Camp Carey Scalability

Camp Carey is an annual freshman orientation program that takes place before the beginning of the semester in late July and early August. As the incoming W. P. Carey classes continue to grow each year, so to does the size of Camp. Beginning this project, we looked at potential that we could directly impact the quality of the camp experience, and ensure that Camp remains a memorable and quality experience for all involved. Camp is directed and facilitated every year by W. P. Carey staff members and a group upperclassmen, the camp directors and facilitators. Due to the direct impact that these upperclassmen have on the camp experience, we decided to focus our attention on improving the training provided to these individuals, and to emphasize a process of continuous data collection and improvement. The director training is broken into three modules that focus on risk management, facilitator selection, and facilitator training. Each of the seven exercises in the director training is based on a tool or practice used by modern companies in project management and human resources management. They were designed with three goals in mind: to immediately increase the directors' level of preparedness for Camp, to produce a written record to be used by directors in subsequent Camp seasons, and to provide directors with an introductory level of experience with concepts and tools that will benefit them in their professional careers. The facilitator training portion centers around the creation of a 1 credit, repeatable hybrid course to both reward facilitators, train them in proper conduct and materials for camp, as well as collect valuable feedback from the facilitators. The creation of a larger spring training session, designed to prepare the facilitators for activity facilitation, emergency preparedness, and representing W. P. Carey and ASU, and the implementation of a summer review training session are designed to prepare facilitators to lead the best camp possible. Further, the essays and surveys involved in the class are set up to gather valuable information and feedback from the facilitators for further improving the program year-over-year.