Episode Details

Word-of-mouth has always been one of the strongest drivers of camp growth, but for many camps, it's still an informal process that's impossible to measure or improve.

Peter Elbaum, owner of Camp Tree and Operations Director at Greystone Camp, shares how camps can turn referrals into a repeatable growth system. Drawing from both his camp leadership experience and software engineering background, Peter explains why great systems free camp staff to focus on relationships instead of repetitive administrative work.

Mark and Carl also discuss why referrals consistently outperform many other marketing channels, how camps can reward families and staff without creating unnecessary complexity, and why measuring referral performance is essential for long-term growth. Peter shares practical examples from more than 100 camps using Camp Tree, including how one camp achieved a 15x return on investment by replacing guesswork with measurable referral tracking.

Keywords

camp referrals, referral marketing, Camp Tree, camper enrollment, staff recruitment, camp growth, word of mouth marketing, CampMinder integration, ambassador programs, camp operations, camp software, summer camp marketing

Sound Bites

"Camp needs to be referable."

“Often at camp, it seems like the default is to work harder and not necessarily smarter."

"You can't manage what you don't measure."

Hosts

Mark P. Fisher, Inspiring Growth

Carl Lefever, Improve & Grow

Guest

Peter Elbaum, Camp Tree

Chapters

00:03 Introduction and Setting the Scene
00:30 The Power of Camp Ministry
01:00 Building Relationships Through Camp Experiences
02:09 Marketing Insights: The Importance of Retargeting
05:43 Introducing Peter Elbaum and Camp Tree
07:49 Peter's Journey: From Camp to Tech
10:33 The Impact of Software Engineering on Camp Operations
12:15 Identifying Challenges in Camp Management
15:59 Acquiring Camp Tree: A New Chapter
18:16 The Value of Camp Tree for Camps
20:46 Referral Programs: What Works?
24:24 Success Stories: Measuring ROI with Camp Tree
26:51 Special Offer and Closing Thoughts

Resources

• Camp Tree — https://camptree.org
• Promo Code: GYC26 for $150 off your first year of Camp Tree
• Camp Operations Newsletter — https://campoperations.com

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 >

If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: PBVNSIQCRJAN17OM