In this episode Mark shares a quick tip about rebooking—the most affordable and often overlooked path to growth. He explains why camps should aim for 60–80% rebooking, how it reflects guest experience, and why low rebooking points to a systems problem, not demand. He also outlines practical steps: know your numbers, pursue rebookings immediately, and protect dates.

Carl then interviews Kathi and Bob Terrell, who share how Emanuel Pines Camp grew from roughly $900,000 to over $2 million in a few years. Their story begins with a plateau—limited growth, aging facilities, and reactive leadership—until they chose to pursue growth intentionally and bring in outside perspective.

The biggest changes weren’t just marketing. They clarified positioning, improved first impressions, and focused on attracting the right audience. At the same time, they invested in their team with systems like the “I See You” recognition program and mission-driven onboarding to reinforce culture daily.

They also introduced tools like the “Peace Card” to train staff in customer service and ensure every guest interaction reflects their mission. Along with ongoing facility improvements and a focus on removing distractions, these changes strengthened experience and loyalty.

As demand increased, they adapted by adding staff, clarifying roles, and implementing virtual sales to improve responsiveness and conversion. The result was not just revenue growth, but stronger rebooking, healthier culture, and a more sustainable operation.

Keywords
camp marketing strategy, rebooking systems, guest experience, team culture, retreat center growth, virtual sales, camp leadership, first impressions, staff development

Sound Bites

• “If you’re below 50% rebooking, something is broken.”
• “We started looking at camp through someone else’s eyes.”
• “We just became more intentional about everything.”
• “Nothing is more important than attending to guest needs.”

Hosts

Mark P. Fisher, Inspiring Growth
Carl Lefever, Improve & Grow

Guests

Kathi Terrell & Bob Terrell, Emmanuel Pines Camp

Chapters
00:00 Episode Welcome
00:45 Quick Camp Marketing Tip: Rebooking
07:36 Bob and Kathy's Camp Journey
13:15 Understanding Emanuel Pines Camp
15:42 Challenges and Growth at Emanuel Pines
23:26 Key Changes Leading to Growth
23:56 Understanding Purposeful Growth Strategies
25:45 Cultivating Team Relationships and Culture
28:00 Mission-Driven Orientation and Guest Experience
30:20 The Peace Card: Enhancing Customer Service
35:24 Navigating Marriage and Leadership
40:20 Virtual Sales: A New Approach to Growth
46:30 Sustaining Marriage and Leadership in Camp Management
51:41 Podcast Intro Animation 16x9.mp4

Have a question you'd like us to cover?

Click here to record your question >

If this episode was helpful:

• Follow / subscribe to the podcast
• Share it with another camp leader who could benefit

Want Help Growing Your Camp?

• Schedule a Chat with Mark >
• Schedule a Chat with Carl >