Campy Hour

About Campy Hour

Campy Hour is a conversational podcast for leaders in summer camps and auxiliary programs. It captures the best part of professional conferences: the candid conversations that happen after the sessions end, when people gather to share stories, talk shop, and reflect on the work behind memorable programs. Each episode shines a spotlight on the people behind standout camps and youth programs. Guests share how they found their way into this work, the ideas shaping their programs, and the experiences that create unforgettable moments for campers, staff, and families. By highlighting the leaders behind these programs, Campy Hour helps introduce listeners to others in the field and strengthen connections across the camp and auxiliary programs community.

Publisher

Make It Campy

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Apr 2026

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Episode 21: Lauren Henry & Shane Tang (The James Agency)

   On this episode, Shane Tang (Chief Creative Officer) and Lauren Henry (Art Director) of The James Agency join Michael for a deep dive into what makes a brand memorable. The James Agency (a Scottsdale-based integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations firm) has helped shape and evolve brands across hospitality and beyond, including a longtime partnership with Hotel Valley Ho. Shane and Lauren unpack why branding is so much bigger than a logo, how story and experience work together, and why the smallest details can have an outsized impact on how people feel about a brand. The conversation explores brand activations, emotional reactions, consistency versus surprise, the courage to stand out, and the importance of creating experiences people want to remember, share, and even take home with them. There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at the work surrounding Hotel Valley Ho, from major campaigns and website design to key cards, signage, and other guest touchpoints. This episode also serves as a companion to "The Valley Ho Vibe: Designing Energy, Identity, and Connection at Camp," the 2026 SPARC National Conference deep dive session presented by Katie Peterson and Michael Carmody. For anyone interested in making a camp brand more intentional, more distinctive, and more memorable, this episode is for you! Cheers!

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Episode 20: Sophie Paris

   Sophie Paris, Director of Auxiliary Programs and Porter’s Center for Global Leadership at Miss Porter’s School, joins Michael and Katie to share the winding path that took her from packing up a car and heading west to photographing world leaders and conflict zones, teaching photography, building global education programs, and eventually finding her way into the world of auxiliary programs. We dig into the culture of belonging that makes Porter’s special, Sophie’s vision for creating a summer journey from kindergarten through adulthood, the evolution of Camp Ivy, and the launch of Camp 1843, a camp experience designed to bring Porter’s “Ancients” (alumnae) back home. We also chat about competitive streaks, very specific coffee orders, road-trip Combos, the proper way to eat a bag of Skittles, and what Sophie would tell her younger self when she was loading the car to move out west. There’s an incredible level of care, commitment, and follow-through in everything Sophie and her team do. They don’t just come up with big ideas; they put in the work to make them real, keep pushing to make them better, and stay relentlessly focused on creating something meaningful for the families they serve. If you are part of an auxiliary programs department, the team at Porter’s is one to pay attention to (and to emulate!). Cheers!

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Episode 19: Bob Rojee

   On this week's episode of Campy Hour, Michael and Katie are joined by Bob Rojee, Senior Advisor at SPARC and longtime leader in camps, auxiliary programs, and independent schools. Bob reflects on his first summer in more than three decades without directly running a program and takes us inside his work helping build the summer program at St. Mark’s School. We talk about creating energy in a growing camp, making smart early investments, and why the right people matter more than just about anything else. We also dig into staff culture, including why Bob believes it starts during the hiring process, what he would prioritize if he had only three hours to train a staff, and why morale isn't something you can fix with donuts in Week Six. Later, we take a deep dive into the upcoming SPARC National Conference, including what makes the experience feel so different from a traditional conference, why the community around it is so special, and Bob’s advice for getting the most out of your time in Scottsdale: jump in the puddle, get outside your comfort zone, and engage, engage, engage. In our "Off The Clock" segment, we talk about Bob’s ideal fall Saturday, life as “Grand Bob,” his love of Disney, which Disney characters are best suited for camp and auxiliary roles, and the very important Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks debate. Bob is a true titan of the auxiliary and camp world, and this conversation is a great reminder of why: decades of experience, a sharp eye for what makes programs work, and an enduring passion for the people at the center of it all. Cheers!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings