5 Essential Programming Questions for the End of Camp

You may be a bit tired of sweating, and those camp mattresses aren’t doing your back any favors, but even the tenth straight week of buffet-style eating hasn’t lessened your enthusiasm. Summer camp has ended for this year, and it’s time to evaluate what worked and what didn’t.

Figuring out which activities were best can be challenging without a set of questions to evaluate. The following will help your staff participate in an organized discussion about your programming for camp activities:

Which Camp Activities Were Most Engaging? Once you’ve identified the programming that was best at keeping the campers’ attention, try to identify why. Were there different activities that were popular among different ages? 

There may have been activities that were particularly good for helping campers make connections and burn energy, like 9 Square in the Air does so well. Or you might have noticed that any time your youngest campers had markers available, they were ready to color and listen at the same time. 

What Fell Flat?Is There Anything You Can Do About It? Consider which camp activities didn’t get the attention of campers like you had hoped. There may be plans that were a good idea on paper but needed additional instructions, materials, or time to execute well. Sometimes, all it takes is a few tweaks to take something from a flop to a big win.

How About Structure Versus Unstructured Time? Too much programming, and your staff starts to burn out right along with the campers. Too little, and you’ll have boredom and potentially some rule-breaking behaviors. Consider whether your unstructured time led to creativity or temptation to get into trouble. Were campers excited to go to the next activity, or did you hear groans or see dragging feet? 

How Did Camp Activities Fit With Our Mission? It’s important to ask your staff whether the ways campers spent time at camp reflect who you are and what you’re about. Did your activities foster growth in areas like inclusivity or connection? It’s a good idea to think about programming in terms of moving your mission forward versus simply filling a time slot.

Are Camp Activities Ideally Staffed? This doesn’t just mean the right number of staff members supervising and instructing. It means assessing whether each activity was staffed with the right individuals who possess the enthusiasm, expertise, and mindset for that part of the programming. 

When you need the ideal camp activity, you need 9 Square in the Air. It’s always doing so much more than just filling a time slot. It encourages connection, helps kids get active, and helps you promote inclusivity—everyone can play! And it hits just the right note when it comes to unstructured versus structured time. It’s perfect for a scheduled activity, a first-day icebreaker, or as a way to keep kids having fun when there’s unexpected free time. 

Ready to get your 9 Square in the Air Deluxe Game by next summer? Contact us to order today!