Running a swim camp can be an enriching and rewarding experience, both for the campers and for the camp organizers. Even though it isn’t easy, putting on these practices provides an opportunity to impart valuable lessons and skills to the campers while also learning a few lessons yourself. Whether you’re a coach or an organizer, check out some of the important lessons you can learn from running a swim camp:
Organization is key
Running a successful swim camp obviously requires a lot of planning and organization. Primarily, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment, staff, and facilities in place before the camp starts. This means creating schedules, organizing activities, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The longer that the camp runs, or the more years that it reoccurs, the more you’ll learn to anticipate certain obstacles and preemptively accomplish key tasks before the athletes even arrive.
When it comes to daily operations, Captyn massively reduces strain by streamlining tasks like check-in, roster management, payment tracking, and more. On average, some users save 40 hours per week of staff time! By removing the stress and time-commitment of the more menial tasks, you’ll have more time to bond with your campers and help them succeed.
Communication is crucial
Clear communication is also essential for any camp to be successful. Whether it’s electronically or in-person, you need to communicate effectively with your staff, campers, and parents to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This includes schedules, expectations, and any changes that may occur. Providing reliable, consistent communication is good for establishing trust and fostering a positive camp experience for all involved. Practicing these skills in this context will undoubtedly help boost your own confidence and competence when it comes to clear communication.
Captyn can definitely help you on that front too! With our platform, you can customize all automatic email communications sent to your customers. Use this feature to send your agenda ahead of time or even offer supplementary workouts or exercises for swimmers to practice at home. With free text and email service for bulk lists as well as individuals, Captyn can easily be the tool that keeps your instructions clear and comprehensive.
Patience is a virtue
Running a swim camp can be challenging, and there will be times when things may not go as planned. It is important to remain patient and keep a positive attitude, even during difficult moments. Children may not always listen or follow instructions; things may take longer than expected; campers may get sick; equipment may break; any unforeseen circumstances may arise. No matter how well you plan, things can and will go wrong in some capacity. Expect this to some degree, and it will be much easier to cope and adapt to any situation. Maintaining a calm and patient attitude can help to keep everyone focused and motivated. In this way, there’s no difference between your patience and your backstroke: Practice makes perfect.
Collaboration is key
Most swim camps aren’t a one-person show, so they inevitably require teamwork and collaboration. Those communication skills come in handy here as well, and shouldn’t be used just in your parent and camper interactions. You need to work closely with your staff to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that everyone is working towards the same goals. This can not only keep the campers safe but also limit the problems that you’ll have to adapt to, thus keeping your patience firmly unstrained. Learning to establish trust and procedures early on is one life lesson that any coach can use far beyond the pool.
Fun is essential
At the end of the day, a swim camp is built on the kids having fun. While it is important to teach campers valuable lessons and skills, it is equally important to create an environment that is competitive and enjoyable. Incorporating games and other fun activities is great for this, and can help to keep campers engaged and motivated. As a coach or organizer, don’t lose sight of this yourself either. If you’re having fun, odds are the people around you will too.
Whether you are a first-time organizer or a seasoned pro, there is always something to be learned from running a swim camp. But you don’t have to do it alone. Utilizing the most capable tools can be as important as employing any capable staff member. Captyn is that capable tool, and can ease your operations while modernizing your processes. Reach out to us today to find out exactly how you could experience the benefits of collaborating with Captyn.
