’t wait to introduce you to all to Mike

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp
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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Automated Marketing Systems

Sam: Pie Irons and Dutch Ovens

Mike: Calendly, COVID Reports & GET VACCINATED
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YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
Mike Stillson, Executive Director - Valley Trails Summer Camps

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Mini-Pod - The Legacy of Marcy Brower - with Colette Marquardt - the Day Camp Pod Mar 09, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mini-marcy-brower

A spotlight on a wonderful woman in camping, Marcy Brower

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There are some amazing people who blaze a trail for change;

Marcy and Bob founded and operated Circle M Day Camp in Wheeling Illinois for 45 years, one of the first private camps to hire minority staff and enroll minority children.

Her interest in opportunities for children eventually influenced the whole of private camping in the national organization of private camps.

Marcy and Bob founded the Mid states Camping conference in 1993. And Marcy was an American Camp Association Illinois Board member and then served on the National Board and an endless list of committees.

Marcy was active in the civil rights movement and in the struggle for the rights of the LGBTQ community, particularly in ACA. She raised funds for civil rights groups and labor unions by sponsoring folk music concerts on the campgrounds during the 1960s, and marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington in 1963.

Here is an article they wrote in the 1960’s for American Camp Association:

https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/articles/desegregating-circle-m-day-camp-determination-succeed

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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YOUR HOSTS:

Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District, Vice president ACA Illinois

GUESTS:

Colette Marquardt, Executive Director of ACA Illinois

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

The Parks & Rec Pod - with with Janet Dellett & Mike Gianatasio - The Day Camp Pod #51 Mar 02, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/parks-and-rec-pod

The ins and outs of one of the largest groups of day camp providers, Parks & Rec departments!

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Municipal Parks and Rec. programs might have more day campers across North America each summer than all the private camps in the United States combined. They are local, convenient, and tax-subsidized affordable.

The multi-tasking people who lead these summer programs are local heroes who put together engaging, memorable experiences with shoe-string budgets, limited facilities, and a WHOLE LOT of creativity that we can all learn from. For all of our Parks & Rec. frontline worker listeners, this episode is for YOU.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp
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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Pickleball

Sam: Hot Dog Switch

Tiff: Shadow Tag, Water Games

Janet: Camp isn’t about you, it’s about the kids

Mike: Tech tip - Sling work scheduling app

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
Janet Dellett, Director of Parks and Recreation - Middletown Township
Mike Gianatasio, Superintendent of Recreation - Berwyn Park District

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Mini-Pod - Interview with Dave Thoensen - The Day Camp Pod Feb 23, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mini-dave-thoensen

A conversation with Andy Pritikin & Dave Thoensen

Please help us welcome Dave Thoensen to this Day Camp Mini-Pod!

Tune in to hear more about:

Private Day Camp BUSINESS practices
Fiscal responsibility
Last summer: PPE purchasing, staffing, parent communication- your amazing resource of same day covid-testing
Running a Pre-School in a pandemic
Early Enrollment - creating a buzz, always recruiting
What camps should be doing NOW- staffing, (
- And shouldn’t be doing- capital improvements)
Government advocacy - local level - even DIY!
ACA volunteering
Why you should open this summer, if you can.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

GUESTS:

Dave Thoensen, Camp Owner/Director - Tamarak Day Camp

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Milestone Episode: Hard Times - The Day Camp Pod #50 Feb 16, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/hard-times

It’s not all waterslides and s’mores, folks! Here’s how to persevere through the hard times, to get back to the good ones!

The world changed for us all in March 2020, with life, and camp, and business becoming more stressful and challenging than ever before. But “what does not kill us, makes us stronger,” diamonds are formed under pressure, success comes from learning from our failures- We could go on, but you get the point.

Guess what kids, life is tough, running a camp has tremendous challenges, and the more we overcome these challenges, the stronger we become as camp directors, as leaders, and as people.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
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Episode Resources & Links

Justin Pritikin TedTalk: https://youtu.be/1_UYVew7TEY

Warehouse Fight: https://nbcares.org/
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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp
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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: cagemask.com - neck gaiter - https://cagemask.com/product-category/neck-gaiter/

Sam: Monday.com

Tiff: FREE stuff: jotforms.com, canva.com

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Mini-Pod - Scott Brody & The ACA vs COVID-19 - The Day Camp Pod Feb 09, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mini-scott-brody

How Scott Brody and The ACA supported camps through the dark days of summer 2020.

Andy is joined by his longtime friend, colleague and business partner, Scott Brody, who also happens to be the Board Chair of the American Camp Association, with a concentration the past 4 years on Government affairs.

Tune in to hear about Scott and the ACA’s response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and what they did to literally give camps the playbook to run in a pandemic.

Hear more about:

How Scott got into camping, and what his current position is important position in this important moment of time.
What is it about the sleepaway spirit… at Day Camp?
Explain the extensive work that the ACA has been doing BEHIND THE SCENES, starting with the pandemic response- EHE

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro
-

Relevant Links:

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

GUESTS:

Scott Brody, Owner & Director - Camps Kenwood & Evergreen

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Creating Traditions @ Day Camp - with Laura Kriegel and Jack Schott - The Day Camp Pod #49 Feb 02, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/traditions-at-day-camp

Powerful ways to draw kids into the wonder and magic of your Day Camp.

Kids love predictability, kids love silliness, kids love TRADITIONS.

Most every camp out there has some kind of traditions that have woven their way into your program or facility- It’s part of the cool, uniqueness that makes your camp… a CAMP!

Some traditions are great, some should be removed, and you don’t have to be a 100-year-old sleepaway camp to have them. You can argue that a brand-new, small indoor day camp can have them, and that they are even more important in that setting.

Today we’re joined by two of the camp industry’s favourite millennials, Jack Schott and Laura Kriegel, who before starting their own program, travelled across the country in search of cool traditions.

Sit back and take notes, because YOUR camp is about to get better, without spending a cent!

Tune in to hear Sam, Tiff, Andy, Laura and Jack pass the mic to share their favourite camp traditions!

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

Episode Resources & Links

Find these at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/traditions-at-day-camp

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If you love the Day Camp Pod, we would be grateful if you subscribed and left us a review. It’s SUPER easy, too! Just head to http://ratethispodcast.com/dcp

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play
Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
Laura Kriegel, MSW, Co-Founder and Executive Director - Camp Stomping Ground
Jack Schott, Co-Founder and Executive Director - Camp Stomping Ground

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

Bonus - Andy and Sam’s Big list of Traditions!

Find this at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/traditions-at-day-camp

TIMELY INFORMATION FOR AMERICAN CAMPS - PPP, ERC & ACA - with Scott Brody & Steve Baskin - The Day Camp Pod #48 Jan 26, 2021

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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/ppp-era-aca

Timely info for American Camps - Jan/Feb 2021

For many camps and small businesses in the United States, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was a lifesaver- enabling us to keep our best people employed which we navigated the uncharted waters of the covid-19 pandemic.

Starting January 13, the second round of PPP has been made available to qualifying businesses, as well as other resources like the Employer Retention Credit. While most of us may be good at running a summer camp, this other stuff is both supremely important and pretty darn confusing- which is why we have called for an EMERGENCY Podcast with ACA National Chair Scott Brody and the great Steve Baskin - so that we can better grasp the options that can ensure our financial solvency as we enter the 2021 camp season.

Tune in to hear about:

What we need to know about the PPP situation
The issues of timing, and filing for forgiveness
What’s coming down the pike.

Do you have a suggestion for a future show? Let us know by email: daycampquestions@gocamp.pro

Important Links:

Andrew Ziv’s thorough explanation of ERC & PPP - https://andrewziv.substack.com/p/breaking-down-the-employer-retention
SBA / PPP - https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program
IRS / ERC - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-employee-retention-credit-under-the-cares-act

YOUR HOSTS:

Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

GUESTS:

Scott Brody, Owner & Director - Camps Kenwood & Evergreen
Steve Baskin, Executive Director - Camp Champions, Camp Pinnacle, Partner - Everwood Day Camp

SPONSORS:

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

AM Skier Insurance http://www.amskier.com/
Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) https://crs4rec.com/

Please review and subscribe!

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!

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The Day Camp Pod – From Go Camp Pro

Welcome back, Jonathan Gold!

YOUR HOST:

GUEST:

Please review and subscribe!

A Love Letter for Camps Considering Running in 2021 - from Go Camp Pro

YOUR HOSTS:

SPONSORS:

Please review and subscribe!

Meet Mike Stillson - A True Day Camp Maverick!

Day Camp Tip of the Week

YOUR HOSTS:

Please review and subscribe!

A spotlight on a wonderful woman in camping, Marcy Brower

YOUR HOSTS:

GUESTS:

Please review and subscribe!

The ins and outs of one of the largest groups of day camp providers, Parks & Rec departments!

Day Camp Tip of the Week

YOUR HOSTS:

Please review and subscribe!

A conversation with Andy Pritikin & Dave Thoensen

YOUR HOSTS:

GUESTS:

Please review and subscribe!

It’s not all waterslides and s’mores, folks! Here’s how to persevere through the hard times, to get back to the good ones!

Episode Resources & Links

Day Camp Tip of the Week

YOUR HOSTS:

Please review and subscribe!

How Scott Brody and The ACA supported camps through the dark days of summer 2020.

Relevant Links:

YOUR HOSTS:

GUESTS:

Please review and subscribe!

Powerful ways to draw kids into the wonder and magic of your Day Camp.

Episode Resources & Links

YOUR HOSTS:

Please review and subscribe!

Bonus - Andy and Sam’s Big list of Traditions!

Timely info for American Camps - Jan/Feb 2021

Important Links:

YOUR HOSTS:

GUESTS:

Please review and subscribe!

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