Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/camp-as-a-sacred-playground

In this episode of The Pudding, hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison speak with Jake Sorenson, founder and director of Sacred Playgrounds, to explore the impacts of Christian summer camps. Jake, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience, explains how Sacred Playgrounds uses data to tell compelling stories and improve camp and youth ministries. The conversation delves into the five fundamental characteristics of effective Christian faith-based camps: being unplugged from home; participatory; relational; a safe space; and faith-centred. For camps that are not faith-based, what is that alternative fifth pillar of effectiveness? Jake discusses the importance of creating environments where campers feel safe to explore big questions about faith and identity. Jake, also, emphasizes the need for continuous improvement in camp practices.

Episode Guide

• 00:41 Meet the Hosts and Jake’s Sacred Playgrounds
• 02:52 The Concept of Ministry in Camps
• 06:42 Jake's Personal Journey and Research Focus
• 09:39 Key Characteristics of Christian Summer Camps
• 16:16 Fostering Intentional Camp Experiences & Reimagining Camp Traditions
• 26:16 Creating Safe Spaces in Faith-Based Camps
• 30:50 The Power and Vulnerability of Camp Leadership
• 38:45 Metrics of Success in Camping
• 45:19 Recommended Researchers to Follow & Episode Wrap-up

Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Dr. Jake Sorenson, Founder, Sacred Playgrounds -  jake@sacredplaygrounds.com

The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/decoding-how-camp-helps-kids-find-themselves

In this episode of 'The Pudding', hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison delve into the work of Dr. Barry Garst, a Professor at Clemson University in Youth Development Programs. Dr. Garst shares his journey into camp research, discussing his background and various projects that analyze the transformative impact of camp on youth development. The discussion also explores the importance of digital empathy for connecting campers and staff. Dr. Garst also highlights the Journal of Youth Development's role in bridging research and practice in youth development and offers insights on key issues that need more attention in camp studies.

Episode Guide

• 00:56 Meet Dr. Barry Garst: Youth Development Expert
• 04:02 Exploring the Identity Ladder of Social Learning
• 09:09 Camp’s Impact Long-Term & Emerging Issues in Research
• 16:58 Digital Empathy and the MyView Tool
• 22:21 Data Collection and Analysis Challenges
• 31:57 Researcher Parents’ Perspective on Camper Data Collection
• 45:41 The Journal of Youth Development
• 51:29 Recommended Researchers to Follow & Episode Wrap-up

Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Dr. Barry Garst, Professor & Coordinator - Clemson University - bgarst@clemson.edu

Additional Links of Interest

• Dept of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Clemson University https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/prtm/index.html
• Journal of Youth Development https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd
• Alliances for Camp Health https://allianceforcamphealth.org/
• American Camps Association- Research Evaluation Advisory Council https://www.acacamps.org/research/help-camp-research/research-evaluation-advisory-committee

The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/building-sustainable-camps

In this episode, Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison talk to Herschel Singer from JCamp 180 about the critical work being done by his organization in supporting Jewish camps across North America, focusing on organizational effectiveness and financial sustainability. Herschel shares his thoughts about the economic landscape of camping, the importance of data-driven yet context-aware decision-making, and the trends observed from their research, particularly regarding costs, revenue, and deferred investments. He offers a refreshing take on the importance of understanding parent dynamics in camping and hints at the broader impact of implementing a data culture among camp professionals.

Episode Guide

• 00:41 Meet the Hosts and Guest
• 01:08 Herschel Singer's Journey into Research
• 03:27 Overview of JCamp 180
• 05:58 Research Methodologies and Applications
• 09:54 Economic Landscape and Financial Sustainability
• 12:27 Impact of Research on Camps
• 19:43 Trends and Challenges in Camp Staffing
• 21:37 Deferred Investments and Resilience
• 25:43 The Role of Parents in Camping
• 29:52 Conclusion and Contact Information

Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Herschel Singer, Consultant - JCamp 180 - hsinger@hgf.org

The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/a-question-of-value

On this episode of The Pudding, Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison dive into the economic impact study of the camp industry with researcher Eli McClain, of the Restorative Economics Group. They talk about his process of working with a team of researchers and students to collect data from over 20,000 camps across the United States, and how this $70 billion dollar industry ripples out into the wider community. Eli also touches on how “camp” is defined for the purposes of this study, and additional questions for future research that came up in the course of writing their report, including the question of how seasonal employment in the camping industry prepares you for full time careers in both camping and other industries.

Resources from this episode:

National Economic Impact Study of the Camp Industry

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Episode Guide

• 00:00 Meet the Hosts and Guest
• 00:36 Eli McClain's Journey into Research
• 08:31 Defining the Camp Industry
• 13:30 From Data Points to Camp Operator Data Collection
• 17:53 Key Findings and Insights from the Economic Impact Study
• 21:15 Future Research Directions with the Magic Wand of Camp Research
• 24:44 Recommended Researchers to Follow & Episode Wrap-up

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Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Eli McClain - Researcher, Restorative Economics Group

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The American Camp Association - Illinois
The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities
You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/scenario-planning-101

In this episode of Camp Ahead, hosts Joe, Jess, and KJ expand on the idea of scenario planning as an essential tool for thinking about the future. They discuss key drivers such as climate change, economics, demographics, technological advancements, and social shifts that can shape the next decade of summer camps. Through imaginative scenario planning, they aim to prepare the industry for both positive and challenging futures. Tune in as they explore the potential impacts of AI, climate mitigation, and more on the world of summer camps.

• 01:46 Recap and Introduction to Scenario Planning
• 05:33 Key Drivers for the Future of Camps: Economic and Staff Considerations
• 07:55 Environmental and Technological Impacts on Camps
• 15:09 Social Drivers and Equity in Future Camps
• 20:33 Imagining Positive Futures: Pronoia vs. Paranoia
• 25:36 The Impact of Camp and Nature
• 26:04 Funding and Philanthropy in Camping
• 29:31 The Value of Experiential Learning
• 30:12 Community and Indigenous Relationships

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• The Book: Imaginable by Jane McGonigal:
  • https://janemcgonigal.com/2021/12/17/imaginable-how-to-see-the-future-coming-and-feel-ready-for-anything-even-things-that-seem-impossible-today/
• https://poe.com/UOScenarioCreator
• https://urgentoptimists.org/

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Jess Elfring-Roberts - Executive Director, Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers

Joe Richards - Executive Director, Pearce Williams Summer Camp and Retreat Facility

KJ Williams - Camp Director, Phantom Lake YMCA Camp

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A huge thanks to our sponsors for making this possible.

Campify:

Is creating your camp schedule a headache? Does it limit the experience of campers or staff? Campify is software that does the heavy lifting for you - taking care of group, elective, and specialist scheduling based on your custom scheduling rules.

Interested in learning more? Visit campify.io/CampAhead to schedule a demo or create a free trial today.

Subscribe to Camp Ahead in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite Podcasts!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/intro-to-mental-time-travel

In this inaugural episode of the Camp Ahead podcast, Joe Richards, KJ Williams, and Jess Elfring-Roberts dive into the concept of future-proofing the summer camp industry. They discuss the importance of mental time travel, scenario planning, and preparing for larger global issues like climate change, financial instability, demographics, and migration. The hosts share their personal experiences and outline the goals for the podcast, emphasizing the need for proactive thinking to ensure the long-term success of camps.

This episode sets the stage for exploring how the camp community can adapt and thrive amidst uncertainties.

• 00:58 Meet the Hosts
• 01:51 The Concept of Future Scenarios
• 03:46 Pandemic Reflections
• 06:43 Proactive vs. Reactive Planning
• 30:08 Thinking Big: Managing Smaller Challenges
• 31:10 Climate Migration and Its Impacts
• 33:12 Demographic Shifts in Camping
• 38:09 The Importance of Collaboration

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• The Book: Imaginable by Jane McGonigal:
  • https://janemcgonigal.com/2021/12/17/imaginable-how-to-see-the-future-coming-and-feel-ready-for-anything-even-things-that-seem-impossible-today/
• https://poe.com/UOScenarioCreator
• https://urgentoptimists.org/

-

Jess Elfring-Roberts - Executive Director, Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers

Joe Richards - Executive Director, Pearce Williams Summer Camp and Retreat Facility

KJ Williams - Camp Director, Phantom Lake YMCA Camp

-

A huge thanks to our sponsors for making this possible.

Campify:

Is creating your camp schedule a headache? Does it limit the experience of campers or staff? Campify is software that does the heavy lifting for you - taking care of group, elective, and specialist scheduling based on your custom scheduling rules.

Interested in learning more? Visit campify.io/CampAhead to schedule a demo or create a free trial today.

Subscribe to Camp Ahead in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favourite Podcasts!

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/make-impacts-welcome-diversity-with-camp-research

In this episode of 'The Pudding', hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison are joined by Drs. Lisa Meerts-Brandsma and Jim Sibthorp to dive into groundbreaking research in the camp world. The discussion covers their journeys of becoming researchers, the link between the camping and outdoor education industries, and pivotal findings from recent studies. Lisa emphasizes increasing camp access and inclusion, while Jim highlights the complexities of understanding developmental impacts when researching in isolation. They also share thoughts on the evolution of camp research, potential future directions, and the importance of collaborating closely with practitioners.

Episode Guide

• 00:41 Meet the Hosts and Guests
• 01:07 Lisa & Jim’s Journeys to Camp Research
• 06:41 Jim’s Research:Maximizing Developmental Potential
• 08:53 Lisa’s Research: Increasing Access to Camps
• 11:15 Using Research to Market Camp to a More Diverse Population
• 17:25 The ACA’s Youth Impact Study and Diversifying the Narrative
• 21:50 The Evolution of Camp Research over Jim’s Career
• 28:42 The Missing Piece of the Camp Research Puzzle
• 33:21 Future Directions: Bridges Between Researchers & Practitioners
• 35:27 Future Directions: Experience Quality over Activity Base
• 40:39 Community Level Research & Identity Shaping Experience (ft. the Magic Funding Pot!)
• 43:28 Recommended Researchers to Follow & Episode Wrap-up

Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Dr. Lisa Meerts-Brandsma - Assistant Professor, University of Utah - lisa.meerts@utah.edu
• Dr. Jim Sibthorp - Professor, University of Utah - jim.sibthorp@health.utah.edu

The American Camp Association - Illinois
The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities
You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/excel-doesnt-have-to-be-scary

Hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison engage with Lee Biear, Business Development Director at Camptivities, to explore the transformative power of data in camp management. Lee shares her journey from public health research to camp data analysis, including stories of success in enhancing program quality, diversity, and staff retention rather than just focusing on the bottom line. Highlights the role of storytelling in marketing, how to build good data collection in your organization, and why you should pester your camp registration software company to offer you an API. This episode is a mini-masterclass in leveraging data for operational success and community building in camps.

Episode Guide

• 00:41 Meet the Hosts and Guest Introduction
• 02:14 Lee's Journey into Camp Data
• 05:41 Marketing Strategies for Camps
• 12:25 Importance of Storytelling in Camp Marketing
• 18:13 Are You Really Showing How Safe Your Camp is?
• 23:26 Diving into Megadata
• 26:41 Case Study of Value over Revenue
• 34:41 The Basics of Good Camp Data
• 40:02 Data Collection: Not Just for Nerds Like Us!
• 47:54 What Should be Studied Next?
• 49:01 Who Else Should We be Hanging Out With?

Your Hosts

• Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
• Lee Biear - Director of Business Development, Camptivities - lee@camptivities.com

The American Camp Association - Illinois

The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities

You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.