Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/building-a-vision

Launching a brand-new camp from scratch is no small feat, and in the final episode of season 6, Lauren Beckwith and Stacey Levy pull back the curtain on how they turned a shared vision into Camp Eastwood. Drawing on decades of experience at some of the industry’s most respected camps, they share practical insights on everything from designing age appropriate programming to creating culture, traditions and staff systems before the first camper even arrived. Whether you’re dreaming about starting a camp, refreshing your current program, or simply love hearing how great camp ideas come to life, this episode is packed with thoughtful leadership lessons and real world strategy. It’s an inspiring look at what it takes to build something meaningful from the ground up and why intentionality matters every step of the way.

• 04:52 Meet Camp Eastwood
• 06:58 Friendship Origin Story
• 10:06 Why Eastwood Exists
• 14:09 Property Site Setup
• 17:00 Timeline Roles Split
• 20:46 How They Got Asked
• 26:10 Building Program Philosophy
• 34:55 Designing For Young Kids
• 39:27 Forest Friends Values
• 41:37 Session Length Flexibility
• 43:04 Staff Training Approach
• 46:57 Reset Between Sessions
• 52:05 Developmental Programming Wins
• 54:18 Mentorship Leadership Lessons
• 56:51 Rapid Fire Favorites

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• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

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• Lauren Beckwith - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood
• Stacey Levy - Co-Director - Camp Eastwood

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Your staff work late into the night to create perfect camper schedules. Prevent mid-summer burnout with Camptivities — the smart scheduling software that saves time, reduces mistakes, and keeps your team energized. Find out more at camptivities.com

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Fill out the 2026 Podcast Survey by February 28th and enter your email for a chance to with a $250 gift card from our friends at Gopher Sport. Find it at gocamp.pro/podsurvey

Find all the show notes at https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/coaching-staff

Why do some staff shut down when given feedback and how can leaders break through? In this episode, your hosts sit down with Dave Brown, LCSW, to explore brain-aligned strategies that help young staff actually hear, process, and act on feedback. Listen in as they unpack the “mentor’s dilemma” and share practical tools like transparency statements, belonging stories, and low stakes check-ins that build trust while maintaining high standards. If you’re looking to strengthen your feedback culture without sacrificing relationships, this episode offers clear, actionable approaches you can start using right away.

• 07:00 From Social Work To Camp
• 08:21 Launching Fence Post Learning
• 11:40 Why Feedback Feels Hard
• 12:45 Mentor’s Dilemma
• 15:55 Fragility Causes
• 21:53 High Standards, High Support
• 26:04 Transparency Statements Tool
• 29:15 Building Feedback Culture
• 33:51 Training Middle Managers
• 36:29 Why Feedback Breaks Down
• 37:42 Trusting Others With Feedback
• 40:42 Why Connection Matters
• 46:04 Belonging Stories Tool
• 50:15 Balance Scale Support
• 53:52 Mentoring Campers

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• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

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• Dave Brown, LCSW - Founder - Fence Post Learning, Director - Mountain Camp

Coping Mechanisms from Fence Post Learning

10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People

Your staff work late into the night to create perfect camper schedules. Prevent mid-summer burnout with Camptivities — the smart scheduling software that saves time, reduces mistakes, and keeps your team energized. Find out more at camptivities.com

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Fill out the 2026 Podcast Survey by February 28th and enter your email for a chance to with a $250 gift card from our friends at Gopher Sport. Find it at gocamp.pro/podsurvey

Find all the show notes at https://gocamp.pro/ownerspod/campfire-effect

What if belonging wasn’t left to chance, but intentionally designed? In this episode of The Camp Owners Podcast, Matt Kaufman unpacks “The Campfire Effect,” revealing how camps can use brain chemistry to foster deeper connection, resilience and growth. From navigating homesickness to building powerful staff cultures, this conversation offers practical strategies rooted in the simple idea that stress plus support creates lasting impact. Whether you work in camps, schools or teams, you’ll walk away with actionable ways to create environments where people truly feel they belong.

• 04:20 Matt’s Camp Origin Story
• 06:55 Why He Wrote Campfire Effect
• 10:38 Engineering Belonging at Camp
• 14:53 Neurochemicals and Dopamine Goals
• 19:53 Stress Plus Support Equals Growth
• 24:57 Training Staff to Support Campers
• 28:50 Camp Beyond Camp
• 32:13 Belonging Culture Non-negotiables
• 32:53 Welcoming New Staff Right
• 39:18 Belonging by Design
• 41:31 Inspect Your Rituals
• 44:58 Healthy Dopamine

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• Howie Grossinger - Co-owner/Director - Camp Robin Hood, Partner - Camp Walden & Madawaska Camps
• Kelly Schuna - Owner - Hidden Pines Ranch

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• Matt Kaufman - Director - Camp Ramaquois

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The Campfire Effect: How to Engineer Belonging in a Disconnected World

Matt’s Website

Your mission is campers. Ours is making their experience coordinated and connected.

Whereabouts is the only camper management system that keeps Parents, Admin, and Staff in sync in real time — so every camper’s day runs with confidence, clarity, and care. Check them out whereaboutsapp.io

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Fill out the 2026 Podcast Survey by February 28th and enter your email for a chance to with a $250 gift card from our friends at Gopher Sport. Find it at gocamp.pro/podsurvey