Use App Chat for camp communications
Learn how to find chats, start new conversations, send messages, and organize favorites and groups in the Campium App Chat.
Overview
App Chat connects conversations that start in the Campium mobile app with the tools admins use in Campium on the web. Camp staff start chats from the mobile app, and admins can read, manage, and join those chats from Campium admin.
You open App Chat from Communication → App Chat in the Campium admin navigation.
App Chat is designed for short, timely conversations. For announcements that need formatting or larger audiences, use Mass Emails instead.
Find App Chat and understand the layout
When you open Communication → App Chat from the Campium admin navigation, you see your chat list on the left and the active conversation on the right.
Key areas and labels:
- Chats: Your recent 1:1 and group conversations.
- Favorites: Chats you have starred for quick access.
- Groups: Group conversations organized by teams, cabins, or topics.
- All Chats: The full list of conversations you can access.
- New Chat: Button to start a new conversation.
- Start New Chat: The modal that opens when you create a new chat.
- Type a message...: The message box at the bottom of a conversation.
- Send: The action to send your message.
Find an existing chat
Use filters and the chat list to quickly reopen conversations.
Open App Chat
From the main menu in Campium admin, go to Communication → App Chat. The App Chat screen opens with your recent chats.
Filter by chat type
Use the navigation in the chat sidebar to narrow what you see:
- Select Chats to see your recent conversations.
- Select All Chats to browse everything you have access to.
- Select Groups to focus on group conversations only.
- Select Favorites to see only chats you have starred.
Scroll or search your list
Scroll the list to find the conversation you need, then click the chat name to open it. The conversation history appears on the right.
If you reopen an active conversation, new messages (if any) appear at the bottom of the thread. Scroll up to review earlier history.
Start a new chat
Use New Chat to begin a fresh conversation with one or more people when that option is available in your account.
Click New Chat (if available)
In the App Chat sidebar in Campium admin, select New Chat if you see it. A Start New Chat window opens over the page when starting new conversations is enabled for you.
Search for people or join existing chats
In Start New Chat, search for the person or people you want to message, then select them from the list to add them to the chat. If you do not see New Chat, use the chat list to join and participate in ongoing conversations that were started in the Campium mobile app.
Create or open the conversation
After you select your participants, confirm to create the chat. The new conversation opens, ready for your first message. If you are opening an existing chat, the conversation history appears and you can start replying.
If you plan to reuse the same set of participants (for example, a cabin team or leadership group), consider keeping that chat in Favorites so you can return to it quickly.
Send a message
Once a conversation is open, send messages using the input at the bottom.
Type your message
Click the message box labeled Type a message... at the bottom of the conversation. Enter the message you want to send.
Review before sending
Check that you are in the correct chat (look at the chat name at the top) and that your message says what you intend. This is especially important in groups.
Send the message
Select Send to post your message to the conversation. The message appears in the thread with your name and the time.
For time-sensitive updates, keep messages short and clear, especially in busy group chats. Use follow-up messages instead of one very long message.
Favorite chats and use groups
Favorites and groups help you keep important conversations easy to reach.
Star or unstar a favorite chat
Use favorites for chats you open every day, such as leadership or medical teams.
Open the chat you want to favorite
From Chats or All Chats, select the conversation you want to mark as a favorite.
Star the chat
Use the star or favorite action on the chat (for example, next to the chat name) to mark it. The chat appears under Favorites in your sidebar.
Remove from favorites (optional)
If a chat is no longer important, use the same star or favorite action again to unstar it. The chat disappears from Favorites but stays available under Chats or All Chats.
Keep Favorites small and focused. Limit it to the chats you truly need to open multiple times a day.
Work with group chats
Groups keep multi-person conversations together so everyone stays aligned.
Locate group conversations
In the sidebar, select Groups to see your group chats. Each group represents a shared conversation with multiple participants.
Open and participate in a group
Select a group name to open it, then use Type a message... and Send to add your updates or questions. Everyone in the group sees the same conversation history.
Combine groups with favorites
If you use a group frequently (for example, all counselors for a session), star it so it appears under Favorites. This makes it faster to jump back in throughout the day.
Be careful when messaging in Groups. Messages go to everyone in the group, not just one person. Double-check the chat name before you send.
Best practices for App Chat
Use a few simple habits to keep App Chat organized and helpful for your team.
- Use Chats for quick questions and 1:1 follow-ups.
- Use Groups for topics where several people need to see the same updates.
- Keep Favorites for your most active or time-critical conversations.
- Check App Chat regularly during camp days so you do not miss important updates.
Last updated 1 day ago