Mind the Gap: Bridging the Staff Skills/Camper Needs Divide

Staff say campers aren’t listening. Campers don’t like how staff talk to them. The gap between them may be only about 10 years, but it spans two generations shaped by vastly different norms, expectations, and emotional languages. Staff assume campers “should know better,” while campers are navigating a world that’s more anxious, overstimulated, and socially complex than ever. The mismatch leaves kids frustrated and staff unsure how to connect, motivate, and redirect effectively. Join Emily to dive into what’s behind the disconnect and how to bridge it through practical, teachable skills. You may still not know what “skibidi ohio rizz” means or why kids laugh every time you say “6-7,” (this session won’t be explaining that brain rot!), but you will return to camp ready to train staff to connect more effectively, engage less reactively, and support the campers in their care with less frustration and more joy.