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Appetizers
I cannot count the number of times my colleagues and I have come up with a great idea for a new program, camp, or class and then watched staff members struggle to turn our vision into reality. After one or two failed attempts, they often revert to some of the more tried-and-true standbys. For example, a company I worked with planned elaborate theme-based summer day-camp programs, complete with activity schedules, materials lists, and instructions for each and every project, game, and song. Generally, by week 3, most of the staff members were doing their own thing, having repurposed the supplies, allowed children to come up with new and unique uses for the materials, and even used the “lesson plans” as scrap paper. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, but there is a better (and easier) approach to program innovation.
The Main Course
The most important ingredient for successful programming is enthusiastic and motivated staff. Just as a gourmet meal cannot be made from inferior ingredients, no great youth program can exist without a passionate and committed leader.
Many of us have approached programming in the past by planning what we think children (or parents) will be interested in, and then try to find staff to run the programs. On rare occasions, this approach works. A staff member is hired, takes what is given, and delivers an outstanding program. More frequently, some level of disconnect leads to dampened enthusiasm and confusion, and may even lead to a hurried search for a new employee.