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Grow Your Camp: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Mark P. Fisher & Carl Lefever
Welcome to the Grow Your Camp Podcast: 'Cause You Can't Minister to Empty Beds Where we share stories and systems to help camps grow. Hosts: Mark P. Fisher, of Inspiring Growth Carl Lefever, of Improve & Grow Overview: Most camp directors didn't sign up to be marketers. They signed up because they know what happens to a kid who spends a week away from everything — and they wanted to be part of it. But empty beds are a real problem, and figuring out how to fill them, fund the mission, and still lead well is work nobody really prepared you for. The Grow Your Camp Podcast exists for that director. Every episode opens with one tactic you can use this week — then goes deeper with a real camp leader who's already solved the problem you're sitting with. Real numbers. Real stories. The systems behind the growth. This is what it sounds like when the mission gets to grow. Key Themes: Filling the Calendar: Strategies and real-world examples of how retreat and camp leaders increase bookings and reduce seasonal gaps. Topics might include: lead generation systems, improving inquiry response times, pricing strategy, market positioning, capacity management, and off-season marketing approaches. Marketing that Feels Like Ministry: How faith-driven leaders approach marketing as an extension of their mission rather than a distraction from it. Topics might include: values-based storytelling, ethical persuasion, branding that builds trust, and aligning marketing messages. Digital Growth Systems: Modern tools and digital marketing tactics that consistently drive visibility, inquiries, and revenue for retreats and camps. Topics might include: websites that convert, CRM and automation, SEO and Google Ads, social media advertising, online reviews, and emerging technologies like AI. Stories of Growth: Candid conversations with leaders about their challenges, breakthroughs, and the turning points that sparked momentum. Topics might include: turning around a struggling retreat season, launching new programs, rebuilding after crisis, or scaling operations while staying mission-aligned. Leading for Growth: How leadership mindset, team culture, and operational systems create the foundation for sustainable growth. Topics might include: team alignment, delegation, budgeting and stewardship, guest experience excellence, and building systems that support long-term ministry impact. Episodes are typically 30-45 minutes in length, content is fun, engaging and practical. We bring on reputable guests that work in or on camp and always include a quick camp marketing tip at the top of each episode.
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- 1 weeks ago1h 5m
EP 26 | The Hidden Reason Camp Donors Stop Giving
What if the reason your camp's fundraising feels like a grind is that you're treating donors like an ATM? Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski, co-founders of Fundraising Masterminds, have watched thousands of ministry events up close, and they noticed a pattern: the organizations that raise the most aren't the ones with the best auction or the most tickets sold. They're the ones building friends who want to own the mission with them.In this conversation, Jim and Jason open up what friend raising looks like for camps, why a leaky roof or an operating budget rarely inspires anyone, and the simple question that turns a need into an opportunity people want to be part of. They also discuss how a single vision dinner can become the starting point for long-term partnerships, and what camp directors can focus on in the final weeks of the year to strengthen year-end giving.Mark P. Fisher's Quick Camp Marketing Tip is about leadership: if you want a team that owns growth, give people a goal to own, not just a task to finish.Keywordscamp fundraising, friend raising, vision dinner, Fundraising Masterminds, Perfect Vision Dinner, camp donor relationships, year-end fundraising, matching gifts, Giving Tuesday, capital campaign, camp leadership, camp growthSound Bites“A transactional relationship is what you have with an ATM.”“They come into the program thinking, I want a hundred thousand dollars, and they walk away being like, I don't even care about the money. We just got a hundred and fifty new people that love us.”“As soon as you start thinking development as a ministry and that you're building relationships, then there is no difference between your ministry and fundraising.”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestJim Dempsey, Fundraising MastermindsJason Galicinski, Fundraising MastermindsChapters00:04 Welcome and Introductions01:21 Quick Camp Marketing Tip: Give Your Team a Goal to Own06:23 Meet Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski07:31 Jason's and Jim's Camp Stories16:52 How Jim and Jason Met31:05 Friend Raising vs. Fundraising35:58 Turning Needs into Exciting Opportunities44:33 What Is an Accelerator?48:26 Inside the Vision Dinner52:41 Results: From First Dinner to $1.3 Million59:49 Year-End Fundraising in the Next 60 Days1:03:49 Balancing Running Camp and Raising Money1:06:56 ClosingResourcesFundraising MastermindsYear-End Fundraising Training Fundraising Masterminds PodcastIf you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Want to find your camp's biggest growth opportunities?Try the free Camp Growth Planner.Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call.Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: VNWEWYFC5ZORLCTD
- 2 weeks ago1h 7m
EP 25 | Don’t Cut What’s Growing Your Camp
Growing your camp is exciting, but it can also create new pressures on budgets, staff, and leadership decisions. When expenses rise and money feels tight, cutting costs may seem like the obvious solution. Mark and Carl share real stories of camps that faced these challenges, including one that nearly cut its marketing budget despite record new guest group bookings, and another that discovered focusing on just two revenue streams offered a clearer path to growth than trying to improve five at once. These examples show camp leaders how to identify their biggest opportunities, understand what's really affecting revenue, and avoid decisions that could slow future growth.Mark and Carl also examine what it takes to turn more inquiries into bookings. From tracking close rates and following up consistently to training salespeople and giving them room to solve customer problems, they share practical ways to strengthen the sales process. You'll learn why a dedicated sales system matters more than commissions alone, how to evaluate whether a sales investment is paying off, and why sustainable camp growth requires both financial discipline and investing in the right people.Carl's Quick Camp Marketing Tip introduces the 80/20 rule: instead of trying to solve every problem or pursue every opportunity, identify the few priorities that can make the biggest difference. It's a practical approach to setting growth goals, focusing your team's efforts, and making meaningful progress without spreading resources too thin.Keywordscamp growth, sustainable camp growth, camp marketing, camp revenue, guest group bookings, camp sales, sales follow-up, camp leadership, marketing ROI, Pareto principle, camp capacity, camp growth planningSound Bites“Your problems and opportunities are not equally weighted.”“Curiosity and humility is what leads to the epic adventures for leaders.”“Sales is not set it and forget it.”“The magic is systems.”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowHave a question or topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Submit a topic idea.If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: NSVKYYCDWV9VKBR1
- Oct 2, 20261h 10m
EP 24 | Bigger Isn’t Always Better
SpringHill Camps has experienced both sides of growth. Its traveling day camp program grew from roughly 3,000 campers to 19,000, creating incredible ministry opportunities while also revealing an important lesson: growth works best when the systems, margins, staffing, and quality behind it can grow too. Eric Bartz shares what SpringHill learned from that season, and how camp leaders can recognize when growth is creating healthy momentum versus stretching the organization too thin.Those lessons shaped SpringHill’s next chapter. The organization made difficult decisions to refocus its programs and resources, invest in its Michigan property, strengthen pricing and margins, and rethink how it used its 1,600-bed capacity. Eric breaks down how to think differently about unused capacity, when it may be time to let go of a program, and why better margins can create room for better experiences. At SpringHill, that focus also helped substantially grow guest group revenue by putting previously unused capacity to work.SpringHill also became more intentional about retention, using survey data, personalized texts, direct phone calls, and empowered staff to understand what was keeping families from rebooking. Combined with a continued focus on program quality, retention climbed from 52% to 61%. Camp leaders will come away with practical ideas for improving retention, evaluating growth opportunities, and building systems that support sustainable growth for the long term.Mark’s Quick Camp Marketing Tip brings that same thinking to capacity: stop telling prospective campers you’re “full.” By capturing demand with a waiting list instead, camps can fill cancellations, redirect families to available weeks, and uncover growth opportunities hiding in the capacity they already have.Keywordscamp growth, sustainable growth, camp leadership, camp capacity, camper retention, camp marketing, summer camp enrollment, retreat groups, camp pricing, customer engagement, camp revenue, SpringHill CampsSound Bites“Bigger isn’t better.”“No margin, no mission.”“Not every bed is created equal.”“A week up here shapes a lifetime out there.”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestEric Bartz, SpringHill CampsHave a question or topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Submit a topic idea.If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: VNWEWYFC5ZORLCTD
- Sep 25, 20261h 2m
EP 23 | Growth Takes a Plan: What to Do When Your Camp Stops Growing
Growth had been strong at Bongiorno Conference Center coming out of COVID, but by 2025 the momentum was beginning to stall. For Executive Director Carl Redding, the challenge wasn’t simply generating more business. It was figuring out what needed to change, and being willing to act on it.Rather than trying to solve everything internally, Bongiorno partnered with an outside digital marketing agency to take a fresh look at its growth opportunities. That process helped the team see both the potential ahead and the gaps that needed attention. From marketing and lead generation to inquiry follow-up and internal systems, Bongiorno began building a more intentional approach to growth. The result has been a stronger pipeline, more inquiries and bookings, and greater clarity about where the organization can go next.Carl also shares the leadership work behind that progress: addressing unhealthy staff culture, inviting trusted leaders into important decisions, empowering team members to own their areas, and knowing when outside expertise can help you see something differently. As new opportunities emerge, Bongiorno is now thinking about the next constraints to growth, including staffing, meeting space, capacity, and long-term facility planning.Carl Lefever’s Quick Camp Marketing Tip focuses on another important part of sustainable growth: keeping the guest groups you already have through proactive retreat coordination and a consistent rebooking process.Keywordscamp growth, camp marketing, retreat center marketing, Bongiorno Conference Center, digital marketing, retreat bookings, lead generation, guest group retention, camp leadership, retreat coordination, organizational growth, Christian campingSound Bites“Growth doesn’t simply happen because you want it.”“You have to communicate, communicate, overcommunicate.”“I want 100% retainment. I know it’s crazy to think like that, but why not?”“When God changes a life, it’s forever and it’s eternal.”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestCarl Redding, Bongiorno Conference CenterResourcesRetreat Coordination Process Article>Church Event Planning Checklist>Free Camp Growth Planner App >If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: GBZT62DX8P3EDCBP
- Sep 11, 202654 min
EP 22 | What Happens When Your Camp Systems Stop Getting in the Way?
Camp technology often forces camps to change the way they work to fit the software. The team behind The One App took the opposite approach: learn how camps actually operate, then build technology around them.Michael John Stanley (MJ), Alan Brown, and Lindy Pinkerton share how that process began with visits to 10 camps and expanded into conversations with roughly 60 camps, plus real-world beta testing. What emerged was a consistent problem: camps were stitching together registration systems, spreadsheets, calendars, contracts, emails, whiteboards, and staff knowledge just to keep operations moving.Their response centers on what Lindy calls the Five C’s: contracts, calendars, communications, CRM, and coordinating. The conversation gets practical about guest-group registration, knowing who is actually on property, communicating between departments, coordinating meals and facilities, and giving staff access to the information they need without burying them in another complicated system.Mark’s quick marketing tip also tackles WIIFM—“What’s In It For Me?”—and why camp marketing should focus less on what your camp has and more on what those features make possible for campers, parents, churches, and retreat groups.Keywordscamp technology, camp management software, camp operations, camp registration, guest group registration, camp CRM, camp communication, operational efficiency, camp management systems, retreat center software, sustainable camp growth, The One AppSound Bites“Camping found me.” — MJ“You’re basically running a city at a camp.” — Alan Brown“Everything is fragmented.” — Lindy Pinkerton“Get staff out from behind the desk and out doing mission.” — Alan BrownHostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestsMichael John Stanley (MJ), The One AppAlan Brown, The One AppLindy Pinkerton, The One AppResourcesThe One App — Learn more or schedule a demo.If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: NKEL9IWUMNG2LTC0
- Aug 28, 20261h 7m
EP 21 | Is Fear Keeping Your Camp From Growing?
Empty beds aren’t free. An unused cabin, an open retreat weekend, or a phone that isn’t ringing represents the capacity your camp built, but isn’t using.Mark and Carl challenge one of the biggest barriers to camp growth: treating marketing primarily as a cost to control instead of an investment expected to produce a measurable return. The issue isn’t spending more for the sake of spending. It’s learning to test intelligently, track results, invest more in what works, and stop funding what doesn’t.Mark recommends thinking about marketing investment in relation to the revenue you want to achieve, using 10–12% of target gross revenue as a starting benchmark. They also unpack why fixed budgets can work against growth, why experienced marketing leadership matters, and why most camps need an “air traffic controller” coordinating specialists rather than expecting one marketing employee to do everything.Carl’s Quick Camp Marketing Tip makes measurement simple: ask every new inquiry, “How did you hear about us?” Record the answer consistently and use those patterns to make better decisions about where your next marketing dollar should go.Keywordscamp marketing, camp growth, marketing investment, marketing ROI, camp marketing budget, camp enrollment, retreat bookings, lead tracking, camp capacity, marketing strategy, nonprofit growth, camp leadershipSound Bites“Empty beds aren’t free.”“Good leadership doesn’t just protect resources. It puts them to work.”“Test. Keep track. See what works. See what doesn’t.”“What are we afraid of?”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowIf you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: CTICEW7Z3GYJB3XU
- Aug 21, 202654 min
EP 20 | How to Get Your Camp on the First Page of Google
More than half of a typical camp website’s traffic can come from Google searches, and for some camps, that number reaches 80% or more. That makes one question critical: When parents and retreat planners search for what you offer, can they actually find you?Senior SEO Specialist Scott Rehnberg of Improve & Grow explains camp SEO without the technical overload. He breaks down how Google understands your website, why dedicated pages for priority audiences matter, how your Google Business Profile affects visibility, and what camps can do to influence recommendations from ChatGPT and other AI search tools.Scott also shares what progress can look like over 30 days, 90 days, and six months, and why impressions and clicks only matter if they ultimately lead to inquiries, bookings, and registrations.Carl’s Quick Camp Marketing Tip: “Google Your Camp Like a Guest Would” gives you an immediate visibility check. Open an incognito browser and search your camp’s name, “summer camps near me,” and “Christian retreat centers near me.” Then try similar searches in ChatGPT. Look at who appears, what information search engines are using, and where your camp’s online presence needs work.Keywordscamp SEO, summer camp marketing, Google search, search engine optimization, ChatGPT search, AI search, Google Business Profile, organic traffic, retreat center marketing, camp registrations, Google Search Console, camp websiteSound Bites“It's not a trick.” — Scott Rehnberg “If people can understand it, Google's more likely to understand it.” — Scott Rehnberg “Sometimes the off-site things you do can give a lot of credibility to your website.” — Scott Rehnberg “Your SEO is the work you're putting into your house to make it more valuable.” — Scott Rehnberg HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestScott Rehnberg, Improve & GrowChapters00:00 Why SEO Matters for Camps02:09 Quick Camp Marketing Tip: Google Your Camp Like a Guest Would15:51 Scott’s Camp Story19:07 SEO, Explained Simply24:28 Getting Your Camp Recommended by ChatGPT and AI30:29 Why Camps Don’t Show Up in Search35:33 Common SEO Problems for Camp and Retreat Websites40:19 What Actually Moves the Needle With SEO46:00 How Long Does SEO Take?50:10 Measuring Impressions, Clicks, and Conversions55:32 Three SEO Actions Camps Can Take This Week57:38 Closing: Building Your Camp’s Growth PlanIf you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: VO8ZUDXYA1ZUJIAD
- Jul 31, 202655 min
EP 19 | The Hidden Reason Camp Websites Lose Registrations
Most camp websites unintentionally make it harder for visitors to take the next step. A homepage has to introduce your ministry, answer questions, and guide visitors in multiple directions. A landing page has one job: help the right visitor take one specific action.Oscar Quesada, CEO of Lifedge Marketing, explains why focused landing pages consistently outperform general website pages for camp registrations, retreat bookings, and facility rentals. He shares the framework his team uses to build pages that remove confusion, build trust, and improve conversions.You'll learn what separates a landing page from a standard website page, the biggest mistakes camps make, and the key elements every high-converting page should include, including clear messaging, testimonials, FAQs, pricing, compelling calls to action, and social proof. Oscar also shares a real-world example where a targeted landing page and modest Google Ads campaign generated more than $100,000 in retreat bookings.Along with the incredible insights from Oscar, Mark encourages camp leaders to price confidently as costs increase while rewarding loyal families with meaningful early-bird incentives. Registering campers before they leave camp, or shortly afterward, can improve retention, strengthen cash flow, and help families commit before they begin comparing other camps. As Mark reminds listeners, "The best time to sell next summer is this summer."Keywordslanding pages, camp websites, camp marketing, retreat center marketing, website conversions, Google Ads, Christian camps, camp registration, facility rentals, SEO, website optimization, Lifedge MarketingSound Bites"The best time to sell next summer is this summer.""The right message, to the right audience, at the right time.""People need to understand what you do in the first 10 seconds.""Marketing is a bunch of experiments."HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestOscar Quesada, Lifedge MarketingResourcesLifedge Marketing Website >Landing Page Best Practices Guide >If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Have a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >Want Help Growing Your Camp?Click here to schedule a call >Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: WSSYZ6CNOPQMOVKN
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About Grow Your Camp
Welcome to the Grow Your Camp Podcast: 'Cause You Can't Minister to Empty Beds Where we share stories and systems to help camps grow. Hosts: Mark P. Fisher, of Inspiring Growth Carl Lefever, of Improve & Grow Overview: Most camp directors didn't sign up to be marketers. They signed up because they know what happens to a kid who spends a week away from everything — and they wanted to be part of it. But empty beds are a real problem, and figuring out how to fill them, fund the mission, and still lead well is work nobody really prepared you for. The Grow Your Camp Podcast exists for that director. Every episode opens with one tactic you can use this week — then goes deeper with a real camp leader who's already solved the problem you're sitting with. Real numbers. Real stories. The systems behind the growth. This is what it sounds like when the mission gets to grow. Key Themes: Filling the Calendar: Strategies and real-world examples of how retreat and camp leaders increase bookings and reduce seasonal gaps. Topics might include: lead generation systems, improving inquiry response times, pricing strategy, market positioning, capacity management, and off-season marketing approaches. Marketing that Feels Like Ministry: How faith-driven leaders approach marketing as an extension of their mission rather than a distraction from it. Topics might include: values-based storytelling, ethical persuasion, branding that builds trust, and aligning marketing messages. Digital Growth Systems: Modern tools and digital marketing tactics that consistently drive visibility, inquiries, and revenue for retreats and camps. Topics might include: websites that convert, CRM and automation, SEO and Google Ads, social media advertising, online reviews, and emerging technologies like AI. Stories of Growth: Candid conversations with leaders about their challenges, breakthroughs, and the turning points that sparked momentum. Topics might include: turning around a struggling retreat season, launching new programs, rebuilding after crisis, or scaling operations while staying mission-aligned. Leading for Growth: How leadership mindset, team culture, and operational systems create the foundation for sustainable growth. Topics might include: team alignment, delegation, budgeting and stewardship, guest experience excellence, and building systems that support long-term ministry impact. Episodes are typically 30-45 minutes in length, content is fun, engaging and practical. We bring on reputable guests that work in or on camp and always include a quick camp marketing tip at the top of each episode.
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