7 Mistakes You're Making with Camp Staff Training (and How to Fix Them)

Ever wonder why some camp seasons feel like magic while others feel like you're constantly putting out fires? Here's the thing: it usually comes down to how well you prepared your staff. And I hate to break it to you, but most camps are making the same training mistakes over and over again.

Don't worry, though. You're not alone in this, and more importantly, these mistakes are totally fixable. Let's dive into the seven biggest staff training blunders that could be sabotaging your summer before it even starts.

Mistake #1: You're Teaching "Don'ts" Instead of "Do's"

Picture this: Your training session sounds like a never-ending list of prohibitions. "Don't leave campers unattended." "Don't get into arguments with kids." "Don't ignore safety protocols."

Sound familiar? This approach might feel thorough, but it's actually setting your staff up to fail. When you only tell people what NOT to do, you're leaving them guessing about what they SHOULD do instead.

The Fix: Flip your script entirely. Instead of "Don't let campers run wild during transitions," try "Guide campers to walk calmly by using our 'walking feet' signal and positive reinforcement." Give your staff clear, actionable instructions that paint a picture of success, not just failure.

Your counselors will feel more confident when they know exactly what good looks like, rather than just knowing what mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #2: Skipping the Real-World Practice

How many training programs have you seen that are all theory and no practice? Staff sit through hours of presentations about handling difficult situations, but they never actually practice handling those situations.

Then day one hits, and a homesick camper has a complete meltdown. Your beautifully trained staff? They freeze. Because knowing what to do and actually doing it are two completely different skills.

The Fix: Make role-playing and scenario practice the heart of your training program. Create realistic situations your staff will actually encounter: not just the textbook examples. Practice dealing with everything from minor disagreements between campers to emergency situations.

After each scenario, debrief thoroughly. What worked? What didn't? How could they handle it differently next time? This isn't just about getting the right answer: it's about building muscle memory for when things get tough.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the Feelings Behind the Behavior

Here's something most training programs get wrong: They focus entirely on managing behavior without addressing why that behavior is happening in the first place.

A camper acts out during arts and crafts. Traditional training says "redirect them to appropriate behavior." But what if that camper is acting out because they're scared they're not good at art? Or homesick? Or feeling left out?

The Fix: Train your staff to be emotion detectives first, behavior managers second. Teach them to pause and ask themselves, "What might this camper be feeling right now?"

When staff learn to recognize that challenging behavior often stems from fear, sadness, loneliness, or frustration, they can respond with compassion instead of just correction. This approach doesn't just solve problems: it builds genuine connections.

Mistake #4: Your Policies Exist in a Black Hole

You've spent hours creating comprehensive policies and procedures. They're detailed, thoughtful, and cover every scenario you can imagine. There's just one problem: Your staff can't actually access them when they need them.

Maybe the policies are buried in a binder somewhere. Maybe they were emailed once during training and promptly forgotten. Either way, when a situation arises, your staff is flying blind.

The Fix: Make your policies impossible to ignore and easy to find. Every staff member should have multiple ways to access them: physical copies, digital versions on their phones, and clearly posted summaries in key locations.

But here's the real key: Follow through consistently. If you've established a policy about screen time but then bend the rules for certain families, your staff will stop taking any policies seriously. Consistency builds trust and clarity.

Mistake #5: Rushing Through Your "Why"

Most camps spend about five minutes on their mission and values during training, then dive straight into logistics. Big mistake. Your camp's mission isn't just feel-good fluff: it's the North Star that should guide every decision your staff makes.

When staff don't deeply understand why your camp exists and what makes it special, they can't make decisions that align with your vision. They become rule-followers instead of mission-driven team members.

The Fix: Make your mission and values the foundation of everything else. Share the story of why you started your camp. What need were you trying to meet in your community? What transformation do you want to see in your campers?

Help staff understand how their specific role contributes to the bigger picture. When a counselor understands that enforcing quiet time isn't just about rules: it's about helping campers recharge so they can fully engage: suddenly that policy has meaning.

Mistake #6: No Way to Know If They Actually "Got It"

Pop quiz: How do you know if your staff training was effective? If you answered "they all showed up and seemed to pay attention," you're missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Most training programs assume that if information was presented, it was absorbed. But we all know that's not how learning works. Without some way to assess understanding, you're sending staff into their roles hoping for the best.

The Fix: Build meaningful assessments into your training process. This doesn't mean creating stressful tests: think practical demonstrations and scenario responses instead.

Have counselors walk through how they'd handle common situations. Ask them to explain camp policies in their own words. Most importantly, schedule individual check-ins with each staff member before they start working with campers.

These conversations aren't about catching people who didn't study: they're about identifying areas where additional support might be helpful and ensuring everyone feels confident in their role.

Mistake #7: Training for a Perfect World

Here's the truth about camp: Nothing goes according to plan. Activities run long. Weather changes everything. Equipment breaks. Campers have unexpected needs.

Yet most training programs present idealized scenarios where everything runs smoothly. When reality hits and your perfectly planned day goes sideways, staff who were only prepared for perfection feel overwhelmed and unprepared.

The Fix: Build flexibility and problem-solving into the DNA of your training. Start with the assumption that things will go off-script: because they will: and that's actually okay.

Create detailed schedules, but then practice adapting when activities run long or weather forces changes. Teach staff that asking for help isn't failure: it's smart problem-solving. Create an environment where questions are welcomed, not seen as signs of incompetence.

Making Training That Actually Works

Here's what I want you to remember: Great staff training isn't a one-and-done event that happens before camp starts. It's an ongoing investment that begins the moment you hire someone and continues throughout the entire summer.

The camps that consistently create magical experiences for kids? They're the ones who understand that confident, well-prepared staff are the secret ingredient. When counselors feel equipped to handle whatever comes their way, they can focus on what really matters: creating those incredible moments that kids will remember forever.

So take an honest look at your current training approach. Which of these mistakes sounds familiar? The good news is that recognizing these patterns is the first step toward fixing them.

Your staff wants to succeed just as much as you want them to. Sometimes they just need better preparation to make that happen. What would change if your next group of counselors felt truly ready for anything?