Category Archives: Camping

Camping

Online Camp Registration Forms – 5 Key Features to Look For When Choosing a Provider

If you’re still using paper registration forms for your campers, it may be time to consider online camp registration forms to increase efficiencies, improve organization, and alleviate manual, paper-based processes. Online camp registration forms empower your customers to complete the registration process when and where it’s most convenient for them. Your registrants receive an automatic confirmation email as an electronic record of their transaction and you receive a registration in your database without having to spend a second on data entry.

As you look to add online registration for your organization, be sure to look for five key software features that should be offered by your online transaction provider:

  1. Invite a Friend Marketing Tools. Peer-to-Peer marketing is cheap and extremely effective. Make sure your online registration provider has the ability to allow your registrants to “Invite a Friend” during the registration process. The tool should automatically send a personalized email to the invitee notifying them that the Inviter has registered for your camp programs and is sending this personal invite to join in the fun. The email invite should always include a link directly to the registration form to make it easy and compelling for the invitee to sign-up right then and there.
  2. Customizable Camp Registration Forms. Look for a provider that offers customizable registration forms to match the look and feel of your camp’s website. Your camp registration form should be readily available on your website, so consistent branding is important. Also look for a provider with an unlimited number of online camp forms for everything from camp registrations and staff applications to volunteer background checks, surveys and more. Collect and manage each of your customized forms in a single camp management system to streamline administration.
  3. Customized Automatic Confirmation Emails. Provide customers a sense of security and reliability with automatic confirmation email receipts. Once a camper is registered, make sure your camp software system will automatically and immediately generate a confirmation receipt to be sent to the registrant including all of the registration and bring-list information that you would normally include in a confirmation packet. This tool is important for registrants to feel comfortable that their registration was successfully processed and for you to save time and money on printing and mailing.
  4. Integration. Expect seamless integration of your registration forms with your camp management software. Once a camper is registered via the online form, make sure your software system will automatically update your database to reflect the new registration and payment. Online camp registration forms should never need to be re-entered manually to update your software system.
  5. Editing Tools. Look for a provider with powerful tools that allow you to make changes to the site and camp registration forms online using your own simple editing tools. The ability to make changes on your own will save you significant time and money, as you won’t have to outsource a website expert to make ongoing updates.

A professional, online camp registration form will increase camp efficiencies, reduce heavy staff workloads, increase registrations and improve your customer service capabilities. But before you outsource an online camp registration provider, make sure you have access to these top five features to make the online registration process faster, easier and more convenient than ever for your campers.

Camping

The Ultimate Camping Supply Checklist Guide – What Makes a Good Camping Tent?

Some folks who have never been to a camping trip before somehow have this idea of camping similar to living on a Survivor-island television show. Well, there are certain similarities of course, if you take out the million dollar prize money.

But seriously, a camping trip need not mean that you have to live in harsh conditions just to experience and enjoy the beauty in nature. Some people prefer to live in comfort even in the wilderness and that is where a good camping tent makes all the difference.

So what makes a good camping tent? One that makes you feel that you are truly living in the outdoors, and the same time not making you feel like a contestant in Survivor? Below are some general guidelines on what makes a good camping tent, and make sure to include them in your camping supply checklist!

1. Size Does Matters –

A good camping tent by any measure is one that is spacious enough for any and all of your camping needs. By spacious of course, we mean one with lots of leg and elbow room for all your fellow campers to sleep comfortably without hitting one another in the face. A good camping tent is also one with a comfortable standing height, otherwise how are you going to change your pants easily?

2. Easy to Assemble –

Why bother with complicated camping tents that need few pages of manual to set up when a good one can be assembled within minutes? Although you do have the luxury of time in these camping trips, you also need to minimize the time setting up your tents. Find one that comes with a detailed set of instructions and ask for a demonstration if you need to before buying. Make sure it can be set up in approximately 20 minutes.

3. The Less Accessories, the Better –

Some camping tents come with so many parts and accessories that if you happen to lose one of them, chances are your tent will end up looking like some deflated air balloon. And knowing that there is a good possibility that things get lost easily outdoors, try to choose a camping tent that comes with less accessories. Of course, the essential ones like tent poles, tent lines and bolts are necessary to hold your tent in place.

4. Durability –

You should think about choosing a tent that can withstand different types of weather conditions. Take your time in choosing one that you can afford and one that you will enjoy living in. Inspect the seams for extra reinforcements. Look out for tents with breathable nylon walls. Aluminum poles are lightweight and strong.

5. Roomy and Comfortable –

A good camping tent by any means is one with large, airy windows and moon roofs that can allow good air circulation, at the same time keeping you warm at night. Tents with proper ventilation mechanics also help to add the comfort while playing cards and telling ghost stories at night. More importantly, a good camping tent is one that makes the camping trip more memorable and enjoyable for everyone!