As a summer camp director, you are constantly juggling multiple time-consuming tasks—from marketing to activity scheduling to hiring staff. It is a challenging and time-consuming job, but there is a way to make it easier: by using ChatGPT. What is ChatGPT? If you type this exact question into its input box, here is what it will tell you: “ChatGPT is a large language model that can assist you with a wide range of tasks.”
What this means in simpler terms is that it is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate human-like text. There are limitations, of course, and nothing can replace the necessary human touch required for so many camp director responsibilities. Still, you can use ChatGPT to streamline many of your daily tasks. These seven examples (that include prompts you can copy and paste), will leave you with more time and energy to focus on the aspects of your job that can’t be supported by AI.
1. Frequently Asked Questions
Use ChatGPT to automate responses to frequently asked questions from parents and campers. You can ask ChatGPT to generate a list of common questions and answers that parents and campers may have about the camp. Or, if you already have a list of questions, you can paste those in the input box and ask ChatGPT to generate answer text as a starting point for you. This can save time for camp directors and can give you answers based on best practices across the childcare industry.
Prompt: Generate a list of common questions and answers that parents and campers may have about summer camp.
2. Welcome Messages
Camp communications are not one-size-fits-all, and ChatGPT can help you with this challenge. You can generate personalized welcome messages for campers using ChatGPT, based on age, theme, or any other criterion. Welcome language that feels tailored can make campers feel more valued and special, and can also help camp directors build stronger relationships with their campers. ChatGPT can start from scratch, or you can start with bullet points or a single sentence and ask ChatGPT to generate more jovial, friendly versions.
Prompt: Generate a personalized welcome message for a [age/group/interest] camper.
3. Activity Ideas
ChatGPT can be used to generate ideas for interactive activities that are suitable for campers of different ages and interests. If you want to add new activity options to your schedule, you can ask it for ideas for younger campers, indoor activities, or activities that tap into nature. If you’re writing a manual, you can also ask it to generate simple instructions for each activity. If you’re planning year-round activities, you can ask for options that work in specific seasons or in virtual environments.
Prompt: Give me five ideas for interactive activities that are suitable for campers aged [Age] with interests in [Interests].
4. Social Media Posts
Sometimes it can be hard to translate the magic of your camp into a few short sentences. ChatGPT can help you create compelling and engaging text for social media posts, brochures, and website copy. This can help camp directors like you promote your camp and attract new campers. Referrals are also a big part of camp social media. You can paste your camp’s website URL and ask ChatGPT to generate posts that you can then share with families to use on their profiles.
Prompt: Generate text for 5 social media posts based on [URL].
5. Editing Documents
ChatGPT can be used to assist with writing and editing camp-related documents such as handbooks, newsletters, or daily reports. This can save camp directors time and ensure that all documents are written in a consistent voice. If you have a list of bullet points, simply paste them and ask for a summary of a specific length. You can also start from scratch and ask ChatGPT for an outline of a camp handbook to help get started.
Prompt: Assist with editing the following document: [Document Text].
6. Personalized Feedback and Evaluation Reports
ChatGPT can be used to generate personalized feedback and evaluation reports for campers and staff based on input from camp directors. This can help camp directors identify areas for improvement and ensure that all campers and staff are receiving the support they need to succeed at camp. Take the information you have about a camper or staff and ask ChatGPT to generate a report in a specific format.
Prompt: Generate a personalized feedback report based on this input from [counselor/director/etc.]
7. Camp Counselor Job Interviews
By providing ChatGPT with information about the skills and qualifications that are important for a camp counselor, it can generate a list of relevant and targeted interview questions. This can help you to identify the best candidates for the position and ensure that they are asking the right questions during the interview process. It can make sure that the questions are not biased and are not missing any important aspect of the role.
Prompt: Generate a list of interview questions for a camp counselor position, focusing on skills such as problem-solving, leadership, and experience working with children of different ages.
Virtual Assistance
ChatGPT can be a valuable tool to add to the mix for summer camp directors looking to increase productivity and efficiency. It can’t do everything for you (it can’t get you more sleep or fewer mosquito bites), but it can help with specific tasks. The time saved allows you to focus on creating the best possible experience for your campers, customers, and staff.
One important note: However you use ChatGPT, make sure to have a human review of all the generated content. While it can certainly generate human-like responses, it’s not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. With the time you save, you will have plenty of room in your schedule to make sure that the content is factually correct and does not contain any references that don’t make sense in context. The only question left is what will you ask ChatGPT first?