Hi Ghostlight Staff,
I was on a Zoom call with a new camper last week, answering questions about Ghostlight. This camper has been to other sleepaway camps before, but didn't find they were a great match. After she had asked her questions*, I decided to ask one of my own, one you may be familiar with if you've gone through the interview process recently.
"What can I do, as a camp director, to set you up to have a successful summer at Ghostlight?"
"I don't want the staff on their phones every night."
Whoa! First, a clear and actionable response! We can do that! But what I think she was really speaking to goes beyond sneaking a peek at TikTok or email.
When we commit to working at Ghostlight, we commit to focusing on the camper experience and making it unlike anything they have experienced. At camp, the focus on the camper goes beyond a class period or rehearsal or activity; it is present around the clock.
This is no small ask that our campers and their families have of us, and it takes our entire staff community to make it happen. We, the directors and leadership team, are here to support you when life outside the gates needs your attention and to offer encouragement when the job gets hard. But, together, we are going to show our campers that they deserve attention, care, and love, not just with our words, but with every action we take.
Challenge accepted!
Chris
Working with Exceptional Campers
One in five kids has ADHD, dyslexia, giftedness, autism, anxiety, or some other type of neurodifference. The exceptional kids we will work with this summer may have unique challenges that can impact their experience at camp both positively and negatively. For more information on working with neurodiverse populations, check out this article from the ACA.
As part of our training, we will go over "Camper Profiles," sharing important information about each camper with you, and what we know about how to support them. Through this, we aim to welcome the whole camper camp and create an environment where different approaches to learning and participation are supported.
Ghostlight 101
Have you started your Ghostlight pre-camp training modules? First-time staff members are required to complete these before arriving at camp, and returning staff are welcome to refresh their memories as well. If you have started, head back to our training dashboard and check out an updated module, Ghostlight 101, where you can learn a little bit about the history of Ghostlight and some of the traditions and rituals that we have embraced over our 22-year history!
Did you miss last week's email? Just joining the Weekly Call?
Check out the Staff Updates page to catch up anytime!
Bookmark: http://www.ghostlighttheatercamp.com/staff-updates
