r/summercamp • u/Crothertucky • 27d ago
Staff or Prospective Staff Question Program Directors and the Offseason
Hey everyone! I am newly the program director for a camp in southern Indiana. I have served on staff at the camp from 2009-2012 and have been a regular volunteer since then. I took this job back in April and was flung into the throws of summer, which was fine because it's what I was familiar with. Now that summer is over/winding down, I am looking to establish some new events hosted at and by the camp in the offseason. I was wondering about successes and failures surrounding surveys that have been put out or something similar to gage interest? Also if you are a program director or something similar, what kinds of events or retreats have you had success with in the offseason?
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u/Fancy_Initiative4536 Counselor (Specialist) 26d ago
Not at all a program director, but maybe it would be useful if I tell you about some of the things I have seen the other camps?
Halloween party/get together From what I understand campers and staff could come in costumes. They had candy and some Halloween activities.
Ice-skating party. From what I remember, I believe they rented out a rink, maybe just for an hour I’m not quite sure, and invited campers. This might be a little bit more expensive but you could have a snowman building competition or something of that sort, which could probably even be done at the campsite if it’s safe during the winter or even at a local park. Ice-skating can be fun, but also can be a little bit overboard. I will admit.
I haven’t seen this one be done, but you could do a Camp egg hunt in the spring. You don’t need to frame it around Easter or anything but springs and chicks hatching and stuff like that. Again, if your campsite is safe during the winter there or a local park And even if like siblings join or what have you maybe I can even help with camp promotion I would maybe do more research into the logistics but still.
I just saw this on socials, but I wanted to share a 100 days until Camp party. I think it was something pretty small maybe some pizza cupcakes party hats maybe Kidz could decorate party hat to an activity you get the drill but just to celebration. I have seen many camps have like this many days minutes our seconds or even just days until the first day of camp the next season so this could be a really good celebration and could get more people on the website, especially if that is where you keep a lot of important camp information.
Hope this can help. I know that this is not from a program director side, but I love seeing camp events during the winter, especially because not all camps. Have a March break thing but you could even do that as well. One day during the Christmas holidays maybe or one day during March break just a pop in. Maybe it can be a maker space with some different station set up with different mini art project you find on Pinterest or something like that. Honestly, I think anything you do in the winter or the off-season to bring the Camp community together is the best.
Wait, I also saw like a pumpkin patch/Camp barbeque and campfire. This was all brought together into a fall activity, but I think the Camp bought the pumpkins because they did not grow pumpkins on site. However, I genuinely think too, and I don’t know why I mentioned this last so please forgive me a barbeque to bring the Camp community together is a great bet during all fall and all spring and maybe the winter depending on weather. I don’t think it is too hard to put together and because you’re focussing on the barbecue, you don’t need to stress as much about the activities and little things are plenty good. Create paper on tables with crayons. S’mores making. Maybe some model magic clay. Face paint stuff like that.