Making Culture Happen

Making Culture Happen

Season 1, Episode 6


Bringing people in is a superpower —that is exactly what this episode entails. Jack Schott, Monia Johnson & Murph Hammer assemble like a crew of superheroes to talk through putting staff or campers first, camp culture, and staff time off.

The TSCS Avengers take on creating culture at camp and what to do when you’re new to an existing camp. Camp is full of rich traditions and culture, what do you do when you don’t agree with it? And how do you even start it when the 14 year old campers want to sleep through breakfast? If you’re looking for a staff PTO plan and mic drop knowledge, this is the pod for you.

Producer EmJ’s takeaways:

  1. The shortcut to self-discovery is at camp.

  2. If you’re not 100% into the camp’s traditions, seek to understand before you critique and change (& if/when you change it, get the staff to help rethink it).

    BONUS: Be in the moment to learn and then improve.

  3. Still a little lost on who is the chicken & who is the egg between staff and campers.

 

Want more from TSCS? More Monia & Murph time?

Become a member. The single best way to have more fun and be more effective as a camp professional. Monia and Murph — BOTH TSCS members!

 

Show Notes:

Monia JohnsonMonia Johnson

Monia Johnson, Founding Camp Director for Camp Beyond, a camp affiliate of Change Summer. Monia holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Monia has worked in numerous industries across sectors (Finance, Learning & Organization Development, Education, Youth Development & Advocacy). Through her work at Change Summer, Monia aspires to build robust social-emotional learning opportunities where campers can discover their strengths, test their limits and learn new skills while having fun.

MurphMurphy Hammer

Murphy Hammer has served in many roles at many camps all across Michigan before joining Camp AGQ, campagq.org / annarborymca.org, as the Executive Director in April 2022. Before camps and in a past life, Murphy was a social worker.

When you ask Murphy for a bio, they will say, “I have a wife and a dog. And I think rubber chickens will change the world.”

 

Episode Info

This episode is hosted by Jack Schott.

The Summer Camp Society Podcast is edited and produced by EmJ Juszczyk.

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