NE Interviewing with Intention, Part 1: Winterviews That Matter
Virtual - Zoom
Tuesday, December 09, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Eastern Standard Time
Winterviews That Matter: Turning Returning Staff Check-Ins into Real Leadership Conversations
Every camp has them - those quick, casual “returner interviews” that happen over coffee, a phone call, or in between school and finals week. Too often, these meetings feel like a rubber-stamp ritual: “You coming back?” “Great, see you in June.” But what if those conversations could be one of the most powerful tools you have for shaping next summer’s staff team?
In this session, we’ll flip the script on the returning-staff interview. Participants will learn how to make these discussions both meaningful for the employee and useful for the camp. The goal isn’t just retention - it’s growth. We’ll explore how intentional questions can help identify who’s ready for a bigger role, who might shine as a unit lead or pre-camp trainer, and who needs additional coaching or redirection before stepping into new responsibility.
We’ll discuss strategies for:
• Asking questions that go beyond “Are you coming back?” to uncover motivation, self-awareness, and hidden leadership potential.
• Using the returning interview to co-create professional goals for the upcoming season.
• Spotting patterns — both positive and concerning — from a returning staff member’s previous performance.
• Giving constructive feedback during re-hire conversations without killing enthusiasm.
• Inviting returning staff to play a role in pre-camp orientation or peer mentoring, turning “veterans” into teachers.
Directors will walk away with sample questions and frameworks to help evaluate staff not just for rehire, but for leadership readiness. These interviews can also serve as a form of recognition — a way to signal that staff are valued, heard, and growing. When returning staff feel seen and challenged, they don’t just come back - they come back better. And your leadership bandwidth expands before summer even begins
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Information on Part 2 can be found here.
Registration is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another member of your organization prior to the event. Registration is based on individual member status.