Immersive1st

282 submissions to our staffing survey! #1 🎉 Amazing—thank you! #2 Submit your response by December 31st to get early access to the data in January. #3 Join Jack Schott and me for a FREE webinar on January 9th to dive into the findings. Survey link: https://lnkd.in/eTFv3K7a Webinar registration: https://lnkd.in/e8Bg5cGh

#Hiring | Glendale, California (Los Angeles) // VP, Camp & Retreat Operations// Camp Bob Waldorf / Housing Included // $90-$125K + great benefit package I'm working with a great CEO to find a talented overnight camp expert. Over the past six months, I've spent significant time with this team. They are such a good group of caring, driven people! You can apply through LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e2BMF9JZ Feel free to email (dan@immersive1st.com) if you need to chat. Priority is given in my calendar to folks who formally apply.

Quiet branding ≠ being silent. Getting registrations from previous campers for summer 2025 comes from staying top of mind. Staying too quiet? That might mean last summer’s families choose something different. I hear from camp directors all the time: “We don’t want to overwhelm families with too much marketing.” While I understand not wanting to annoy people, the how matters just as much as the how often. Tone, vibe, timing, and frequency all play a role. Sharing stories about building friendships, trying new activities, and gaining life skills (the top reasons families choose camps) doesn’t have to feel noisy—it’s what families want to hear. People are only annoyed by messaging when it’s irrelevant. When it resonates, it builds trust. Here’s a great article with ideas on how to keep your branding quiet, but impactful: https://lnkd.in/ePdZczk8 What quiet branding strategies are you using?

I know the flood of messaging today can feel overwhelming, but the awareness it brings to nonprofits in need is so important. This day reminds us of the impact we can have when we come together to support the causes we care about. If you're considering giving, this article offers insights on how to approach it: https://lnkd.in/gdr9Zc5s

Conversations about AI I've had over the past week: - Helped a summer camp use ChatGPT to better identify their target audience. - Heard from a few people who said they have no plans to ever use AI. - A conference organizer joked that nearly every session proposal they’ve received features “AI” in the title. - Attended a fantastic session with Travis Allison 🎯 on practical ways camp directors can use AI in their daily work (for Day Camp Community) - Helped a small business train a GPT to create more efficient retail descriptions. - Discussed with a colleague how AI skills vary widely from person to person. - Listened to my 11-year-old niece share how she experiments with AI by asking ChatGPT fun questions. This article offers great insights into how we can think more creatively with GenAI: https://lnkd.in/eHYv9YFb

Are families looking for summer camp recommendations on TikTok? The answer might surprise you! A recent Pew Research study shows that the majority of U.S. TikTok users rely on the platform for reviews and recommendations. For camps, this is big news. Camps can tap into this by showcasing their unique experience through authentic testimonials, behind-the-scenes tours, or staff spotlights. Pew research: https://lnkd.in/ebdh6Qmn

When staff members receive real-time feedback and support through a mentor, they’re more engaged, connected, and motivated to give their best. “Yet, whenever I am asked to speak about staff performance management and creating a great camp culture, I often get a confused look when I say mentorship is the answer. The reply is usually, “That’s it?”” Thank you to American Camp Association for letting me contribute to Camping Magazine. Thank you Buggi from Liberty Lake Day Camp for the great conversation and being the opening story! https://lnkd.in/eKrd2SnX