june 13: june staff recording link, covid testing, ride share info

Dear June Staff,

It was wonderful to see most of your faces during yesterday’s pre-camp Zoom training session! Thank you for joining us, soaking up the info, and asking questions. For those unable to join (or for those who want to relive the experience, or need help recalling a particular piece of info), we recorded the session and you can access it via this link. (If you did not attend, you are expected to watch.)

  • NOTE: at the end of the recording, we conducted a breakout session based on job function. If you are a Cabin Counselor, CAP, or Unit Leader, continue watching until the end of the recording. If you are Activities Crew, Arts & Crafts, Muscle, or a Nurse, you can stop the recording at the 1:22:08 mark.

  • Activities Crew members who did not attend, please reach out directly to Backpack (becky@thegoodtimesproject.org) if you are not proficient on/cannot ride a bike (and therefore cannot lead that activity).

COVID Testing and Staff Check-In

All staff will need to test negative for COVID on Friday, June 24. Previously, we planned to provide the COVID tests to you once you arrived. Turns out the free rapid tests that we received from the government take 30-40 minutes to show results. So, your options are:

  1. Use the Goodtimes provided test once at camp; wait time of 30-40 minutes.

  2. Supply your own rapid test and either test in your vehicle on the ferry (don’t interact with or ride with anyone new once you’ve tested) or test once you get to camp.

Either way, you’ll need to show a negative test at check-in to be able to join us. Please see the Staff Check-In document (listed in the Resources section) for additional details and instructions.

Ride Sharing

Getting to Camp Burton on Vashon Island is your responsibility. As a reminder, Uber and Lyft do not operate on the island and Camp Burton is not a walkable distance from either ferry landing (especially with your belongings)—you’re going to need to be in a vehicle. If you don’t have your own vehicle OR have a vehicle that can accommodate 1-3 other staffers, now is the time to connect with each other to give a ride or get a ride.

  • If you’re a member of our private staff Facebook group, a post will go up today. Please use the comments section to offer or ask for a ride.

  • If you’re not on Facebook and need a ride, please reach out directly to other staffers using their email addresses which are posted in the staff roster on the Staff Portal. Or, if that doesn’t pan out, provide me with your name, phone number, and area you’re looking for a ride from (city, ferry dock, etc) and I can post on your behalf.

  • Lastly, Bones offered that he will be a walk-on passenger on the ferry but is getting a ride to camp with a friend who lives on Vashon. As of yesterday, there was room in that vehicle. If interested, contact Bones at 206.310.8913.

Remember, the Staff Portal contains a myriad of resources—like directions to camp, packing list, theme-day info, dress code, and more. Have a question? Head there for the answer. And, if it’s not there, hit me up at tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org.

I look forward to creating camp with you,
Cooper
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

Camp is inching closer—June staffer’s arrival is only 16 days away. But before that, there are some important dates (and assignments) that should be on everyone’s radar.

Two very time sensitive reminders:

1. ALL STAFF, online staff training (Expert Online Training videos and quizzes) AND the forms/documents in your CampMinder account are due tomorrow, Thursday, June 9 by 11:59 p.m.

  • This gives you 34 hours and 59 minutes to complete your required assignments.

  • To the 54% of you who have completed your tasks, thank you. To the 30% who have yet to log in to start their training, I hope you thrive working against a deadline. 😊

  • An email with Expert Online Training login information was just resent to everyone who had not yet logged in. It is an automated email direct from them (not from me) and may be in your junk/clutter folder.

2. JUNE STAFF ONLY, your attendance is required this Sunday, June 12 from 10:00-11:30 am PST for our pre-camp virtual training session. Please log in on time, have questions ready, and paper and a pen to capture important information you need to know. If you can’t join by video, please join via audio. (July staff, your training day is on July 10 and has a different Zoom link.)

Meeting ID: 880 3487 7680
Passcode: 587481
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,88034877680#,,,,*587481# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,88034877680#,,,,*587481# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 880 3487 7680
Passcode: 587481
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbc09JzQWp

Thank you in advance for following through on your commitments and helping make camp the best it can be this summer!

Get your training on,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

june 8: june 9 deadline & June staff virtual training day

Dear Camp Staffer,

The countdown to summer, and our two sessions of Camp Goodtimes has started—our first session starts in just 28 days! Regardless of if you’re coming to camp in June or July, below are some facts you need to figure into your schedule.

June 9 Deadline Fast Approaching
Lucky #13…that’s how many days you have left until the following are due:

  • Expert Online Training videos and quizzes: an email was sent to you on May 13 with the URL and your login information. As a reminder, I cannot provide technical support and EOT’s support line has limited days and hours, so please log in and ensure you can access your account before the deadline.

  • Staff forms & documents: log back in to the Forms & Documents section of your CampMinder account (by the yellow pencil icon) and submit the forms.

Pre-Camp Training Sessions
We’re going to use this time to check-in with you (a great time to ask camp-related questions) and get you some timely information like how to properly check in at camp/get COVID tested and what the camp schedule looks like. Attendance is required.

Staff Check-in at Camp
Speaking of checking in, as posted to the Staff Portal, staff can arrive between noon and 4:00 p.m. on your respective arrival date.

  • All staff must arrive by 4:00—so plan ahead, including for potentially long ferry lines.

  • A new staff orientation tour will be given at 4:30 to get first-time folks acclimated, including former campers.

Other Tidbits

  • A ride share post will be made in our private staff Facebook group next week. If you are looking for a ride to/from camp or can give a ride, please watch for and reply to this post. Please be kind and help each other out. *All staff are responsible for getting themselves to camp which includes a ferry ride, and Uber does not operate on the island.

  • Hey new staff, do you have a camp name yet? You have some time to think about it, but please check in with me before your camp session even if it’s to tell me you’re still pondering.

  • Are you a cabin counselor/CAP and want to know the number of campers expected in your cabin? Drop me a line and I’ll tell you.

  • Pre-camp COVID testing is not a requirement, but as cases increase, we’re advising staff and campers to either get a PCR test or do at-home rapid tests in the two days leading up to camp. We’d hate to have you get out to camp only to find out you can’t stay. Have you gotten your free tests from the CDC yet?

Camp-related info will continue to come your way on a regular basis so keep checking your inbox. Always reach out with questions or concerns, I’m here to answer them! Have yourself a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.

Yay camp,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

may 27: upcoming June 9 deadline & more

may 16: new staff orientation recap

Hey Cool Cats! Thank you to those of you who were able to join us live yesterday for the New Staff Orientation. It was a pleasure to see your faces and to help you get excited about camp. For those unable to make it, we’ve got you covered.

Session Recap

The following are posted on the Camp Staff Portal in the Resources (Documents for Review) section.

  • New Staff Orientation Recording: either relive the thrill or watch it for the first time to help get oriented.

  • Acronym List: the vocabulary terms we use at camp that you’ll likely hear batted about.

  • Staff Name List: every staffer needs a camp name so brainstorm what yours might be and double check it against this list. NOTE, a handful of you have already chosen a name within the last few days so they won’t appear on this list. Please send all proposed camp names my way for final “approval” or if you want creative help.

Next Steps

  • Finish completing your Forms & Documents by June 9

  • Complete your assigned Expert Online Training videos and quizzes by June 9

  • Finalize a camp name

  • Expect an invitation to join our private camp staff Facebook group—if you have a FB account and provided the info on your application [not required to be a member]

  • Ask any question under the sun

So happy to have you joining us as a member of the Camp Goodtimes family! Volunteers make camp run, and we’re delighted you chose to give of your time with our camp and the kiddos we serve!

Feel free to contact me,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

may 13: start online training videos & quizzes

Dear Camp Staffer,

It’s time to start your training! Moments ago, an email with the subject line “Camp Goodtimes: Expert Online Training (Due June 9)” was sent to you. It contains your login and password information to get into your Expert Online Training account.

Within that account will be the training videos and associated quizzes assigned to you to complete by June 9. As the email indicates, you can watch one video/quiz at a time or hunker down and knock them out in one sitting. Regardless of your plan, please be aware that if you run into technical difficulties their Support Line is only open Monday-Friday and I cannot be of assistance if there is a technical issue.

These videos are intended to set you up for success as a volunteer at Camp Goodtimes—please take the content seriously as there are insightful bits that will come in handy this summer.

Let the learning begin,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

May 9: Teams & Cabin Assignments

Dear Camp Staffer,

You’ve accepted your position at Camp Goodtimes and now big camp news is coming your way—team rosters and cabin assignments (for counselors and CAPs) have been published and are ready for you to embrace!

Rosters include email addresses so feel free to start connecting with your colleagues to create community (sharing your phone number is at your discretion). This is especially true for cabin counselors and CAPs—introduce yourselves and start making cabin plans (decorations, cabin vibe, who’s bringing what).

  • Head to the Camp Staff Portal

  • View Rosters by position or alphabetically by name

  • Read the Position Priorities content to help ground you in your position’s mission

  • Check out the new Staff Expectations section

Creating Camp

Speaking of expectations, whether you’re a first-time staffer or a long-term veteran, camp this summer will be a first for all of us. None of us has done Camp Goodtimes as a kids-only, overnight camp during the pandemic. With that comes change and possibly nerves mixed with excitement. To pull this off, we each need to:

  • Start with positivity

  • Be nimble and flexible

  • Work together, always

  • See opportunities rather than disappointments

Online Staff Training

We use online training videos and quizzes from Expert Online Training to get us in the right camp mindset and prepared and pumped to connect with and care for other people’s kiddos. Each staff member will be assigned between 1.5-2 hours of training that can be watched anytime, can be paused, and can be restarted. Quizzes help you (and us) ensure that you’ve grasped the content.

  • An email, with your login information, will be coming your way within the next day or two; be sure to check your spam/junk folders

  • Completion of the videos and quizzes needs to happen by June 9

Next Steps

Thank you for choosing to create camp with us! I know that we can make this summer amazing. Lastly, I’m always available to answer a question or address a concern, just ask.

Let’s get our camp on,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org

 

May 1: You’re Hired

Dear Camp Staffer,

Let me cut to the chase. Congratulations, I would like to hire you as a Camp Goodtimes volunteer staff member for this summer! In return, I need you to accept or decline your position(s) by May 8. Simply follow the steps outlined below.

1.       Visit the Camp Staff Portal and click on the Camp Goodtimes staff roster link to find out what session(s) and position(s) you’ve been hired for. It’s alphabetical by first name/camp name.

  • If being hired as a cabin counselor or CAP, the cabin number, ages of kids, and co-counselors will be shared after May 8 once we know who has accepted their positions.

  • If you applied to Both camp sessions, and have been waitlisted for one, we may or may not hire you in the future for that session.

  • All positions are subject to change if camp’s needs change.

  • All hiring is contingent on completing references (for first-time applicants) and passing a background check.

2.       Use the Camp Staff Acceptance Form link on the portal to accept or decline by May 8. (I need a response either way.)

3.       If you accept, start submitting the required forms & documents outlined on the portal; these are due June 9 but you might as well get them out of the way while they’re on your mind!

  • Expert Online Training access and information will be sent to you via email when it becomes available (likely after May 8).

By accepting a position, you agree to:

  • Be at camp for the duration of the camp week (June 24-July 2 or July 15-23) which includes two days of onsite staff training before campers arrive on Sunday. Time-off requests from employers should be approved/confirmed.

  • Adhere to the rules, regulations, and expectations of your volunteer employment as set forth in Goodtimes’ Personnel Policies document.

  • Complete all required forms/documents and online staff training modules and quizzes by June 9.

  • Familiarize yourself with camp’s COVID Protocols & Guidelines located on the staff portal.

  • Be a supportive, positive, and engaged colleague to your fellow volunteers and a trustworthy, safe, and invested adult role model for campers.

  • Have a goofy, fun-loving, awe-inspiring time at camp while giving it your all.  😊

I’m eager to create an amazing experience for some pretty amazing kids…are you with me?! Be sure to accept or decline your job offer by the May 8 deadline. I hope you choose to join us!

More info to come if you accept,
Tanya “Cooper” Krohn
Camp Director
Camp Goodtimes
tanya@thegoodtimesproject.org