Summer Camp Insights (April 13, 2026)

 

What I’m Seeing Right Now in Camp Leadership

(And A Real Opportunity)

As I’ve been watching patterns this past week, not one big issue, just a series of small shifts that all point in the same direction.

There is an opportunity right now. It isn’t to work harder. It’s to lead more intentionally in the moments that matter.

Because the environment has changed and we are still updating systems that have not changed.

Clarity Is Starting to Matter More Than Energy

It seems that for years, camps could lean on energy. Great leaders with big personalities and high enthusiasm. And that worked in the capacity that it was a perceived path to leading.

Now, when things aren’t clear, leaders don’t always improvise, they hesitate.

And that hesitation shows up in:

• inconsistent responses
• delayed intervention
• uneven group leadership

This lines up with what the American Camp Association continues to emphasize around intentional staff training and consistent practices being key to positive outcomes.

And the Search Institute reinforces that young people experience safety through consistent adult behavior, not just positive energy.

So energy still matters and clarity is what holds everything together.

Belonging Is Happening Faster (Or Not at All)

Another shift that’s hard to ignore, campers are deciding quickly if they feel like they belong.

Not by the end of the week. Sometimes by the end of the first day. Which means staff can’t wait for connection to “build naturally.”

They have to create it early.

Research from the Search Institute consistently points to belonging as a foundational driver of youth development.

And the American Camp Association highlights that early connection is strongly tied to a successful camp experience.

This isn’t extra effort, it is front-loaded leadership.

Leaders Don’t Need More Energy (They Need Better Recovery)

This one is quieter and it’s showing up everywhere. Leaders are arriving with less margin than they used to.

So when the pace of camp hits full speed:

• patience drops faster
• decision-making slows
• tone shifts before behavior does

What looks like disengagement is often just fatigue. Studies are showing that points toward leaders well-being as a critical factor in both safety and program quality.

And broader youth development research continues to show that young people mirror the emotional regulation of the adults around them.

So this isn’t just about leaders. It’s about the entire camp experience.

There’s a Real Opportunity in How We Handle Challenge

Another emerging pattern is leaders want to help quickly. They step in. Smooth things over. Keep things moving.

And that instinct comes from a good place.

But when every challenge is removed:

• resilience doesn’t build
• problem-solving stays shallow
• confidence becomes dependent on adults

We need to continue to highlight how challenge and growth experiences are tied to long-term youth development outcomes. This reinforces that growth happens through a balance of support and challenge.

Not one or the other.

Servant Leader Lens

This is where servant leadership actually matters. Not in theory. In practice.

The opportunity right now is to:

• Be clearer, not louder
• Step in earlier, not perfectly
• Create belonging on purpose, not by accident
• Protect space for growth, not remove it
• Build recovery into leadership, not treat it as a break from it

And maybe the most important shift will be that you and your team will lead people through the schedule.

The Question I Keep Coming Back To

If I walked your camp for a day, what would I see:

• leaders reading moments and responding
• creating connection early
• holding clear, steady expectations

Or, would I see:

• leaders managing tasks
• relying on energy
• waiting for things to become obvious

Because those are two very different environments.

FINAL THOUGHT

The more your leadership is built on clarity, consistency, and presence…
the more steady it becomes when things don’t go as planned.

There’s research behind this:

• American Camp Association - staff training, camper outcomes, and staff well-being research
• Search Institute - developmental relationships, belonging, and youth growth research
• Child Mind Institute - This is one of the strongest organizations right now around youth emotional development.
• Greater Good Science Center - This group focuses on emotional intelligence, resilience, and human connection.

Come back next week for more insights.

Click here to enroll in Servant Leadership SKOOL:

And if you are applying for a leadership position at camp, consider this course that helps you grow your interview skills.

For a copy of my Number 1 selling book, “Serving From The Heart,” visit: https://clpli.com/al_ferreira

Summer Camp Insights (April 6, 2026)

 

What I’m Seeing Right Now in Camp Leadership
(And Why It’s Starting to Slip)

I’ve been watching a pattern build this past week. Not one big issue.

A bunch of small ones that all point to the same thing.

There is a sense that our staff aren’t struggling with effort. They are struggling with how and when to lead. And if we don’t name it clearly, I believe that we will pour our efforts into trying to fix the wrong problem.

This is not a skill problem. It’s a Timing Problem

I know that staff and leaders know what they’re supposed to do.

• They’ve been trained.
• They’ve heard the expectations.

But in real moments?

• They hesitate.
• They wait.
• They look around before stepping in.

And that delay, even just a few seconds; that’s where things start to unravel.

What could’ve been a quick redirect turns into:

• a behavior issue

• a group dynamic shift

• or a situation that now needs intervention

This isn’t about knowledge. It’s about decision-making in real time.

Make sure that you're not replacing Leadership with energy.

When things feel off, staff don’t always know what to do, so, they go bigger.

• More hype.
• More volume.
• More activity.

That can lift a moment. But it doesn’t fix what’s underneath. Because energy can distract. It can’t anchor. So the group rides highs and lows instead of settling into trust.

We’re Also Seeing a Rise in “Nice” Leadership

This one’s subtle and it creeps up everywhere. when staff want to connect with kids. That’s a good thing. But without realizing it, they start avoiding:

• correction

• redirection

• clear expectations

Because they don’t want to lose that connection. So, they stay “nice.” And then what happens?

• boundaries get tested

• stronger personalities take over

• quieter kids disappear

Connection without clarity doesn’t create safety. It has the potential to create confusion.

And Underneath All of It, There’s Fatigue

• This is the part most people miss. Staff are carrying a lot of energy early. Emotional load.
• Constant interaction.
• Always being “on.”

So what looks like:

• hesitation

• avoidance

• overuse of energy

Is often just, depletion. And depleted leaders don’t step in early. They wait. I know I have been guilty of that.

Servant Leader Lens

Here’s where I land on all of this. Servant leadership isn’t about being softer.

It’s about being more intentional in the moments that matter.

 

And that means:

• stepping in earlier, not later

• being clear, not just kind

• reading the moment, not just running the plan

• giving staff tools to act, not just information to remember

And maybe most importantly, holding the standard while increasing the support. That’s the tension. And that’s the work.

Here is what I have used and what I’d be training right now

If I had a staff group in front of me this week, I wouldn’t add more content.

I’d focus on three things:

1) Act sooner than feels comfortable
Early and calm beats late and intense.

2) Be warm and clear
Care about the person. Hold the expectation.

3) Lead people, not just the schedule
The schedule is a tool. People are the purpose.

That’s it. It's simple. Repeatable. Usable under pressure.

The Question That Matters

If I walked your camp for a day, would I see staff:

• stepping in early

• leading with clarity

• adjusting to the moment

Or, Would I see them:

• waiting

• managing energy

• trying not to get it wrong

Because those are two very different environments.

Final Thought

If your staff only lead when they feel confident, they won’t lead when it matters most.

There’s research behind this:

• The American Camp Association emphasizes that clear expectations and confident staff intervention are key predictors of positive camper behavior outcomes.
• The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning shows that adults who can quickly recognize and respond to social-emotional cues create more stable and supportive group environments.

Come back next week for more insights.

Click here to enroll in Servant Leadership SKOOL:

And if you are applying for a leadership position at camp, consider this course that helps you grow your interview skills.

For a copy of my Number 1 selling book, “Serving From The Heart,” visit: https://clpli.com/al_ferreira