Jack's Camp Friends Newsletter |
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Ever wonder what it feels like to be a first-time camper or staff member again?
Well, I’m about to find out.
This summer, I’m stepping into a new role at a new camp, and that “what if” voice in my head is working overtime.
What if my style isn’t what this camp is used to?
What if I miss some of the most important traditions?
What if the veteran staff think I’m just some outsider?
And yeah, I’m stoked to get rolling with training, the summer, the whole thing. Literally can’t wait, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
But here’s the thing - this bit of uncertainty I’m feeling? It’s actually the most valuable thing we offer at camp, though we rarely market it or even talk about it that way.
Uncertainty isn’t something we should be designing out of our camps. It’s something we should be intentionally designing in - with the right supports to help navigate it.
Because let’s face it - those moments when we’re a little unsure but figure it out anyway? That’s where we actually level up.
When Did Our Schedules Get So… Scheduled?
Man, do we camp pros ever have a weird and wacky relationship with uncertainty.
Crazy hours on detailed schedules, cumbersome training manuals, and Swiss-Army-knife-like-contingency plans for every possible scenario will definitely do that. Surprises and camp don’t always mix.
And yet, on the flip side, the coolest and most transformative moments almost always come from unplanned situations that force everyone to adapt and problem-solve.
→ Those awkward Sunday afternoon cabin discussions that turn into deep friendships by Wednesday afternoon.]
→ Thunderdome in the middle of an evening activity that turns into playing Phil Collins-inspired In the Air Tonight on the kitchen pots and pans
→ Running out of arts and crafts supplies and turning to cardboard and duct tape to make armor for the medieval special event
The truth is, many of us are working unpaid OT, eliminating uncertainty when we should be more concerned with calling it out and helping kids navigate it. We’re so focused on making sure everything follows a color-coded schedule to the minute that we risk removing these resilience-building experiences.
So what if, instead of seeing uncertainty as a program failure, we saw it as a program feature?
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The Anxiety Reduction Laboratory (No Lab Coats Required)
Yeah, camp is the perfect controlled (though sometimes completely random) environment to practice handling those unplanned moments in life.
Why? Because camp creates contained uncertainty:
- It’s significant enough to feel real (sleeping away from home, trying new activities)
- Supported enough to be manageable (with counselors, structure, and clear boundaries)
- And it happens repeatedly, allowing for hourly and daily practice
The brilliance of camp programming is that it’s all about navigating the unknown. No weekend workshop or random school field trip can hold a candle to what happens over many days or many weeks at camp.
As one of my favorite psychologists says, “The world teaches your kids to be anxious. Camp teaches them how to deal with it.”
Courage Filing Cabinet: The Yeager Technique
Researcher David Yeager has this brilliant insight about how we process experiences: It’s all about where we file them in our mental cabinet.
When a camper successfully rocks their first campfire song, they could file that under “Nice! I learned to lead songs.”
But wait for it…
What if instead, they filed it under → “Yo! I overcame uncertainty!” (Though we’ll make it sound cooler to them for sure.)
It’s a simple shift, but it’s meaningful.
How can we train staff to help campers make this mental leap?
Maybe, instead of just saying, “Great job with that song!” try instead, “I noticed you were nervous, but you figured it out anyway. That’s the kind of courage you can use anywhere.”
This isn’t just feel-good talk—it’s teaching kids to generalize their wins.
Don’t let them file experiences in specific, activity-based folders (which aren’t bad, mind you, just maybe a bit too isolated). Help them see the meta-skill they’re developing. Oh, and by the way, tell parents you are doing this. It’s great marketing
Lynn Lyons Again
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Lynn Lyons (anxiety expert extraordinaire, go listen to our podcast already!), it’s the power of this simple question:
“What was something uncertain that happened today, and how did I deal with it?”
Asking it at evening cabin chat or staff check-ins, you’re doing three awesome things:
- Normalizing uncertainty as part of everyday life
- Drawing attention to personal resources and problem-solving skills
- Banking major and minor wins that build confidence for future challenges
My challenge to me (and to you): Try implementing this question as part of your daily routine this summer. At staff training, practice facilitating these conversations so your counselors are comfortable guiding them.
The answers might start small (“I wasn’t sure which table to sit at for lunch”), but they’ll grow as the summer moves on (“I wasn’t sure I could complete the ropes course, but…”).
Do Kids These Days Actually Need Camp More Than We Did?
We’re living in anxious times, folks. Kids today are facing down more uncertainty than ever, with less practice navigating it.
The structured, scheduled, screen-filled lives many kids have as their baseline don’t prepare them for a world that’s increasingly unpredictable. They need what camp provides: practice with uncertainty in a supportive setting.
When we intentionally build this skill, we’re not just helping kids have a better summer—we’re helping them have better lives.
Yeah, I’m uncertain heading into this summer. But I see it for what it is - a chance to practice all of this. Asking those questions, filing the answers into the right mental folders. After all, if I can’t embrace my own uncertainty, how can I expect our campers to embrace theirs?
You got this
Jack
PS - New podcast with Peter Gray. Controversial thoughts about schooling, phones, and Johnathan Haidt's work. Youtube, Spotify, Apple
PPS - Another (final) commercial break. If you're gearing up for staff training, we've got you covered.
The Summer Camp Society Staff Training Recipe Book
A full week already planned * 99 pages * 23 sessions with all activities * Too much to list here.