Learning to Thrive

Courtney Parfitt & Michaela Vernon
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

On the Learning to Thrive podcast, we share stories, lessons learned, and practical tools to help your business go from surviving to thriving.Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 172 - Wow Factor for Camps : Tips and Tricks to Make Your Camp an Experience

    Free Ninja Camp Toolkit  — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: What makes a camp unforgettable isn’t luck—it’s a handful of smart choices repeated every day. We break down our practical, tested framework for building the wow factor families rave about, from the very first minute in the car line to the last smile at pickup. We start with first impressions: enthusiastic greetings, remembering camper names, and why clear signage and upbeat music lower everyone’s stress. Then we move into the engine of a great camp—a written plan. You’ll hear how we map facility flows so any coach can find any group at any time, why we always staff one over for flexibility, and how we bake themes into stations so creativity is consistent across teams, not dependent on one rockstar instructor. Parents want to feel part of the day, so we share the communication system that turned quiet car rides into proud recaps: a Tuesday newsletter with photos from every station and a short Friday video that’s easy to share. We layer in a pickup “quick sheet” so camp leads can deliver specific wins at the curb, building trust and giving families real stories to tell. You’ll also get our approach to weekly celebrations—cheer shows, animal visits, nerf wars, multi-sport rotations—that kids anticipate and parents point to as proof of value. Finally, we focus on the heartbeat of any program: staff. Hire for personality, train the skills, and keep energy high with public praise, surprise treats, and planned breathers. Our mid-summer half-day only week protects stamina and helps coaches feel refreshed. Put it all together and you have a camp that delights kids, impresses parents, and gives your team a summer experience they look forward to also.  — Show Links: Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    32 min

  2. MAR 9

    Ep. 171 - Camp Prep : What Do You Need to Be Doing Now to Have a Successful Summer?

    Episode Links: Free Ninja Camp Toolkit  — Subscribe to our newsletter — Check out our blog — Show Notes: Snow on the ground, but summer on the brain. We’re pulling back the curtain on how we sellout camps without burning out our team, and it all starts months before the summer season. Parents plan early, so we do too with dates posted by December, a clear January launch, and fun, action-packed themes accompanied by thoughtful lesson plans. These shifts took us from “hope it fills” to full-day weeks selling out in under 24 hours. We map the entire summer with intention: full-day and half-day weeks, plus planned half-day-only weeks to reset energy. That runway keeps week ten as sharp as week one. We also talk why narrowing to four repeatable themes outperforms a dozen scattered ideas. Depth wins: detailed lesson plans, age-appropriate games, crafts that fit the theme, and a Friday celebration families can’t stop talking about. Marketing is simple, steady, and local. After the launch push, we stay visible in moms’ groups, school wellness events, 5Ks, and camp fairs. The real secret weapon is operational excellence in plain sight: when morning class families watch camp groups move through stations with structure and joy, they picture their child in that flow next summer. On staffing, we start with a survey of our team, rehire great alumni home from college, then recruit seasonal hires early. One extra instructor beyond the minimum is insurance that pays for itself on day one. We finish with the heart of it all: build an experience, not just coverage. Signature moments—animal visits, cheer showcases, timed ninja courses—give kids stories to tell and parents proud highlights to share. That’s how you create raving fans who will set their alarms to enroll during your midnight release. Want a head start? Grab our free Ninja Camp lesson plan from the link a, and tell us: what theme should we share next? — Show Links: Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    30 min

  3. FEB 23

    Ep. 170 - Fueling Team Energy In The Messy Middle

    This time of year brings a special kind of swirl: long weekends for coaches in competition season, tired and sick staff, and students pushing through winter fatigue while school pressure mounts. We’ve been there, and we’re sharing the exact playbook we use to keep morale high without burning people out. We start with fast ways to raise energy: frequent, specific shout-outs that name the behavior and tie it to core values like flexibility and initiative. Then we add small but mighty boosts - gift cards for last‑minute saves, a surprise group coffee order, or a quick thank-you that lands when it counts. These gestures are easy to execute and powerful because they tell your team they’re seen. Next, we get practical about time. A 30-minute calendar audit can prevent the seven-day grind that leads to illness and mistakes. We look one to two months ahead for meets, travel, and school events, shift meetings to realistic windows, and pre-schedule true rest days. Our weekly review maps priorities and clarifies what only we can do, so when the week gets busy, we follow the plan our calmer selves made. Finally, we reconnect to the why. Whether you’re teaching toddlers or coaching skill upgrades, the impact is real: safer kids, proud parents, and a happy staff. Progress is often invisible day to day but undeniable across months, so we make it visible and celebrate often. Here's our blog you can share with your member families about the The Messy Middle. Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    22 min

  4. FEB 12

    Ep. 169 - Learning to Thrive's 2026 Revamp

    Learning to Thrive is back with new episodes! After a very cold Northeast winter, we’re here to reset, share a big life update, and map a 2026 plan that centers values-driven leadership and real community.  It’s undeniable that AI and tutorials are helpful tools right at our fingertips, but they can’t replace shared values, peer accountability, or the energy that comes from solving hard problems together.  We’re outlining a refreshed format - deeper episodes, practical frameworks, and guest voices with real expertise - plus new ways to gather through Learning to Thrive’s Thrive University. Whether you run a gym, coach a team, or lead a small business, you’ll find tools to handle tough parent conversations, avoid complacency in your team and organization, and align your culture around service and excellence. Get on our email list through our landing page linked here. Tell us what you want to hear about - culture, time blocking, running a meet - so we can get it on the calendar and deliver the most value for you possible.  We can’t wait to keep Thriving together! Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    22 min

  5. FEB 5

    Ep. 168 - Authentic Leadership : How to Lead Without Being the Loudest Voice In the Room (Replay)

    Quality leadership isn't always about being the loudest person in the room, but rather how you make an impact through consistently showing up, listening deeply, and inspiring confidence by way of preparation and demeanor. In today’s episode, we discuss how good leaders guide their people with their energy, organization, and problem solving abilities.  Show Links: Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    22 min

  6. FEB 3

    Ep. 167 - 5 Fun & Easy Ways to Keep Your Staff Happy (Replay)

    If you are a team lead, director, or facility owner - look no further for strategies on how to boost staff morale and maintain a supportive, happy team environment. The techniques you will find in today's episode are generally easy, and definitely enjoyable for all involved. Try these fresh ideas out with your team, and let us know how it goes! — Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    15 min

  7. JAN 29

    Ep. 166 - Summer Camps : 3 Things to Make for a Successful Summer (Replay)

    We are in the mindset of preparing for summer because Thrive's 2026 summer camp registration launched this month! In this episode of Learning to Thrive, we share with you the value in getting your summer camp schedules out early, planning in advance, and looking through the lens of your customer so you can have your most successful summer camps yet. Show Links: Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    22 min

  8. JAN 27

    Ep. 165 - 3 Keys to Finding & Keeping Good Coaches (Replay)

    In today’s episode of Learning to Thrive we discuss how to hire high-quality coaches, and how to keep those high-quality coaches. We will share about the application, interview and training processes we have fine-tuned over our 16 years in business, which allow us to connect with potential hires that align with our organization’s values. Show Links: Send a text Be sure to include your phone number or email so we can respond to your message! Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com Find more Learning to Thrive: thrivegym.mykajabi.com Find Us on Instagram Find Us on Facebook Find Us on Tik Tok

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

On the Learning to Thrive podcast, we share stories, lessons learned, and practical tools to help your business go from surviving to thriving.Reach us at: contactlearningtothrive@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Parfitt & Michaela Vernon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    173
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Learning to Thrive
  • Show Website
    Learning to Thrive