“Making Care Contagious” is the mission of Andy’s youth leadership and camps programs. Combining motivational comedy, powerful stories, pep rally energy, and insights for classroom, summer staff & leadership success, Andy will make an IMPACT at your staff training! 

Andy specializes in camps & recreation presentations due to his 28 years as a professional leadership speaker for youth ages 6 to 25. He spends the school year speaking at elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the continent. He knows your campers … he knows the staff that you hire!​

Andy’s IMPACT presentations are ideal for recreation, camp and aquatics leaders' training, mid-summer camp staff motivation, "thank you events" at summer's end, conferences for professionals in recreation and camp programs, and colleges that offer recreational leadership courses.
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"Andy's presentation was a great way to start off our Pre-camp training for our staff. He has the ability to make people laugh to the point of tears, and think about their approach to their jobs and their lives in an entirely new fashion. This makes Andy a unique speaker who we were lucky to have spoken with our group. The lessons Andy passed onto us, from Recess Attitude to Making Care Contagious, will be carried through our summer experience."
Kim Janssen, Head Counselor, Woodeden Camp with the Easter Seals, London, Ontario
Andy’s presentations are flexible from 45 to 120 minutes in length, based on your needs. His programs can be used in keynote or workshop settings. In a phone meeting he will discuss your training needs and match his presentations with your goals. Many camps and recreation departments pick a mix of two of these options to be used across a 2 to 3 hour presentation.​

Andy’s IMPACT presentations are based on his experiences as a camp owner and counselor, as a speaker traveling North America, as a parent to two daughters who attend camps, and as a successful entrepreneur in the field of leadership and personal development.

Andy’s specific experiences owning and operating a youth leadership camp gives him excellent background for these sessions. Andy’s camp, Youth Leadership Camps Canada (YLCC), was based in the London area from 1993 to 2003. YLCC is an Ontario Camping Association (OCA) accredited program and he was a camp co-director for 4 years. YLCC continues to this day in Orillia, Ontario under the direction of Stu Saunders at www.ylcc.com. Andy knows the challenges of hiring staff, training staff, maintaining morale and focus during camp, and improving on the programs they delivered. Camp was a large part of his life!

In addition, Andy helped run orientation week for 3 years at King’s University College at Western University in London, Ontario. As the Coordinator in 1992, he managed a staff of 80, oversaw a week of programs for 600 first year students, and managed a budget of $50,000. 

All programs feature icebreakers, songs, cheers and games to keep your staff enthusiastic and interested. Andy will teach your leaders some new activities that they can use at your camp!
"share your care” – The Impact of Recreation Staff
We have all seen it when we are in a leadership role ... someone gives us the "look" of disapproval and we feel our enthusiasm for leadership fade a little. In this hilarious and life-changing keynote, Andy gives you effective strategies on dealing with negativity while inspiring care.  Andy reminds leaders that, "Care is contagious, but as a leader, it has to start with ME!"  From his own school, camp and community leadership experiences, he offers realistic, easy-to-implement insights that will motivate you and your team! 

This high-energy and IMPACTFUL session includes training on:
  • creating an inviting and inclusive camp - greeting, learning names, approaching campers and parents, conversation starters, the Disney 15/5 rule.
  • being proactive - getting your job done without being reminded.
  • letting “recess handle your stress” – staying calm, having fun, getting it solved, moving on.
  • leading icebreakers and energizers - training your team on some of the best!
  • inviting, including, and having the courage to initiate.
Andy’s presentations will keep your staff active with a mix of cheers, icebreakers and group games. He does this while inspiring them with skills to improve the impact of your programs and increase the participation and retention of your youth clients.​

Andy’s keynote presentation runs 45 to 120 minutes in length, based on your needs.
"I wanted to pass on to you some of the comments that we received from our training evaluations from the staff: 
Question:    Tell us which session was most effective?
Answers:  Andy's session - because it made me realize that camp is supposed to be fun!
The motivational speaker got us pumped and excited for work in a fun way!
Andy made us laugh and play - which we will take with us to camp!
Andy made me realize what a role model I am for campers. 
Question:    What was your favourite part of training week? 
Answer:        75% indicated that it was "Andy"!"
Janet Davidson, Coordinator, Community Programs, Town of Milton, Ontario 
"CAN I COUNT ON YOU?" - BUILDING YOUR RELIABILITY ​​
Execution of ideas is the number one challenge for leaders. This session will immediately improve the ability of your recreation staff to work together, improve their organization and time management skills, and teach them how to execute ideas into action and activities! With all students, part-time staff and professionals balancing their time between school, family and work commitments, this program can transform how you and your team organizes their priorities!
This session addresses the concepts of time management from a unique perspective. Trust is the foundation for loving families, fun friendships, inspiring camps, successful businesses, impressive customer service and effective leaders. Yet people earn the trust of another by being reliable. In “Can I Count You”, Andy offers useful and immediately applicable advice for improving reliability. Through his insights, Andy demonstrates how increased reliability improves one's time management, creates successful camps, prepares campers and staff for success in school and the workplace, and inspires TRUST in you as a leader!

Reliable staff impress parents! Impressed parents send their children BACK to our programs!
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Workshop format is completely flexible.  Andy can perform a 30 to 60-minute version as part of a workshop rotation or do a 2 to 4-hour version which includes increased interaction, a question/answer sheet, and more icebreaker games. 
For example, in 2015, the City of Brampton Parks & Recreation hired Andy to do a full day version of this program. The day started with keynote for over 600 staff for an hour, introducing half of the concepts of the session. Then Andy performed 5 workshops with smaller groups where he concluded with the second half of the program.
“COMMUNICATING CARE TO KIDS!” - COMMUNICATION SKILLS ​
Get "excited" about your next speaking opportunity! This session draws on Andy’s over 35 years of speaking experience: ranging from high school pep rallies and university orientation weeks to thousands of assemblies, camps and adult programs across North America. He offers realistic insights on:
  • overcoming the “fear” (and how it is linked to self-esteem),
  • putting more "you" into all your communication,
  • using the power of the positive,
  • visualizing your improved speaking performances.
Andy’s ideas are applicable whether you're communicating with one person or one thousand.

With Camp and Recreation staff, Andy focuses on the words and body language that communicate care and concern for the children in our programs. Camp leaders work together with Andy to share “power words” and affirming actions that can form the basis of their caring conversations with kids. This can make a massive impact on a camper’s enjoyment of your programs.​
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Workshop format is completely flexible.  This workshop can run from 30 to 90 minutes.
“Our staff was very impressed with the presentation.  Andy shared with the staff great ideas that could be used in their place of work.  Staff are still using Andy's message and continuing to care. 

Andy brings forth the ability to present the reason why we do what we do, through his real life experiences.  Staff can relate and is engaged in his message.  Once Andy has captured his audience he gives them the tools to encourage the use of his message.   Andy's presentation is real.” 
Kathryn Underwood, County of Brant Recreation, Brantford, Ontario
“RECESS ATTITUDE!” ICEBREAKERS AND INTERACTION!​​
​Do you need a 10 to 60 minute block of time filled with cheers, large group games, and icebreakers? Andy can easily provide a hilarious session that will get all of your participants on their feet to laugh, cheer and meet each other! It will be a great source of new material for your leaders! ​​
"I just wanted to tell you how well your presentation was received. Staff evaluations were filled with words like "Awesome, Best ever, Have him back." Your presentation was motivational and the message you sent was exactly the one we wanted to get across to the summer staff. Just the response at the end from the audience told us how much staff connected and liked you! Thank you for being part of our summer staff training and bringing such an important message to them."
Jennifer Spence, City of Burlington, Parks & Recreation, Ontario 

Want to Know More?

To request more information, a quote, or to book Andy, call/text 519-851-3014, email [email protected] or fill out the form below.

    Contact Andy