The Sherry Group Podcast

Sherry Group members Drew Demery, David Sherry and Glenn Svetnicka discuss why staff training is so important to get right, what to included in this orientation time and how to go about teaching skills, culture, belonging and confidence to your young staff members.

Drew Demery and David Sherry of The Sherry Group LLC share insights into what was learned and shared during this series with Summer Camp Professionals and their successful Leadership Development Programs.

Anna Mitchell and Jerod Briscoe of Heartland Camps speak with Sherry Group hosts Drew Demery and David Sherry about their year-long Cornerstone Program that bridges the gap from summer staff to youth ministry professional.

David Sherry and Drew Demery of the Sherry Group interview Jason Smith and Olivia Hultman of YMCA Camp Kitaki about their successful year-round teen leadership program. This revered program is one of the highest quality in America. Listen to hear what makes this program so unique and meaningful.

Drew Demery and David Sherry of the Sherry Group LLC interview Camp Eage Ridge's owner Kelly Rossebo about her CIT and Junior Counselor programs. They disuss the program's successes, challenges and 30 year evolution.

Sherry Group members Drew Demery and David Sherry interview YMCA Camp Wapsie directors Paul Denowski and Hannah O'Toole about their highly successful teen leadership development program. The conversation covers program design, implementation and many useful insights into how to manage an LIT/CIT program.

In this espisode, Sherry Group members Drew Demery and David Sherry discuss the importance of establishing a teen leadership development program at summer camp as well as how to go about designing and implementing that program.

In this episode of The Sherry Group Podcast, Drew Demery and David Sherry discuss useful summer staff onboarding and training information for Camp Directors.

Camp facilities and grounds are constantly needing repairs, reimaging and reinvigorating. Join Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry as they discuss site development and multitude of intentional steps Camp Directors can take to make their own camp safer, more inviting and better reflect their mission and values.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry speak with Camp Tecumseh YMCA CEO, Joel Sieplinga about their site development, intentional building techniques and how involving key stakeholders in the design process had aided their success in recent years.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry speak with Landscape Architect, Tom Neppl about the nuances of site planning and development.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry interview Camp Director, Sean Gundersen about site rentals and partnerships. Sean speaks about relationship building being crucial when multiple stakeholders are involved with operating summer camp.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry speak with arborist, Corey Vansickle about tree care at summer camp.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry interview Camp Director/Owner, Kelly Rossebo about her process buying a camp then renovating it over the past 28 years.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry speak with architect, Adam Aalgaard about the nuances of site planning and development.

Summer Camp is full of significant moments and experiences. Join Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry as they speak with Jordy Brown about two of his favorite summer camp moments.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry hear from Robyn Ratcliff about a couple cool camp experiences she's had as a Camp Director.

Sherry Group member, Drew Demery shares a meaningful camp tradition and story from his own camping career that has made a lasting impact. 

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry hear from Scott Brosman about a very impactful experience he had with a young camper.

Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry chat with Jeanne Muellerleile about one hilarious experience she had with a unique camper and another heartwarming story where she made a lasting impact on a successful young professional.

Summer Camp is full of significant moments and experiences. Join Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry as they speak with Travis Allison about a meaningful moment from his own camping career.

Drew Demery and David Sherry sit down with Julia Mannes, Camp Director for Camp Tanglefoot, a Girl Scout camp in northern Iowa. Julia shares some great insight into the challenges and successes of working and living year-round at camp.

Drew and David chat with Jami Biodrowski, Camp Director with the Easterseals of Nebraska to discuss her personal and professional journey as she transitioned from a full-time salaried employee to hourly, all the while maintaining the same workload and position but significantly different hours.

Episode 4 of Leading Through Adversity sees hosts Drew Demery and David Sherry sit down with Hanna O’Toole of YMCA Camp Algonquin to discuss the journey that many first time Camp Directors go through when they begin employment at a camp brand new to them.

In episode 3 of our Leading Through Adversity Series, Drew and David sit down with BJ Murray of Camp Wood YMCA to discuss staff accountability and how to go about having difficult conversations surrounding employee performance.

In Episode 2 of our Leading Through Adversity Series, Drew and David sit down with Russ Link of Camp Olson YMCA to discuss the finer points of conservations easements and how his camp has benefited financially from these endeavors.

In this first full-length episode of "Leading Through Adversity", Sherry Group members Drew Demery and David Sherry, speak with Jason Smith of YMCA Camp Kitaki. He shares insight into intentionally creating meaningful challenges and difficulties at camp, while also offering tips for setting staff limits and creating a respectful camp culture.

Sherry Group members David Sherry and Drew Demery introduce the next series of "The Sherry Group Podcast". This next series is called "Leading Through Adversity" and listeners can expect to hear common summer camp challenges that Directors face and how experienced Directors have lead their organizations through them to positive outcomes.

Co-hosts Drew Demery and David Sherry, share what they learned from guests and their own personal insights from this challenging year. They discuss commonalities and differences as well as what kind of hope there is for the summer camping industry in the years to come.

In this episode, YMCA Camp Greenville Executive Director, Cory Harrison tells us about how his team was able to pull off a safe summer of camping with 1,500 children in the time of COVID-19. Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry ask Cory about his involvement with the CDC, American Camping Association and YMCA and how this involvement ultimately led his camp to being able to offer a safe, meaningful experience.

The guys from, the "Summer Camp Programming Podcast" join us for an insightful look into what they experienced and learned this year. Hosted by The Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry. To learn more about the Summer Camp Programming Podcast visit: https://www.summercamppro.com/scp-pod/.

Ricky Wright provides a candid and optimistic outlook on cancelling summer camp this year and all the challenges that have come with managing a historic YMCA camp in the time of COVID-19. Sherry Group members, Drew Demery and David Sherry, co-host.

A conversation with Ryan Graden and The Sherry Group LLC about Camping Operations in the time of COVID-19.

In this first episode of "Summer Camp and COVID-19" hosts Drew Demery and David Sherry interview long time Camp Director, Abbie Parker about her experiences this year.