TSCS PODCAST 30: The Game
30 | The Game
In this podcast we are talking big ideas, actual and actionable takeaways, and lots of fun with the camp community and professionals!
Have you ever wondered, “What would it sound like to be a bug on the wall when Jack talks to his friends?” Say less! On this episode Jack is joined by Eric Wittenberg! They chat a little bit of everything, but specifically questioning who is qualified to run camp and game theory.
If you’re looking for two scholarly friends chatting about the big ideas, this is the podcast for you.
Producer EmJ’s takeaways:
Are we utilizing Chat AI enough as camp people?
People need to hear the truth.
Ask donors why they donate!
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Show Notes:
ERIc WITTENBERG
ELMWOOD DAY CAMP
Eric grew up at Elmwood Day Camp in White Plains, NY as a “staff kid”. From being a Counselor to Lifeguard, Athletics Director and CDL Trainer, Eric held almost every position possible.
BACKYARD SPORTS
After graduating college he helped an Elmwood parent, Danny Bernstein start Backyard Sports, a youth sports club. Launching a sports business focused on values and athletics equally was a perfect bridge from the day camp world.
Following that, Eric helped Sam and Iisha Borek revitalize a Candy Mountain Day camp and re-launch it as Woodmont Day Camp. As the full-time Program Director, Eric saw how rewarding (and difficult) it was to create a new camp
M.S. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
With experience at legacy, take-over and start-up youth programs Eric went back to school to pursue an M.S. in Social Psychology of Sport at the University of Northern Colorado. During the second year of his masters work Eric had the opportunity to join a Positive Youth Development Research team at the University of Valencia, Spain.
CROSSFIT & PLAYWORKS
Armed with 2-years of research on theories of motivation for youth and adults to participate on sport, Eric went searching for labs to put theory into practice. Eric and Liza started CrossFit Potrero Hill in San Francisco. At the same time Eric was an Americorps Volunteer running Phys. Ed. classes and coaching through Playworks at an underserved elementary school in the Bayview.
BERKSHIRE SOCCER ACADEMY
A few years later Eric, his wife Liza and Dan Zenkel started the Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls. The initial goal of Berky was to embrace the trend for short session specialty camps but also ensure a high-quality program on-and-off the field in a traditional camp setting. This from scratch innovation was a perfect challenge for Eric’s combined interests of motivation & influence and building summer camp communities.
CAMPER MACHINE OPERATIONS
After nearly 10 years of growing Berky, Eric had developed the strategic digital marketing skills required to run a modern small business and he transitioned out of full-time camping. Eric started Camper Machine Operations, an agency that uses technology and consulting to save camp operators time while enhancing the relationships that drive camp business.
To get in contact, email eric@campermachine.com
JACK SCHOTT
Host Jack Schott struggles with bureaucracy, loves fun, and secretly stays up late obsessing over businessy stuff. His unique perspectives come from his varied background. An engineer, Jack took the first few years post-college to travel the country visiting over 200 camps in 47 states. Building on what he saw, he co-founded Stomping Ground, a non-profit sleepaway camp inspiring radical empathy and co-founded The Summer Camp Society. In 2022, Jack trained more than 2000 camp staff at 20+ camps.
To get in contact, email jack@thesummercampsociety.com
The Summer Camp Society Podcast is edited and produced by EmJ Juszczyk.
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