The Tool Belt #5: How to Become a High-Leverage Director

This is the Tool Belt, the newsletter that helps camp directors work smarter, not harder.

We pack a bigger punch than the campers on movie night.

It took me 1 minute 32 seconds to read this post.

📐 How to Become a High-Leverage Director

This newsletter is all about doing more with less. The business word for that is leverage.

There are three kinds of leverage:

• Money (think investors)

• Labor (we all know this one - think of everything your counselors do on your behalf)

• Code/Media (think things that cost basically nothing to distribute)

You’ve probably realized this publication is focused on the last category.

That’s partly because we’re in a golden age for regular people (like camp directors) being able to lever up using code.

Why?

In a word: AI.

In November 2022, ChatGPT was revealed to the world and life hasn’t been the same since.

That sounds dramatic, but I use it every day and it’s had a huge effect on my camp work.

Here are a few ways I use AI for my work at camp:

1. Writing emails - When I’m looking for a phrase or the right way to end an email, I’ll put what I have in ChatGPT and ask it to help me. This has been helpful when writing tricky emails to parents.

2. Brainstorming - I’ve got coworkers who are great at brainstorming, but I struggle with the blank page. I ask Chat to help me come up with ideas and then refine them on my own. Starting with some suggestions helps my momentum.

3. Drafting documents - After I’ve done a brainstorm, there are times when I need to format my ideas into an email or document. I feed Chat my notes and ask it to write for me.

Using ChatGPT on a daily basis has been great for my work at camp.

That said, other directors have told me they’re concerned that if we rely too much on technology, we’ll lose the heart behind camp.

With these examples, I’m using AI as an assistant to help me, not getting it to do the work for me. I see it as a supplement to what we do, not as a replacement for the human element.

With that in mind, here are some ideas for how you could begin to use AI at camp:

• Program planning: Ask Chat to help you brainstorm new program areas, or new ways to use your existing areas.

• Blog posts: Feed Chat an old blog post and ask it to write a new one in your (or camp’s) voice. (I get that this one may feel like going too far - but remember you can always refine!)

• Get to know you games: I struggle to come up with icebreakers and intro activities for staff orientation. If that’s you, ask Chat to help you come up with ideas, or ask it to research existing resources.

If you already use AI at camp, let me know the parts of the job where it’s been helpful.

🔦 Tool Spotlight: Morrow Insurance

Get a second opinion on your specialized insurance needs. Morrow’s extensive experience in safeguarding camps and campers have given them the ability and expertise to offer a series of unique programs and specially designed coverages. Select and qualified camps are eligible for this special program.

⛺️ Around the Campfire

A discussion on the ACA forum about options for photo sharing apps:

🤣 The LOL Lodge

Until next time,

Peter “S’more Snatcher” Elbaum