After speaking with 50+ camp directors and traveling the country visiting camps, I’ve developed a sense for what makes a camp director succeed. With this perspective, if I were to craft my dream camp director, I’d call upon six components from these camp standouts…

The heart of Shibley Day Camp’s Heath Levine – Just as the heart is the muscle that pumps blood throughout the body, Heath is the motor that propels Shibley Day Camp. No one strikes a faster pace across the twist and turns of Shibley’s 20 shaded acres. Heath’s decisiveness and boundless energy allow him to tackle the daily surprises of day camp. From coordinating the arrival and departure of 50+ busses to feeding 1,000+ children each day, Heath’s motor makes Shibley so fantastic.

The open arms of Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods’ Dana Kite – The culture that Dana has created inside the Big House is breathtaking. If you were to combine the most welcoming open-door policy imaginable, with a side of jovial and witty office banter, and an extra helping of commitment and dedication, you’d have the central office at Lake of the Woods. Dana has constructed a space where campers and staff come through to eagerly report their successes, failures, and everything in between and leave feeling cared for and heard. The warmth and kindness Dana exudes is unparalleled and the laughter coming from her workspace echoes throughout camp.

The brain of Camp Champions’ Erec Hillis – If I were thrust into a camp-wide game of capture the flag, Erec is the field general I’d want to follow. Erec’s ability to ruthlessly prioritize turns whale problems into snail problems. Whether he’s conducting no-fluff morning meetings or posting afternoon battle plans at each table at lunch, Erec ensures that no balls are dropped at Camp Champions. A master of to-do lists with a true sense for what makes camp tick, Erec runs a tight and joyous ship.

The voice of Camp Stomping Ground‘s Jack Shott – Jack is the most gregarious chatterbox I’ve met and it’s clear this leads to tremendous outcomes for the children of Camp Stomping Ground. Proceeding at a rate of 3.7 questions a minute, Jack makes it clear that the opinion of every camper, counselor, and leadership team member is valued. The humility and curiosity with which he approaches each person is a great reminder that camp can be improved by the contributions of all.

The ears of Camp Pinnacle and Camp Champions’ Steve Baskin – The commitment of Steve Baskin to brining in new perspectives at camp is admirable. Steve is all ears when it comes to adopting the best practices of other camps and tweaking them to improve each institution he owns. Whether it be hiring staff with experience at other camps or bringing in “superstar directors” to serve as energy jolts at the end of summer, Steve makes sure his camps remain dynamic.

The memory of Tom Sawyer Camp‘s Sarah Horner Fish – Alumni of Tom Sawyer Camps can attest that Sarah Horner Fish’s investment in her campers and staff is always for the long haul. Whether it be a birthday card, a hearty congratulations on a major life event, or a voicemail when a shared memory is sparked, Sarah’s continued care for her people is inspiring. Through staff reunion events and an active social media presences, Sarah ensures that the life-long memories Tom Sawyer Camp created, stay remembered.

What else have I missed? Do the legs or hands or nose of any camp directors in your orbits deserve recognition? Let me know in the comments!

-Mario

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