
How to (Kindly) Raise Gritty Campers - First Class Counselors #58
11/14/22 • 57 min
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/how-to-kindly-raise-gritty-campers
You don’t have to sacrifice care and support in order to promote grit!
Perhaps you have heard of Angela Ducksworth’s book “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” Or if you have been in the camp conference circuit awhile and the opportunity to listen to Dr. Deborah Gilboa speak about resilience.
Or maybe you’ve heard of Jimmy Donaldson, or Mr. Beast speak about the subject of grit, it seems to be found in all successful people.
This idea of overcoming obstacles and pushing through tough situations is part of camp. While camp may be fun and full of games it is also a learning opportunity for your campers. This episode, we want to identify areas where grit building can be found on camp and what you as a counselor can do to help in its development.
-
Links from this episode:
-
E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
- Oliver: Swaps - Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Little craft giveaways. They are made typically on bobby pins and you make them in large quantities as memorabilia. Girls scouts to thank for this one.
- Matt: Space Team - App & Board Game
-
Host Links
- Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
- Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona
-
What is First Class Counselors?
Camp Directors, this Podcast isn’t for you. It’s time to delegate! First Class Counsellors is for your counselling staff, the ones who are on the ground, playing with kids and changing lives.
Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counsellor skills. These are things every counsellor should know, but that you may not have time to teach in staff training.
Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan and Matt Wilfrd from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counsellors and up and coming staff, who they believe, have the most important job at camp.
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/how-to-kindly-raise-gritty-campers
You don’t have to sacrifice care and support in order to promote grit!
Perhaps you have heard of Angela Ducksworth’s book “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” Or if you have been in the camp conference circuit awhile and the opportunity to listen to Dr. Deborah Gilboa speak about resilience.
Or maybe you’ve heard of Jimmy Donaldson, or Mr. Beast speak about the subject of grit, it seems to be found in all successful people.
This idea of overcoming obstacles and pushing through tough situations is part of camp. While camp may be fun and full of games it is also a learning opportunity for your campers. This episode, we want to identify areas where grit building can be found on camp and what you as a counselor can do to help in its development.
-
Links from this episode:
-
E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
- Oliver: Swaps - Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Little craft giveaways. They are made typically on bobby pins and you make them in large quantities as memorabilia. Girls scouts to thank for this one.
- Matt: Space Team - App & Board Game
-
Host Links
- Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
- Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona
-
What is First Class Counselors?
Camp Directors, this Podcast isn’t for you. It’s time to delegate! First Class Counsellors is for your counselling staff, the ones who are on the ground, playing with kids and changing lives.
Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counsellor skills. These are things every counsellor should know, but that you may not have time to teach in staff training.
Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan and Matt Wilfrd from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counsellors and up and coming staff, who they believe, have the most important job at camp.
Previous Episode

Our Biggest Baddest Blunders - First Class Counselors #57
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/our-biggest-baddest-blunders
It’s not if you’ll make a mistake...it’s when you’ll make one.
We all make mistakes, but the best part about making them at camp is that you are in one of the most supportive work environments ever. Making mistakes is how you know that you’ve pushed your comfort zone, so if you’re lucky enough to make a bunch, you’re going to learn a bunch, too!
Matt and Oliver share some stories of bad decisions, lapses of judgement, or just plain absent-mindedness they made back in the day as summer staff. Then, they’ll share some perspectives on why they made the mistake and how that mistake made them better camp professionals.
-
Links from this episode:
-
E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
- Oliver - Go to goodwill after Halloween and Christmas, There is always the best stuff.
- Matt - Glow in the dark bowling
-
Host Links
- Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
- Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona
-
What is First Class Counselors?
Camp Directors, this Podcast isn’t for you. It’s time to delegate! First Class Counsellors is for your counselling staff, the ones who are on the ground, playing with kids and changing lives.
Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counsellor skills. These are things every counsellor should know, but that you may not have time to teach in staff training.
Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan and Matt Wilfrd from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counsellors and up and coming staff, who they believe, have the most important job at camp.
This is free professional development for your counsellors! We would love your feedback. Please leave your comments below, or, send Matt an email! Thank you!
Next Episode

You and Your Phone at Summer Camp - First Class Counselors #59
Have some feedback? A topic suggestion? Text us!
Find full show notes and links at: https://camphacker.tv/first-class-counsellors/you-and-your-phone-at-summer-camp-
-
No phone, no problem! Maybe?
The modern world has always tried to make its way into camp. That’s because camp is meant to be a refuge from the world’s pressures.
In the 90s and early 2000s, many camps even introduced coding. But the invention of the smartphone changed the story, not just for camp but the world. The connection the phone provides means fostering connection off of it has become harder.
A person can only be in so many places at once. So how do we as staff do it? In a world that may only allow us to look away from our phones for an hour, how do we do it for 6 to 10 weeks? That is what we will dive into today.
-
E.G.E.L - Ever Growing Ever Learning
- Oliver: Career fairs, go for the free stuff
- Matt: Bracket Software - https://challonge.com/tournament/bracket_generator
-
Host Links
- Matt Wilfrid, Executive Producer of Podcasting at Go Camp Pro
- Oliver Gregan, Executive Director at YMCA Camp Winona
-
What is First Class Counselors?
Camp Directors, this Podcast isn’t for you. It’s time to delegate! First Class Counsellors is for your counselling staff, the ones who are on the ground, playing with kids and changing lives.
Each week, we’ll cover practical and accessible tips that will level up your camp counsellor skills. These are things every counsellor should know, but that you may not have time to teach in staff training.
Our two hosts, Oliver Gregan and Matt Wilfrd from Go Camp Pro are excited to be able to provide this resource to camp counsellors and up and coming staff, who they believe, have the most important job at camp.
This is free professional development for your counsellors! We would love your feedback. Please leave your comments below, or, send Matt an email! Thank you!
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/first-class-counselors-200110/how-to-kindly-raise-gritty-campers-first-class-counselors-58-24882757"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to how to (kindly) raise gritty campers - first class counselors #58 on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy