What I’m worried about this summer
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It’s all about kids today
Today, I show up at Kenwood & Evergreen for the first time this summer.
I’m the new guy. And honestly, there’s a ton on my mind.
Which feels weird to admit, considering I’ve been working at camps for years, run trainings every month, write about it every week, and think about it all the time (like, ALL.THE.TIME).
You’d think stepping into a new place would feel routine.
You’d be wrong.
The truth is, even experienced camp professionals get nervous about big transitions. Maybe especially experienced camp professionals, because we know enough to understand everything that could go sideways.
I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking about all the things I don’t know yet. All the systems I’ll need to learn. All the relationships I’ll need to build. All the decisions I’ll need to make without full context.
And honestly? That’s probably normal.
The Leadership Transition Worries
All right, let’s get these out of the way.
I’m worried about stepping on toes (figuratively, though maybe literally too!). There’s this balance of respecting what’s already working while having some ideas of my own that I know have worked elsewhere. How do you rock with the existing culture and still look for ways to improve?
I’m worried about making decisions without full context. At my previous camp, I knew every policy, every tradition, every quirky way we did things, like the perfect tone to sing “It’s business time” or to all yell “It’s time for night meds”.
Here? It’s learning as I go.
I’m worried if my leadership style will fit. I tend to push decision-making empowerment out to the people closest to the problem. But that only works when we all feel on the same page about big and small picture goals.
I’m worried about learning all the unwritten rules (Hidden Curriculum, y’all. More on this in one sec..). Every camp has its own rhythm, its own way of doing things that make perfect sense once you’re on the inside. Getting up to speed on that while making good decisions? That’s a challenge.
These aren’t abstract concerns. These are the daily realities of camp leadership that directly impact whether kids have an amazing summer or just an okay one.
Quick break:
I’m pumped to be using CampMinder this summer.
→ The Campanion app photo updating is especially important while I’m trying to learn a whole new camp’s worth of faces for the summer.
→ Automated emails and texts keep everyone in the loop
→ Onboarding was super easy, and registration is a snap
→ Plus, their team is all former campers, staff, and industry pros
Check out CampMinder and tell them Jack sent you over
The Hidden Curriculum Challenge
Yeah, I’m about to live this in real time, in a way I haven’t done in a bit.
And sure, I’m a broken record with the Hidden Curriculum, but it really applies here in a big way.
How do meals work?
What does swim time look like?
When can male staff not go on the girls’ side?
What songs always get sung at dinner but never at lunch?
When do people actually show up for the thing that’s supposed to start at 8 AM?
It’s not just the big stuff. Frankly, it’s rarely the big stuff.
It’s all the tiny details veterans take for granted.
The way people communicate during busy moments. Which traditions are sacred and which ones everyone secretly wants to change? How decisions actually get made versus how they’re supposed to get made on paper.
At my previous camps, I could walk around and immediately sense the vibe. Knew when something felt off, when energy was low, when staff needed support.
That intuition took years to develop.
Worry as Care
So why am I telling you all this besides a little therapist couch sitting in the form of a weekly newsletter?
Honestly, I’m still figuring that out. But I think there’s something to the idea that these worries might actually be… good? Maybe?
I mean, the considerably worse alternative would be showing up completely confident that I already know how everything works. Which seems way more concerning than admitting I have questions.
Keep reminding myself that being nervous about connecting with staff probably means actually caring about connecting with staff.
Worrying about understanding the culture suggests the culture matters.
Stressing about making good decisions implies I want to make good decisions.
Or maybe I’m just overthinking everything and creating elaborate justifications for being anxious. That’s entirely possible, too. I should probably ask Lynn Lyons about this.
In the end, I’d rather show up worried about doing right by kids, families, and staff than show up assuming I’ve got it all figured out already.
Summer Leaders: You’re Not Alone
Look, you don’t need to be showing up at a new camp to have things on your mind about this summer.
Will that new program work?
Will enrollment numbers stay strong?
Will staff show up (literally and figuratively, lol)?
Will the kids have a kick-ass summer?
Maybe I just created a bunch of worries you didn’t already have. If so, my bad!
Every camp leader I know carries some version of these worries. The experienced ones, the rookies, the ones who’ve been at the same camp for decades, the ones who are trying something completely new.
It ain’t a sign that you’re unprepared or in the wrong job. It’s a sign that you take the work seriously.
The thing is, camp happens anyway. Kids show up. Staff figure things out. Somehow, it all comes together – often in ways you never could have planned for.
I’m betting this summer will be one of those times.
We got this, Jack
PS - Next week, I'm writing about "What do you want from this summer?"
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Another PS - Just a reminder:
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Get my newsletter every week.
It’s all about kids today
Jack Schott
Summer Camp Evangelist