CREATING MAGIC MOMENTS IN SUMMER CAMP Mid America Camping Conference 2013
Jul 17, 2015
MATES
• Humans are Social
• Shared Experience
• Fundamental to Camps
• Confidence that comes
with making friends
MAKING PEOPLE
WELCOME
• Instantly accessible
• Easy to pick up on
traditions
• Use names
• Culture of respect
MAGIC MATES
• Cabin Structure
• Friendship/Cabin Meetings
• Initiatives/Team building
• Intentional pairing
• “Stepping Stones to Building Friendships” by Cathi
Choen
• Choosing Activities or Friends (OE School)
• Activities for one person?
• Songs
MENTORS
• Also fundamental to the
camp experience
• Rock Star versus
Mentor
• Looking up to someone
and having their
attention is a powerful
combination
MAGIC MENTORS
• Hiring Practices
• Training
• 1 on 1 conversation
• Modeling
• Scheduling/Activity Selection
• Facility Design
• Christmas Cards
• Camper Letters
• Camp O Grams
MOMENTS
• Something great at the
time, and becomes a
long term memory
• Those times when
everything is “just right”
• Memories consist of:
Sights, smells, feelings,
sounds, tastes, people,
etc.
AWESOME CAMP
MOMENTS• Going to a water park
• Climbing the tower
• Conversing with friends at crafts
• Getting a bullseye
• Zip Line
• Performances
• Learning a Skill
• Laughing
• Playing games
TRADITIONS
• Consistency is a
difference maker.
• Return campers hype
things up for new
campers.
• 3 YEARS AWAY
AMBIANCE
• Campfire/Candles/Low
Light
• Volume - reflection
• Music
• Outdoors/Weather/Star
s
• Food/Drink
OPENINGS AND
CLOSINGS
• People need to be
ready to experience the
magic.
• When does it start and
how does it end?
• Surprise or building
anticipation?
• Nestled openings and
closings.
TELL THEM IT IS
IMPORTANT
• Because if you do, it
will be.
• Tell them they are an
important part of it.
• Some people aren’t
looking for magic and
need to be told where
and how to look
BE INSPIRING AND
ATTACH MEANING
• Speak from the heart
• Share who you are
• Believe in what you say
• Camp Creed, Core
Values, Unless, I am
Third, etc.
SCENARIOS
• Playing Capture the
Flag is fun.
• Playing it in color teams
with face paint and
chants is memorable.
• Playing it as a team the
kids made up with
special cheers, unique
costumes, and team
songs is unforgettable.
SCENARIOS
• Having a campfire is
fun
• Announcing it at dinner
and having the staff go
crazy for it is
memorable
• Announcing it at dinner,
having a warm up, and
walking quietly through
the woods to the site is
unforgettable
MENTIONS
• Kids crave attention
and recognition
• It validates their
experience
• Shows respect from
their mentors/authority
• Gives them social
status with their peers
MAGIC MENTIONS
• Ranch Camp Achievement Levels
• Returning from a Trip
• Cheers - Recognize/Thank You
• Good Sheriff
• Newsletters
• Birthday Brigades
• “Kingdom Awards”
• Staff Recognition
• Year Awards
MEMENTOS
• What will tie them to
their memories?
• Important things in
adult life have tokens,
badges, and symbols.
• Gifts make people feel
special and important.
MAGIC MEMENTOS
• Medallions
• T-Shirts
• Take Home Crafts
• Friendship Bracelets
• Swim Bands
• Store Items
• Christmas Cards
• Autograph Folder
• Camp Journal
EXTENDING THE
FEELING• Traditions - When I go
back, I will experience it
again.
• “Christmas Morning
Excited”
• Expectations and
Cliches
• Actual Magic
• Can’t do it anywhere
else
FIND INSPIRATION IN
YOUR OWN MAGIC
• What do experiences you consider
magical tell you?
• Better to go out to eat or make special
meal with friends?
• What happens in concerts, church,
ceremonies, TV, Movies, etc. that feels
magic?