Most importantly, Nathan Brant is a husband and father.
On a sidenote, he is also an energetic camp director, author, trainer, and speaker trying to change the world one child at a time. His blog, Summer Camp Source, is meant as a resource for parents and others interested in the value of the summer camp experience. Currently, Nathan serves as the CEO of the South Mountain YMCA Camps, home of Camp Conrad Weiser and the Bynden Wood Day Camp (https://www.smymca.org/). For additional resources published by Nathan, take a look at the links listed on the lower right side of this page.
Recently, Nathan released a compilation of essays from around the camping industry entitled Trail Heads: Thoughts from the Camping Profession. For more information, or to download the free e-book, see below.
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Trail Heads has been an attempt to collect the best conversations, thoughts and ideas your colleagues have had throughout 2010. When I put out the call for submissions, I asked people to tell us about the future of camping. Where are we going? Who will we be serving? How will we be telling our stories? Why is camping still relevant?
Camp people responded. I enjoyed reading each of these submissions, and I hope you do, as well. At the end of each essay, the authors share their contact information so you can continue the conversation in 2011. Remember, you no longer have to be at a conference to talk with your peers—you can shoot them an email, friend them on Facebook, connect with them on LinkedIn or follow them on Twitter.
With the advent of social media, I have been shocked by the amount of content camping professionals have been willing to share with one another. I have been even more shocked by how few people are taking advantage of these resources. On the next page I have included the authors’ websites, blogs or profiles. Visit them. Read what they have to share. Let it fuel you on to your next great idea!
To download the free PDF, visit the Summer Camp Theme Guy website at www.nathanscottbrant.com.
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We’ll see you at Camp!
Nathan
8 comments
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June 16, 2010 at 12:41 pm
carlajhart
Great idea for a blog, Nathan. I love that what you’re doing is helping build families, good health, and bring people back to what is most beautiful and important. I agree with your, being together in the outdoors is a great way to build families and enjoy life. Please visit me at my blog. I hope to be doing some of the same things; in Haiti.
June 16, 2010 at 12:45 pm
nsbrant
Thanks! Keep reading. Working on a piece this week on independence and the summer camp experience.
August 22, 2011 at 10:11 am
Robert Deck
Nathan,
Great blog Keep up the excellent work. I really enjoy reading your material.
January 16, 2012 at 2:00 am
Columbia Gorge Teen Camps
Hey Nathan,
I just started December 1, as Camp Director at a new start up: Columbia Gorge Teen Camps in Hood River, Oregon. We will open this July providing I can recruit 150 motivated teens who want to puruse their best in Windsurfing, Climbing and Mountaineering, Photography and High Adventure. We are owned by a small group of friends, most of whom are educators. We have very limited funds for advertising and the like.
I was wondering if you might be willing to share some ideas concerning our best use of a very limited advertising and promotion budget. I am a big fan of Jim Collins and his fine books.
January 18, 2012 at 1:41 pm
nsbrant
Marketing Thoughts Begin Today! I hope it helps. Let me know if you have specific questions I can give you some feedback on.
January 18, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Jan Mayer
Thanks! Say you were a new start up camp, and had $20,000 to spend on advertising and promotion after the website and brochures were done. How would you spend these limited advertising and promotional dollars? If you could give me some guidance here, that would be greatly appreciated:
$5,000 Google ad words
$5000 advertising in magazines, press releases
$2000 direct mailing to schools, climbing gyms, etc
$1000 Posters in climbing gyms
distribute brochures to retail shops
Jan Mayer
January 18, 2012 at 2:23 pm
nsbrant
Fun!
Can I look at your website quick and get a feel for what kind of camp you are? Also, what does your ideal camper look like and where is he or she from? Are you local or regiona/national? How many spots do you need to fill? Is this your first season?
Fun! So fun I had to say it twice.
January 18, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Jan Mayer
Hi Nathan,
OUr websites are not up yet but you can look at this one: http://photography.columbiagorgeteencamps.com.
We are targeting motivated teens who really want to specialize in Windsurfing, climbing and mountaineering, photography and High Adventure things like Back packing, Mt. Biking, canoeing, Kayaking. They will be from the upper income families, probably mostly private schools and the better public schools. OUr camps are not for kids at risk or kids with special needs. Hopefully we will draw from all over the country and hopefully internationally.
This is our first year and we need to fill 150 spaces!
Any suggestions would be great!
Jan