The “Unknown Known” Magic of the Campfire: The Serious Work of Making Fun

We all know that getting camp culture right is one of the critical factors that lead to lasting success or closing our gates. Too often, we rely on what we’ve always done or chase after the newest trend without ever looking at what research actually tells us. We know what we’re doing even if we struggle to articulate what we know, but frankly, we don’t have time for academics. However, there are scholars—some with camp backgrounds—who take camp culture seriously. They test what we assume, study what we don’t fully understand, and uncover insights we might never see on our own. Their work often lies hidden in academic journals, but it has practical lessons that can strengthen and evolve our programs. This session introduces scholars whose research sheds light on camp culture. Participants will leave with clear, usable takeaways to get camp culture right.