Keeping Camp Employees Engaged and Invested: 3 Strategies

At the heart of every successful camp is a dedicated team of employees whose passion and investment are as vital as the activities they facilitate. Working in a camp environment comes with unique challenges. These individuals are expected to work long hours and adapt to campers’ diverse needs.

To create a rewarding camp setting and retain eager staff members, you need a creative engagement plan. In this guide, we’ll uncover three practical strategies to put employee engagement at the forefront of your camp, including how to:

1. Create a Welcoming, Communicative Culture
2. Provide Opportunities for Professional Growth
3. Recognize and Reward Employee Contributions

Leveraging these strategies will lead to an enriching experience that extends beyond conventional workplace settings for campers and staff!

1. Create a Welcoming, Communicative Culture

Imagine a camp where every staff member feels welcome and valued. Creating this environment isn’t just idealistic; it's essential for your camp’s longevity. 

Establishing a sense of belonging helps develop a supportive work environment where every employee feels they can turn to their colleagues and leaders for support. When you foster this culture, employees will better collaborate, ensuring no one feels isolated.

Here are some easy ways to create a welcoming workplace that motivates employees:

• Host team-building activities that allow staff to bond before the campers arrive. Activities could range from collaborative problem-solving challenges to fun, recreational outings.
• Ensure everyone has a voice in meetings, informal check-ins, and social activities that involve team members.
• Provide cultural competency training for staff to enhance their understanding and appreciation of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. This could be through workshops or seminars centered on diversity and inclusion.
• Establish open lines of communication between management and staff. This could include feedback loops or regular meetings to address concerns and keep staff informed. Using your camp management technology, you can create an employee feedback system, leading to improvements and increased employee satisfaction.

Creating a welcoming environment where staff members feel like they belong goes a long way in job satisfaction and retention. Infuse this strategy into your camp management tactics, and you’ll be well on your way toward building a positive work environment.

2. Provide Opportunities for Professional Growth

Professional growth is particularly crucial in camp environments, where many employees are interested in building skills for future career development. Whether staff members aim to one day become full-time camp leaders or are looking for a rewarding seasonal job, you should empower your staff to grow in their roles.

Double the Donation’s employee engagement strategies guide discusses how employees who know their efforts will advance their careers are likely to be more invested in their work. The article goes on to suggest ways organizations, like your camp, can invest in their staff’s development, like:

• Skill Development Programs: Identify specific skills that will enhance your staff’s performance, like conflict resolution, first aid, and understanding children’s psychological and developmental needs. Then, design targeted training modules that address these skills, like workshops, hands-on training sessions, or online courses. Alternatively, encourage staff to pursue external educational opportunities and certifications. You may consider offering reimbursement for these endeavors.
• Career Advancement Paths: Clear pathways for career progression motivate staff. Map out a career progression framework detailing various roles and responsibilities available within your organization and the criteria required for advancement. Then, communicate this framework to all staff using tools such as employee handbooks, orientation sessions, and regular career development meetings.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Establish mentorship programs for less experienced staff to help them get their footing. Start by identifying seasoned staff members who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge. Then, pair them with less experienced staff in a structured program with regular check-ins, goal setting, and feedback sessions.

If you’re struggling to pick the best opportunities for your staff members, simply ask what they’d find most rewarding. Doing so will show you care about providing an enriching experience and retaining talented team members.

3. Recognize and Reward Employee Contributions

Proactive recognition validates hard work and reaffirms employees’ value to your camp. It goes a long way in boosting morale, job satisfaction, and loyalty, so don’t overlook employee appreciation in your camp management approach.

Remember, recognition isn’t just about big achievements; it’s also about acknowledging day-to-day contributions that keep your camp running smoothly. Here are some ways to celebrate both big and small successes:

• Thank-you notes: Craft handwritten thank-you notes or deliver fun eCards to say thanks for a job well done. Be sure to call out specific contributions, such as leading a canoeing expedition with enthusiasm. You might even have your campers write special notes to employees at the end of the camping season.
• Recognition at team meetings: Shout out outstanding staff members who do their jobs exceptionally well. Verbally and publicly acknowledging hard work will inspire others to step up their game in an effort to receive recognition, too.
• Employee awards: Create awards like "Camp MVP," "Superb Spirit Spreader," or "Director of Fun.” Employees can nominate their peers and hand out awards, like certificates and trophies, at staff meetings or special events. 
• Employee gifts: Incentivize hard work with gifts! These can be related to performance or to celebrate milestones, like an employee’s 5-year anniversary at your camp. You can hand out gift cards, merchandise branded to your camp, or anything else employees will appreciate! eCardWidget’s employee gifts guide explains that you can even tie these tangible rewards to your employee awards. For instance, give a generous gift card or a branded camp t-shirt to your Camp MVP.

When possible, celebrate team achievements, too. For example, you might wrap up a camping session with a party. Not only will this fun event help staff unwind, but you can also applaud the team’s collective efforts throughout the camp. This is the perfect chance to give out awards, share memorable stories, and express gratitude. Overall, you’ll end each camp on a high note and reinforce a sense of accomplishment among staff members.

Start Creating Your Camp’s Employee Engagement Plan

Whether you’re leading a sports camp, an outdoor summer camp, or a camp for the arts, you should create a quality experience for campers, and that starts with happy employees. Follow the roadmap we provided to foster a workplace where every employee feels connected to your camp's mission, driving both personal satisfaction and professional excellence. Happy camping!