The Difference: A Post For the 2015 Veteran Staff

   Dear Returning Camp Veterans,

   

   I have been working on the camp math for several months now and I need your help to find the solution to a very difficult equation. 

   Review from 2014: Let's take 91 people, and put them into 1 summer camp for about 8 weeks. When you do the math, the total should equal 1 camp staff family. That's the starting premise for my figures and most people who were at camp last summer should get the same result.

   Now, here's the new problem: What do you get when you subtract about half of those people and replace them with new staff? Does that also equal 1 camp staff family or did you come up with a different solution? 

   I really believe they're both equal, but I am always worried that they'll be veterans that don't agree with me. The temptation will exist to look around the room and decide that your experience is somehow inferior or reduced by new people who just "aren't the same" and it can lead some staff being disappointed or unhappy.

   I've seen returning staff come back to camp, do their own staff math, and decide that this new staff is less than the previous one. They might also decide they liked last years programs, food, games, activities, leaders, etc... better and you can see their attitude start to shift away from our mission of camp.

   These people cling to other veterans and say things like, "I liked the Sunday night program way better last year," and "That skit was WAY better when <insert name> performed it last year," and "I miss <insert name> so much, the person who replaced them in my department just doesn't measure up."

   I can honestly say that I don't think I hired any returning staff who will react this way, but I do want to caution all of you just the same. It will be very easy to form a clique of returning staff and exclude new people; we don't even realize it at first because when we see old friends and there is so much to catch up on since camp ended last year. We start sitting together during meals, during general sessions, during bowling night, and stay in our established comfort zones.

   I just want to remind you to take this opportunity to make new friends. Don't save a seat for someone you know at lunch on June 15th, sit with someone you don't know on the first day. Try to remember what it was like to be new and how people welcomed you on day one. If there are a few veterans who are grumbling, encourage them to remember why we're at camp in the first place. We're at camp to make a difference, and everything (and everyone) new adds to the experience. 

  I'll see you soon,

~Jeremy

An Open Letter to Our 2014 Summer Staff

Dear Team,

   Today, when our guest registrations passed 500 individuals, I knew that I had to write this letter to our 2014 staff who served last summer at PSR Camp. It's a new record (for May camp pre-registration), and you really deserve all of the credit. You inspired acts of service, made excellent mentors, and the effect you had on the community has had far reaching positive results.

   As we've been interviewing new people, almost everyone has told us that they heard about Pine Springs Ranch from someone who worked at camp last year. I know that your positive talk about the staff experience at camp contributed to the higher number of staff applicants. People from different schools, majors, careers, and cities around the country have applied. We've also had a record number of young people (under 16) apply or request an application. These former campers don't want to wait till their 18 to work with their favorite counselors, and I think that speaks volumes about how they feel about you and camp.  

   When I visit schools, or talk to parents, they ask me some really interesting questions and I have to try to remember all sorts of different fun things we did at camp on the spot. Several children asked (or begged) me to tell them what happens next in our outpost play, another young lady asked me if she could one day be a ballerina in the Sunday night program or if we only let boys do that. I fielded a lot of questions about drama camp, ropes course, basketball camp, and everyone (campers) wants to know who's coming back (staff) from last summer.

   Parents have talked to me as well. Sometimes they have concerns, but usually they heap praise on counselors, instructors, and leadership staff who their children talked about for weeks after camp ended. In the age of social media, parents know that their children can (and will) track down their counselors online, and the importance of hiring the right role models has increased more now than ever. I am very proud that so many of our staff have made a commitment to be followers of Christ, and that those commitments continue long after camp is over.    

   I am glad that 44 of you will be joining us (again!) for our 2015 season at camp. I really believe that you'll continue to be an inspiration to our campers and all of our guests. This summer we'll have about 48 new staff, and they'll be looking to you for guidance, advice, and support. Last summer we intentionally relaxed a few of our policies and treated our staff more like camp professionals, and I really think that you collectively made an effort to put the needs of camp before your own needs.

   At our last meeting at Old Spaghetti Factory last year, I wished that we'd all be able to be together again for another summer, and now I want to extend an invitation to everyone who was in that banquet room when we finished camp last year who's not planning to work at camp for our 2015 season. Come visit us on a Saturday at the Ranch this summer (it doesn't hurt to call ahead). We'll provide a meal, and I know they'll be at least 44 of your friends at camp who'll be excited to see you again.

   Sincerely,

-Jeremy
Matthew 20:28