Running a summer youth program is a rewarding but complex job. You’re juggling activity planning, staff training, family communication, behavior management strategies, and a whole lot more—all while ensuring young people have an enriching and fun summer experience.
That’s where generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude, can be a game-changer.
Whether you're a seasoned director or new to the role, using the right prompts can help you stay organized, creative, and connected. Below are some of the top beneficial prompts for youth program directors to get the most out of AI this summer.
Prompt:
"Write a friendly and informative welcome letter for parents and guardians of children attending our summer program, including key policies, contact info, and what to pack."
Why It Helps:
Clear, warm communication builds trust with families. ChatGPT can help you keep your messaging professional and accessible in multiple languages.
Bonus Prompt:
"Draft a weekly newsletter update for families highlighting the week’s activities, upcoming events, and reminders."
Prompt:
"Outline a 2-day orientation plan for summer staff that includes training on youth development, safety protocols, inclusion, and team building."
Why It Helps:
A strong staff training plan ensures your team is prepared, confident, and aligned with your program’s goals.
Bonus Prompt:
"Create a list of reflection questions or journaling prompts for youth workers to use throughout the summer to support their growth."
Prompt:
"Give me 5 creative theme day ideas that combine fun and learning for a summer camp."
Why It Helps:
This saves time and generates creative ideas you can customize to your community’s needs. You can even ask for supply lists or risk management notes.
Bonus Prompt:
"Create a time block schedule for my 8-9 year old campers next week, blending time for STEM, arts, outdoor games, and activities."
Prompt:
"What are some positive behavior reinforcement strategies for a summer program working with middle school students?"
Why It Helps:
Get practical, research-backed tools for common behavior challenges. You can also tailor by age, setting, or specific needs.
Bonus Prompt:
"Give me a script I can use to de-escalate a conflict between two campers in a calm and supportive way."
Prompt:
"Help me write a program summary for a grant report that describes our summer program’s goals, activities, outcomes, and impact on participants."
Why It Helps:
Writing about your program’s success can be time-consuming. ChatGPT helps you create clear, compelling draft language to help you build reports, proposals, or board updates.
Prompt:
"Create a checklist of safety procedures and emergency protocols for a day camp operating in a city park."
Why It Helps:
Keep your team prepared for unexpected situations, and ensure safety protocols are clear and organized.
Prompt:
"List 10 fun and inclusive icebreaker games for youth ages 10-14 that require minimal equipment."
Why It Helps:
Great for starting off sessions with energy and helping kids feel included from Day 1.
8. Program Evaluation and Feedback
Prompt:
"Design a short and simple end-of-program survey for parents and youth to give feedback on our summer camp."
Why It Helps:
Gather meaningful feedback to improve your program and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.
9. Social Media and Marketing
Prompt:
"Write a social media post promoting our summer program’s open registration. Include an engaging photo caption and a call to action."
Why It Helps:
Keep your messaging fresh and effective, and reach more families with consistent content.
10. Daily Motivation and Team Culture
Prompt:
"Share a short, inspiring quote about youth work that I can use to start our daily staff huddle."
Why It Helps:
Boost morale and remind your team of the bigger purpose behind their hard work.
No matter which AI platform you use, remember that these prompts are a starting point. The magic happens when you customize and build on the ideas ChatGPT gives you. Think of it as a brainstorming partner that helps you save time, reduce burnout, and bring fresh energy to your work.
With the right prompts, you’re not just managing a summer program—you’re leading a transformative experience for young people, and that deserves all the support you can get.
Did you know that Arly includes AI assistance? Request a demo and learn more now!