New England Camp Podcast

On this episode of the New England Camp Podcast:Nick Wood, executive director of Lantern Light Camps in Northwood, New Hampshire, joins Bud to talk about making camp accessible to families who face barriers to attending. Drawing on a multigenerational camp background, Wood shares how camp builds community, develops staff, and teaches lessons that matter beyond outdoor skills.We Talk About:Nick Wood’s family connection to camp spans three generations, from his grandmother’s 1940s counselor experience to his own time as a camper and camp leader.Lantern Light Camps serves Northwood and surrounding towns, as well as communities including Boston, Lawrence, and Lowell, with six one-week day and overnight programs.When campership funds ran out, Wood and the board president found funding so a camper who needed camp could keep attending.Wood stepped away from camp during COVID to attend business school, then returned through a pro bono programming project that led to his executive director role.Camp staff can gain transferable skills for careers in teaching, social work, law, and other fields, even if they do not stay in camping.Wood says leadership is built in everyday actions: working alongside staff, connecting with campers, and handling difficult tasks together.His approach to mistakes is to ask staff what they are doing, whether it is working, and whether another option would be better, while prioritizing safety.Camp traditions may change across generations, but the underlying values of human connection, nature, and time away from screens remain important.Outdoor skills are secondary to lessons in persistence, patience, managing frustration, and living with people you do not know.Wood’s advice to camp leaders: do not take yourself too seriously; humor can help teams through difficult moments.Chapters00:00 Introducing Nick Wood and Lantern Light Camps02:02 A multigenerational family history in camping03:34 Leaving camp during COVID, then finding a way back05:18 Who Lantern Light Camps serves and how it lowers barriers07:17 Finding campership funding for a camper who needed it10:12 How campers, staff, and camp culture have changed12:23 Recruiting staff and making camp skills transferable15:52 Leadership is built in the small moments17:32 Making room for mistakes while keeping safety first21:17 Keeping camp values as traditions evolve23:35 The life skills that matter beyond outdoor activities24:44 Humor, camp meals, and what makes summer exciting

Go behind the scenes of the New England Camp Conference with Conference Corner from ACA, New England!In our October episode, Bud and Gillian kick off this monthly series connecting you with the people, planning, and ideas behind the conference. Whether you’re a longtime attendee or considering joining us for the first time, Conference Corner is your invitation to follow along as the conference takes shape.Subscribe for a new episode each month, and share this episode with a colleague you’d love to bring to the conference.What would you like to hear about in a future episode? Leave your questions in the comments!#ConferenceCorner #NewEnglandCampConference #ACANewEngland #CampProfessionals

Bud sits down with Mikele Block, camp director at Camp CaPella in Dedham, Maine, to share how a nonprofit camp serving children and adults with disabilities creates meaningful experiences and a strong staff culture. Mikele’s path into camp is anything but traditional, and that’s part of what makes her perspective valuable. This conversation is especially useful for anyone thinking about leadership, hiring, retention, and what it looks like to build a mission-driven team.In this episode, Mikele Block shares how she went from a background in mental health and human services to becoming camp director at Camp Capella.Camp Capella is a smaller summer camp serving individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, with a weekly cap of 25 campers.Mikele describes how camp programming is built around inclusion, comfort, and familiarity, so campers arrive feeling like they are “surrounded by my people.”The team runs day and overnight camp, with programming that includes movement and music, STEM, archery, fishing, boating, and highly creative arts activities.One standout art activity involved dogs licking peanut butter off sealed bags to move paint onto canvases, showing how Camp Capella adapts programming to be playful and accessible.Mikele explains that hiring is driven less by paper credentials and more by conversation, connection, and mission alignment.She emphasizes scenario-based interviews, in-person conversations when possible, and looking for people who are emotionally invested in the campers’ success.Staff retention at Camp Capella is strong because the team invests in skill development, intentional debriefs, a connected off-season community, and a culture of feedback in every direction.Mikele also shares how camp changed her understanding of leadership: the best leaders are the ones who work alongside their teams, not just behind a closed door.The conversation closes with personal reflections on camp life, including the sound of the boat motor turning on during week one, dressing like a “girly girl” at camp, and the lesson a camper taught her to slow down and notice the moment.Timestamps00:00 - Welcome to the New England Camp Podcast and introduction to Camp Capella00:59 - Mikele Block introduces herself as camp director01:52 - Growing up in Maine as an outdoors kid, not a camp kid03:07 - Education and early work in mental health and human services03:32 - Joining Camp Capella’s board and falling in love with the camp04:23 - Stepping away, then getting pulled back into camp years later05:30 - The unexpected message that led to her camp director role07:45 - What Camp Capella is and who it serves08:15 - Day camp, overnight camp, and Miller Lodge as the camp hub09:11 - Why campers feel at home and are celebrated exactly as they are10:02 - Small-group programming and the range of activities offered10:32 - Creative art programming, including the dog-assisted paint activity11:47 - What Camp Capella looks for when hiring staff12:49 - Why emotional connection matters more than a perfect resume13:28 - Using in-person conversations to hire better14:10 - The four-part approach to staff retention15:18 - Intentional support and open communication with staff15:56 - Off-season community, reunions, and ongoing connection16:56 - Building a culture where staff give each other feedback18:40 - Leadership lessons learned by working alongside the team20:53 - Investing in staff as a way to strengthen the whole camp21:39 - The sound of the boat motor on opening day22:17 - What the staff lovingly tease Mikele about23:26 - The camper who taught her to slow down24:50 - Closing reflections on camp, leadership, and gratitude

Camp in FiveBud and Ayla from ACA New England share five things camp staff learn through experience—from speaking the secret language of camp to realizing that even a small victory can feel huge when you’re in the middle of it. In this first episode of Camp in Five, hear why staff care about camp’s little traditions, how hard days can still become good stories, and why camp has a way of following you home.In this episode:The vocabulary and traditions that make camp feel like its own worldWhy small wins matter when you’re solving problems and adapting on the flyHow camp’s seemingly little details become meaningfulWhy a difficult day can still hold memorable momentsHow camp experiences can shape the way you show up beyond the summerFor camp staff, directors, parents, and anyone curious about what makes camp culture so lasting.

A career in camp can start with one yes and turn into a life built on leadership, resilience, and real-world growth. Luke joins Bud to share how a kid from England who never expected to work in the U.S. found his path through Camp America, turned summer camp into a calling, and built a life and career in Maine.Luke opens up about the mentors who shaped him, the teachers and coaches who pushed him toward education, and the moment he realized camp was not just a summer job but a powerful training ground for life. From coaching basketball and rugby to learning how to lead in unpredictable moments, he explains why camp develops the skills employers actually want: teamwork, adaptability, confidence, and emotional intelligence.You’ll discover:Why camp and school are more connected than most people realizeHow international staff can turn one summer into a long-term career pathWhat Luke learned from a major kitchen crisis that forced him to lead under pressureWhy saying yes to unfamiliar roles can unlock opportunities you never planned forHow camp helps kids and staff build confidence by trying, failing, and trying againLuke also shares the story of building a camp life alongside his wife Alana, a nurse and fellow camp professional, and what it means to make big decisions as a team. Along the way, he offers direct advice for future camp counselors, especially international staff wondering whether the leap is worth it.If you’ve ever wondered whether summer camp could be more than a seasonal job, this episode is your answer. Essential listening for aspiring camp professionals, international staff, educators, and anyone who wants a career that changes people as much as it changes you.

Adair Arbor is our first guest on season two of the New England Camp Podcast. Adair is a camp director with Farm and Wilderness Foundation and President of the Vermont Camp Association. Bud and Adair trace her path from first attending overnight camp at age four to leading camps, mentoring staff, and navigating a major flooding crisis in Vermont. We discuss how camp shapes careers, why clear expectations matter for staff, and why human connection is still one of camp’s biggest strengths.

In this episode, Bud introduces season two of the New England Camp Podcast, focusing on the camp professional career path, the role of emerging professionals, and key lessons learned from years of working with EPIC.KEY TOPICSCamp career paths are rarely linear and often shaped by opportunity and chance.The concept of Epic as a community for emerging professionals in camping.The importance of networking, mentorship, and community in career growth.Vertical conversations and how to navigate them effectively.The challenges of change and how to leverage it for personal and professional growth.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Season Two and Podcast Goals02:04 The North Star and Focus Areas for ACA New England03:50 The Role of Epic in Developing Emerging Professionals06:06 The Diversity and Inclusivity of the Epic Community08:10 Five Key Observations About Camp Careers09:59 The Non-Linear Nature of Career Paths in Camping12:04 The Importance of Vertical Conversations13:51 The Challenge and Opportunity of Change14:48 Building Your Network and Industry Engagement

Discover the new North Star guiding ACA New England and its role in uniting camp professionals. In this episode, we reveal the vision, introduce key leaders shaping the future, and explore how this guiding principle fosters community and growth across the region.Key Topics:The adoption of a new North Star for ACA New EnglandThe significance of a shared vision for regional growthLeadership insights from Ian Morehouse, past board presidentThe upcoming role of Jeff Gleason, current board presidentHow the North Star aligns with camp success and community supportThe strategic importance of networks for professional developmentEncouragement to stay connected and supportive throughout the summerACA New EnglandMore about the North Star conceptIan Morehouse - LinkedInJeff Gleason - LinkedIn

In this episode of the New England Camp Podcast, Michele shares insights from her recent Hill Day experience, emphasizing the importance of advocacy, international programs, and engaging with policymakers to support the camping industry.Thank you to Chalmers Camp Insurance for sponsoring this episode.

Bud and John McNair, the Standards Chair for New England, talk about the accreditation process in camping. They discuss the importance of standards, the role of visitors, and how accreditation supports professional growth and program quality.