Behind the Scenes: How Camps Prepare for a New Summer Season

When families think about summer camp, they picture the laughter, the friendships, the adventures and the magic that happens once campers arrive. What they don’t often see is everything that unfolds long before opening day. At a small, heartfelt place like Camp Oh-Neh-Tah, the planning starts quietly and months in advance, long before the first bag gets packed.

Here’s a look behind the curtain at how a new camp season begins to take shape.

It starts with listening

The first step in summer camp planning is simple: listen. We go through parent feedback, camper comments, staff notes, and program reflections. Not with a corporate lens, but with the same care we give to the girls themselves. What worked beautifully? What could feel even better? Where did we see confidence bloom — and how do we create more of those moments?

These conversations help us map out changes, improvements, and new ideas for the year ahead.

Programs get a refresh

Each winter, our team updates activities with the goal of keeping camp familiar but exciting. Sometimes that means adding a new program, expanding a beloved club, or folding in youth development elements that help girls build leadership skills without feeling like they’re in a classroom.

We also look at the flow of the week. Are swim groups balanced? Are there enough activity options for every personality — the bold, the quiet, the artsy, the outdoorsy? Program planning is where we shape the heartbeat of the upcoming season.

Staff training begins long before staff arrive

Behind-the-scenes camp prep means training isn’t a single week in July. It’s an ongoing process. We review safety protocols, evaluate which certifications are needed, revisit our approach to conflict resolution and inclusion, and ensure every counselor feels ready to support girls emotionally as well as physically.

The counselors are the core of overnight camp life, and thoughtful preparation now means smoother days later.

Cabins and facilities get their own makeover

Camp isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling. And that feeling starts with the spaces girls call home. Before summer begins, we walk through cabins, check bunks and screens, update equipment, and fix anything that needs attention. Sometimes improvements are small; sometimes they’re big. All of it feeds into making camp inviting, safe, and ready for long days of sunshine, laughter, and muddy sneakers.

Our dining hall, waterfront, trails, and fields get the same love. Every corner plays a part in building an environment where girls feel free to learn, explore, and unwind.

New ideas get tested — sometimes literally

One of the joys of being a small overnight camp in the Catskills is that there’s room to try things. Maybe it’s a fresh evening activity. Maybe it’s a different way to structure cabin time. Maybe it’s a brand-new club. Ideas don’t just get written down — they get tested, debated, and shaped until they feel like they belong at Camp Oh-Neh-Tah.

This creative process keeps camp evolving while holding onto the traditions everyone cherishes.

Why we plan early

Our tentative dates for 2026 — July 31 to August 8 — are already set. That may sound early, but planning ahead lets us fine-tune scheduling, secure staff, develop programs, and build the calm, intentional structure that makes camp feel so effortless once girls arrive.

The truth is: the smoother the preparation, the more meaningful the camp experience becomes for every camper.

The work now becomes the magic later

Behind every Polar Bear Swim, every cabin chat, every hike around the lake, and every star-filled night on the big field is a team working months in advance to make sure the experience feels seamless. Summer may be short, but the groundwork stretches far beyond those eventful days.

And that’s how a small camp creates something big: connection, confidence, and a place girls can return to year after year.