Preparing for Summer: The Ultimate Checklist for Training Seasonal Staff
Summer is just around the corner—and if you're leading a youth development program, that likely means one thing: seasonal staff are coming. Whether they’re brand-new counselors, returning rockstars, or young leaders stepping into their first supervisory role, they’re looking to you to set the tone, guide the way, and give them the tools to succeed.
And let’s be honest—you’re probably also trying to order t-shirts, finalize field trips, and figure out how the pool filter works (again). That’s why it’s critical to have a clear and intentional plan for training seasonal staff that actually works. One that builds community, teaches practical skills, and most importantly—prepares your staff to lead with empathy, confidence, and flexibility.
Why Training Isn't Just a Checkbox
Too often, summer staff training turns into a checklist itself: a whirlwind of policies, lunch schedules, and maybe a dodgeball game if you’re lucky. But if you want your team to truly thrive this summer, training needs to be more than a box to check. It needs to be:
Relational – focused on building trust and community
Reflective – allowing staff to explore their own leadership identity
Realistic – giving them tools they’ll actually use on day one
As someone who’s worked in youth development for over 30 years, I can tell you—when staff feel seen, supported, and prepared, everything else falls into place. That’s why I’ve built out a full catalog of staff training guides you can plug right into your schedule—no late-night lesson planning required.
Let’s walk through the ultimate checklist for seasonal staff training—along with a few tools you can grab to make it easier.
Step 1: Welcome with Intention: The way you start sets the tone for the summer. Use day one to connect first, not correct first.
Introduce the mission and heart behind your program
Share personal stories of impact—why you’re here, and why they matter
Include staff-led icebreakers and community-building games (Check out the 30 Icebreakers in 30 Minutes guide for plug-and-play fun!)
Action Item: Kick off with your leadership team modeling vulnerability and energy. Show your staff what it means to be child-like, not childish—a mindset that fuels positive, authentic engagement with youth.
Step 2: Build Skills That Stick
Don’t just tell staff what to do—teach them how to do it. And more importantly, explain why it matters.
Give staff scenarios to practice camper behavior redirection (see Redirecting Behavior, Not Punishing It)
Practice team challenges to develop group management confidence
Train staff to identify camper emotions and social cues (from Camper Body Language 101)
Action Item: Introduce staff to real-life situations using scenario cards. When they can walk through a de-escalation moment or lead a team challenge in a safe space, they’re far more likely to feel calm and capable when it’s the real deal.
Step 3: Lead Through Empathy
Every staff member you train is a person first. They’re bringing their own nerves, goals, and stories to the table. When you lead with empathy, you unlock their potential.
Create space in training for staff to share their fears and hopes for the summer
Remind your team that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness
Acknowledge that tough days happen—and train them on what to do when they do (Our Power of Positivity guide is a great tool here)
Action Item: Start a tradition during training: end each day with a “rose, thorn, and bud” reflection. Let your staff reflect out loud or journal. It’s a simple but powerful way to encourage self-awareness and create a culture of growth.
Step 4: Prep for the Unexpected
Rainy days. Homesick campers. A missing bus driver. They’re coming. But when your team knows how to pivot, you won’t miss a beat.
Use our Rainy Day Hero Training to prepare staff with ready-to-go indoor activities
Practice managing peer conflict and knowing when to escalate concerns (The Conflict on Your Team guide includes a supervisor log and 10 practice scenarios)
Roleplay emergency situations like a lost camper or allergic reaction—because this kind of calm only comes from practice
Action Item: Build your own “Camp Contingency Binder” with key plans, contact sheets, and activity backups. Assign your leadership team to contribute to it and keep it updated weekly.
Here’s the thing: you don’t need to reinvent every training. You just need to deliver it with care. That’s why I’ve created a whole library of downloadable, affordable training guides, all grounded in real-world experience and built for youth professionals like you.
Visit the Youth Development Pro Training Guides page to find:
Lesson plans to teach yourself or hand off to leadership
Printable worksheets, reflection tools, and scenario cards
Topics like empathy, safety, teamwork, inclusion, leadership, and more