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https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/community-engagement

Building Community Partnerships: How Day Camps Can Connect Locally

What if your day camp was known not just as a program, but as a true community partner? In this episode of The Day Camp Pod , guests Marissa Allaben, Ali Rothenberg and Heath Levine join the hosts to discuss how camps can build authentic, local connections that really matter. From partnering with schools and municipalities to showing up at community events and using street teams creatively, this conversation is packed with practical, boots-on-the-ground ideas. The guests share real examples of what’s worked, what takes time and why consistency is key to earning trust. You’ll also hear how social media and in-person outreach can work together to amplify your camp’s presence. If you want your camp to be seen as a giver, not a taker, this episode offers clear inspiration and actionable next steps.

00:00 Introduction: Are You a Giver or a Taker?

04:12 Rolling River Camp's History and Legacy

08:41 Community Engagement and Marketing Strategies

14:06 Building Genuine Relationships in the Community

14:41 Engaging with Schools and Local Organizations

17:11 The Power of Partnerships and Consistency

27:01 The Role of Street Teams in Community Outreach

29:01 Engaging the Community with a Street Team

31:39 The Power of Mascots in Camp Marketing

35:40 Building Relationships Beyond the Screen

41:51 Leveraging Social Media for Camp Promotion

51:36 Holiday Camps: A Gateway to Summer Enrollment

54:04 Final Thoughts and Best Practices

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

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• Marissa Allaben, Director - Rolling River Day Camp
• Ali Rothenberg, Associate Director - Rolling River Day Camp
• Heath Levine, Director - Shibley Day Camp

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Find show notes and more at https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/mail-bag

As another camp season wraps up, the Day Camp Podcast team is taking time to reflect, laugh and learn alongside the community that’s been with them for seven years. In this special year-end episode, our hosts open their first-ever listener mailbag and respond to real questions from camp professionals. From engaging preschoolers and creating magical moments for young campers to navigating parent expectations and building strong vendor partnerships, the conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can use right away. You’ll also hear honest reflections on what didn’t go as planned and what they’d do differently next time. If you’re looking for fresh ideas, reassurance that you’re not alone and inspiration to strengthen your camp culture year round, this episode is a must listen. Settle in for insight, humor, and a thoughtful close to the camp year.

• 00:31 Listener Mailbag: Holiday Special
• 03:11 External Partners and Vendors at Camp
• 10:55 Regrettable Changes and Lessons Learned
• 21:13 Managing Parent Expectations
• 28:25 Preschool Programming Challenges
• 30:29 Creating Magic for Young Campers
• 31:41 Engaging Activities and Special Events
• 37:39 Managing Parent Expectations
• 42:58 Off-Season Engagement and Camp Culture
• 49:06 Evaluating and Improving Camp Operations

Andy & Eric Wittenberg’s presentation comparing “The Bear” to Summer Camp

Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality

The Secret Ingredients of Great Hospitality

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)
  • Looking to elevate your camp experience? For over 25 years, Commercial Recreation Specialists has been transforming camps with water inflatables, Splashpads, playgrounds, and more! Boost your programming, drive registrations, and attract more campers. Our team of Recreation Specialists is here to help you design the ultimate space. Let’s take your camp to the next level – because we’re serious about FUN! Find out more at https://crs4rec.com/
• Campminder
  • Campminder has the most robust offerings of features out there. But more importantly, every feature works together to create a full, seamless system that helps camps run more efficiently. Visit them today at campminder.com
• Camptivities
  • Building the perfect camp schedule takes experience — and when a key staff member leaves, that knowledge can disappear. Camptivities protects your institutional camp knowledge and makes sure every camper gets the schedule you promised. Built by camp people, for camp people. Learn more at camptivitie

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https://gocamp.pro/day-camp-pod/doing-it-right

Registration season doesn’t have to feel like chaos and this week’s episode of the Day Camp Pod proves it. Hosts Andy Pritikin, Sam Thompson, and Jordanna Grossinger sit down with Eric Wittenberg to unpack what really drives successful day camp enrollment. From fine tuning customer experience to making data-informed decisions, Eric shares practical strategies that camps can implement right away. You’ll hear how to strengthen follow-up systems, personalize communication, and adapt to shifting economic realities without burning out your team. If you want to boost enrollment, improve family relationships, and approach registration with more confidence and clarity, this conversation is a must-listen. Tune in and get ready to transform the way you handle camp registration

05:01 The Importance of Customer Experience (CX)

08:11 Trends and Strategies in Camp Registration

15:07 Lead Sources and Follow-Up Strategies

28:30 The Challenge of Outbound Sales in Camps

28:43 Research and Findings on Camp Follow-Ups

29:28 Learning from Other Industries

29:55 The Value of Persistent Follow-Ups

30:51 Comparing Camp Sales to Other Industries

31:30 Understanding the Lifetime Value of a Camper

33:01 Leveraging Data for Better Camp Management

33:49 Exploring Tools for Automation and Efficiency

35:48 The Importance of Enrollment Follow-Up

37:56 Effective Communication Strategies

39:50 State of the Camp Industry

45:24 Adapting to Economic Uncertainty

50:50 Strategies for Increasing Enrolment

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Rand Fishkin

Rand Fishkin on Medium

Dean Jackson

Grant Cardone

Mailbag Episode! Send your questions, thoughts and ideas

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• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp
• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District
• Jordanna Grossinger, Director - Camp Robin Hood

With:

• Eric Wittenberg, Founder - Camper Machine, The Camp Stack

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