Why We Believe You Can run (a version of ) Camp on Zoom...and How We Can Help

By Sarah Kurtz McKinnon

Zoom! I sometimes feel like I live on Zoom. Not just now--but starting three and a half years ago, when Jack Schott and I founded The Summer Camp Society. We weren’t sure what we were doing when we first started out, but we decided that the format would be online, weekly video meetings for our participants in small groups that culminated in a three-day retreat.

Jami, Kristy, Alice & Anna…Friends at our first TSCS conference.

And that’s when I started to spend a lot of time on Zoom. We would have at least three hourlong meetings each week where we’d meet with about 8-10 other camp directors and talk “camp”. To my surprise, I started to feel connected to these people I only knew through the internet.  When I met them in person at the retreat three months later, the only natural greeting was a hug--like I was seeing an old friend, even though I had only met these folks through a screen. It felt more like a camp reunion than the first day of camp.

There were a more few surprises: Some silly, like the fact that I had no idea how tall people actually were, because I had only previously seen them through webcams sitting at their desks. Some surprises were awesome, like these people were the same people online as they were in person--and, because of our video chat infrastructure on Zoom, we could continue our relationships and community year-round, even though many of us lived hundreds or even thousands of miles away from each other.

Anna Hopkins, the wonderful camp director of Friends Camp and a TSCS participant-turned-facilitator, texted our TSCS facilitation team the other night. She said: “Moment of gratitude to this group. I’m inspired by the fact that real connections and meaning can come from Zoom. You all taught me that. Stay strong, team!!”. We are Zoom believers. 

Because of this, we are going to be publishing some curriculum guides over the next few days of how you can run camp through Zoom--not just a one-off program, but an actual camp: Where there are counselors, groups, and community. Where there is continuity, laughter, and relationships. An online program where kids don’t just log on to “receive”, but kids log on to participate, contribute and connect. 

It’s our hope that these guides can help you and your campers continue the relationships that you have built as well as build new ones. It’s also our hope that scheduled, online camp programs can provide respite to parents and caregivers, and make this strange time less lonely. We are excited to be able to share them with you! We’ll put them up on our blog as they are created.

In the meantime, here are the top behind-the-scenes things we think you can do today in your role as a camp director in the time of Coronavirus:

1. Join the Slack channel dedicated to COVID 19 and Camp created by Travis Allison:

2. Study, bookmark and return to  the American Camp Association’s Coronavirus resource page.

3. Get your brain trust together (on Zoom) and start planning contingencies for two possible outcomes: 1) What you will do if camp has to be cancelled and 2) What you will do if camp runs. You should also establish decision-making criteria that you can use as events develop in order to determine if camp should run or not this summer. Your plans should include financial models.

Yes, these times are unprecedented and downright scary. Who would have thought that coping with a global pandemic would be on your list of responsibilities as a camp director? No one. We are all learning together and our goal is to be here for you so you can be there for your kids and staff. Sending (virtual) hugs to everyone. And remember: this too shall pass.

Sarah Kurtz McKinnon
CO-FOUNDER THE SUMMER CAMP SOCIETY
Kurtz@THESUMMERCAMPSOCIETY.COM