How to Handle Staff Burnout Before It Starts

Set your counselors up for success—with energy that lasts all summer.

☀️ Summer camp is a blast—but also a grind.

Long days, emotional campers, and near-constant supervision can take a toll on even your most dedicated team members. Burnout doesn’t always show up as drama—it can look like disengagement, low energy, or counselors quietly counting the days until it’s over.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

With a few simple strategies, you can build a camp culture that supports your staff’s well-being and keeps them energized through the final campfire.

🔍 Spot the Signs Early

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. Watch for subtle shifts like:

• Counselors pulling back from team interactions

• Snappy or flat-toned responses

• Forgetting routines or camper details

• More frequent breaks (or skipping them altogether)

Tip: Have your leadership team do casual weekly check-ins to keep a pulse on how each staff member is doing—before it becomes a problem.

✅ Set Clear (and Realistic) Expectations

Some burnout stems from uncertainty or feeling like they’re failing.

During onboarding:

• Be upfront about the long days and emotional load

• Provide realistic examples of what a "hard day" might look like

• Offer a list of team support tools and who to go to for help

When people know what to expect, they’re less likely to feel overwhelmed when challenges arise.

🧠 Build in Breaks—Real Ones

If breaks only exist “when there’s time,” they don’t really exist.

Schedule:

• Rotating counselor coverage so each person gets real downtime

• A quiet zone for staff (even if it’s a picnic table behind the shed!)

• A mid-session recharge day with minimal programming and longer rest windows

Protecting rest time helps counselors reset—and makes them more present with campers.

🎯 Empower, Don’t Micromanage

Burnout often comes from feeling powerless. Give your team a sense of ownership by:

• Letting them design small camper activities

• Asking for input during team huddles

• Assigning rotating leadership roles (snack lead, transition captain, etc.)

The more trusted they feel, the more invested they’ll be.

🌟 Celebrate the Small Wins

A quick high-five, a “Great job today,” or a surprise snack can do wonders for morale. Set up:

• A “shout-out” board in the staff area

• Weekly recognition moments during team meetings

• Surprise treats or “counselor of the week” tokens

It doesn’t have to be big—it just has to be consistent.

✉️ Communication Is Everything

Make it clear that your door is open. When a counselor is struggling, being able to talk about it early can make all the difference.

A trusted director who checks in with empathy—not judgment—is one of the best burnout preventers out there.

🧭 Final Thought

When you take care of your team, they take better care of your campers. A well-supported staff doesn't just survive the summer—they help create the kind of experience kids (and parents) talk about for years.