The thing about our team at Sacred Playgrounds is that we really love camp. Really, really love camp. This sure isn’t just a job for us – it’s vocation and calling and passion. We’ve also been where you are right now, ramping up for a summer of camp as a director, program leader, specialist, counselor, or other summer role. We remember the hustle, the prioritizing what must be done against what we’d love to get done if time were no object, and the list after list of to dos. Sometimes all we have is a short moment to check in on ourselves, or breathe, or sleep, or pray.

So, in that spirit, here’s a short moment – 150 words or less – from each of our team members at Sacred Playgrounds. These are things that might be in your wheelhouse, or they might just spark something that you weren’t thinking about that could make a difference in your head, heart, and soul over these last days of preparations for the best job in the world. You’ll find a headline for a quick tip, along with the person on our team who was praying and thinking about how to make your life better over the next few weeks.

In informal observations and formal reviews, plant seeds for staff returning next summer. Identify potential leadership staff 2026, and invite them to take a step up in responsibility now. “I see leadership potential in you and I’d like to offer you this opportunity to develop those skills by…”

Do you have high quality high school or young adult campers who would make excellent staff? Be sure to tell them, and ensure you have contact information. When you have pastors, youth ministers, and key volunteers on site, ask them who they would like to see on your staff next summer. Collect contact information. Follow the example of my college alumni office that sends me recommendation forms ever year; utilize your staff alum list to collect names of potential staff.

Recruit next year’s campers now, too! Ensure the campers know about the programs they will soon be eligible for. Create an opportunity for parents to sign up for summer 2026 (and lock in 2025 pricing?) before they leave your site, while their kids are smiling big and excited about everything.

When we get into the bustle of staff training and program weeks, we often only have capacity to think about the very next thing in front of us, and communication can be easy to let fall off. Yet, we know how important it is to connect with parents and to tell our camp stories while they are happening. Good communication happens before, during, and after a particular event or experience.

For the sake of your time and focus, take the opportunity now to plan and even schedule as many of your key communications for the summer as you can. Check your summer and post-summer calendar and then do things like: pre-write emails, create messaging templates, design and schedule social media posts, plan your program week parent and public communications, and get it all on whatever calendar you’ll be checking regularly.

As you are planning, it is easy to think up the big ideas. It is not always easy to implement them successfully if you don’t take the time to plan. Once you have those big ideas take the time to write out the details so when it is time to implement the activity or event you can pull out your list and go! What do I mean as the details?

Make a list of supplies you may need like: markers, name tags, a hospitality table (important if you value people feeling welcomed and comfortable), bathrooms are clean and stocked, game supplies, print outs, and whatever else you may need. After you have that initial list write down who is in charge of each item and send out a reminder. Backtrack on your calendar for when supplies needs be gathered and ready to go!

Everyone is watching you, just like the campers are constantly watching their counselors. Act the way you hope (and expect) your staff to act…and let them see you do it. You are always training your staff, especially apart from formal training time. This means you cannot afford to fly through your day tired, stressed, cranky, and unprepared.

Each day is holy at camp, so approach them like you are stepping into the pulpit or preparing to lead worship. Get enough rest so that you can be at your best. Take time to listen, especially to the smallest voices. Show up on time. Offer praise and encouragement. Pitch in, even when it is not your job. Take time for personal devotions. Pray. Go out of your way to model this behavior, and they will follow you.