The Summer Camp Daily Brief - October 15, 2025

The Story Everyone's Talking About

A recent study shows most teens use AI, and many worry it can make work feel too easy, erode creativity, and weaken problem solving. Your Gen Z staff live in that same tension. They grew up with AI, but they also want to grow their own judgment. You can see it in how they plan programs, make decisions, and connect with campers.

Why This Matters for Your Camp Staff

Have you noticed a counselor ask AI to plan an evening activity, then wonder if they should have brainstormed it themselves? This is not just about technology. It is about confidence, agency, and trusting their own problem solving.

The good news: Gen Z is adaptable and values purpose. They do their best work when they have voice, growth opportunities, and real autonomy.

What Gen Z Wants At Work

• Purpose. They want their effort to matter and to see how it helps kids grow.

• Fairness and transparency. Explain the why behind policies and decisions.

• Meta-thinking. Expect questions like "Why are we doing this?" That is buy-in, not pushback.

• Digital communication. Short check-ins, bite-sized learning, and quick video or text feedback work well.

Five Actionable Moves You Can Try This Week

1. Switch to Explain-Yourself Mode

In training or planning, ask staff to explain the why, not just the how. For example, "Why do we do this cabin check, and what problem does it solve?" This builds ownership.

2. Create Autonomous Micro-Projects

Give each counselor a small sandbox task with loose boundaries. Let them design a sunrise ritual, lead a spontaneous game, or test a journal prompt. Rotate quick peer feedback.

3. Try Shadow and Swap

Pair a veteran with a Gen Z staffer for a 30-minute swap. Each leads one part of the day, then you debrief both approaches. This builds empathy and breaks assumptions.

4. Hold Quick Office Hours

Run weekly 5 to 10 minute check-ins. Keep them candid and focused. Ask, "What is frustrating you?" as often as you give direction.

5. Add AI Reflection Moments

Before a task that might use technology, pause and ask, "If we used AI here, what would we gain, and what would we lose?" Let staff name the trade-offs and choose the right path.

Connecting This To Camp's Core Mission

This is not just about managing Gen Z. It is about preparing them to guide kids who will grow up in an even more AI-saturated world.

Staff who understand the why bring more intention to every interaction. They do not just run activities. They model thoughtful decisions.

We need smart tech use without losing human agency. Train when to use tools and when to push back.

Camp builds problem solving, time management, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Camp is a place to practice these abilities. Staff and campers should be fluent with new technology and also strong independent problem solvers so they can use tech effectively. Time away from devices at camp helps brains grow and helps people become better problem solvers.

Why Camp Remains Essential

Even digital natives crave friction, challenge, and the satisfaction of solving real problems. Camp offers exactly that.

When a counselor pivots a rainy-day plan or supports a homesick camper, they are practicing human skills you cannot outsource: empathy, creativity, reading the group, and improvising in real time.

As AI handles more routine tasks, these distinctly human abilities become even more valuable. Your staff can bridge both worlds: use technology when it helps, and trust their own instincts when it does not.

The goal is not to avoid AI. It is to build the wisdom to know when to lean on it and when to step away.

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