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Camp staff’s biggest complaint
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“I never got any feedback.” When listening to or surveying camp staff after a summer, this is the phrase that comes up over and over. When asked what was missing from their experience, what I most commonly hear is… Not, “The pay was too low.” Not, “The hours were brutal.” Not, “The kids were tough.” Nope. No much of that. It is this: “I never got any feedback.” The numbers back up this sentiment. 80% of employees who quit a gig cite their direct supervisor as the reason. Meanwhile, that number flips quickly when 90% of workers report being happy when they have a career mentor. The gap between quitting and thriving often comes down to one thing: did someone take time to guide them? What Staff Are Actually ExperiencingWithout feedback, young staff become:
These aren’t dramatic exaggerations. Scroll through camp staff Reddit threads and the same questions appear constantly. Questions that wouldn’t exist if someone were mentoring them. The “Too Busy” RealityDirectors know feedback matters. They’re not skipping it because they don’t care. Anything but. Mentorship and feedback often get skipped for a whole host of reasons. Skipping it because: → Money demands attention → Mission demands attention → Management demands attention → Kids in programs demand attention → Making it all work demands everything else When the list is that long (and btw, it’s way longer that one), sitting down with a 19-year-old to check in feels like a total luxury. Something that can wait. Something for “later.” But later never comes. And staff 100% notice. The Industry GapLook, conferences are great. Inspiring speakers, new ideas, professional energy. But it’s someone broadcasting toward a room. No behavioral change happens. Trainings help build skills. Important for safety, procedures, technical knowledge. Still broadcasting. Still not meeting the need to be seen and heard. Feedback is different. It’s personal. It’s relational. It unlocks the things young staff actually need. Things like agency, identity, and competency. Staff need someone who knows them, checks in with them, and helps them grow. The SpringboardGoing to write plenty about camp mentorship in the coming months. The goal isn’t to add guilt to an already overwhelming job. It’s to explore what sustainable feedback systems actually look like. How peer mentorship can scale where directors cannot. How to build culture that doesn’t collapse when one person leaves. Because the phrase “I never got any feedback” shouldn’t be this common. In fact, it should never come up at all. Sincerely, Senior Consultant at Immersive1st Learn more about Immersive1st's Approach |
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