Summer is approaching and there are some topics we've identified with parents and kids that you should consider for your summer camp environment.
The first one is trust. Parents will ask themselves, do I trust the organization to leave my kids there for several hours per day? Typically, this is an area that martial arts academies have in their favor. A parent that knows your organization also knows what you represent, so for them the trust is already established. That’s a leg up on the other camp programs that are typically offered throughout the summer timeframe. Parents would need to exercise more trust with an organization they’re not familiar with.Choosing a theme is an important part of camp success. Varying the theme and avoiding repetition is also important as kids like new endeavors. If you’re planning new activities, it is always better to name the camp something different as the tendency is for kids to say, “I’ve already done that.” Most kids will be enticed by the latest popular themes: laser-tag, Minecraft, and recent movies such as Lego, Ninjago, and Star Wars are very popular camp themes. Light sabers lend themselves nicely to padded weapon training or even splurge for the mock sabers and create a darkened environment for some lighted drills. Slime is hugely popular with 7-10 year olds, so making some time for some slime can be a fun draw. There are several slime recipes available, some can even make bouncing balls! So depending on how creative you want to be you can create a martial arts themed slime camp.
Weapon themed camps are popular with any age group. Ideas can include offering a bo staff or wooden bokken for every camper as a take home item. If you have a collection of real swords and weapons, have a sit down presentation where you take each one out and give a historical reference and show how it was held, used etc. Kids who are interested in weapons will listen to every detail. This type of historical background is equally enticing to parents as there is some historical learning taking place. Think of camp themes that play to your strengths.
Make-a-movie camps are getting great feedback. The campers are filmed doing mock battles, and after some simple editing, each camper can download the movie from a provided link. These camps can be advertised as Movie camps or Viking Battles, etc. Campers can take turns filming or being part of the action. Having the campers study a Bruce Lee, Kung Fu Panda scene, or other such Martial Arts related film for inspiration is also a nice tie in.
Additionally, It’s a good idea to add an equal draw for parents into your camp program, such as social skills (developing voice, eye contact, public speaking etc.) or anti- bullying drills that will help feed their child’s mind with valuable life skills. Other ideas include inviting a local guest speaker or grand master for a short demonstration. The idea is to leverage the rich history and tradition of martial arts culture and to bring that forward so that parents will see the academic value in your camp.
During months with conflicting activities, appealing to the athlete in your students can prove to be an attractive camp theme. Offer a “Spring-Training” camp and preach the benefits Martial Arts has on other sports such as building endurance, balance, agility, and equal training of the body. Be sure to share social media posts and gleam information from articles that advocate this. It’s a fact that professional football players, even entire teams, use martial arts as part of their spring training regime. Professional coaches are plugged into how cross training in martial arts is essential for optimal athleticism and strengthening of their teams. Consider providing a soccer-themed Karate camp and emphasize kicking, or other such sport camps that highlight the benefits Martial Arts provides for that sport. For any serious athlete, they cannot afford to miss an opportunity to cross train in Martial Arts.
Lastly, kids feel more comfortable when they know someone in the camp, so advertise some type of incentive. A BOGO, or half-off a second camper’s ticket, can be useful tools. Encourage your students to bring a buddy with them. Not only is it a great way to increase camp attendance, but it’s also a potential opportunity to acquire new students for your regular program.
The greatest success comes from recognizing your student’s needs. Each student population is different, so before anything, identify the camp themes your students are most interested in and would be willing to attend. The goal is that each student walks out of your doors raving to their parents about how much fun they had at your summer camp.
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