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The sweet proof of research to back up what you already know about summer camp. Join Travis Allison and Dr. Mandi Baker as they focus in on prominent and emerging research in the summer camp world and share the ways that camp professionals can leverage that research to get more kids to camp.
The Pudding is part of the Go Camp Pro podcast network. Find a Podcast for Camp Pros of every age and stage at https://gocamp.pro/podcasts
21 Episodes
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Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/sensory-journeys-freedom-in-play Exploring Inclusivity in Outdoor Leisure with Neil CarrIn this episode of The Pudding, Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison discuss with Prof. Neil Carr, from the Dept of Tourism at the University of Otago (New Zealand), the role of inclusivity in outdoor leisure. They explore Neil's journey into academia, his research on tourism and leisure, and the evolution of outdoor leisure studies. Key highl...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/communities-of-campfires-and-kickball Exploring Camp Experiences, Neoliberalism, and Hidden Curriculum with Dr. Mary Breunig In this episode of The Pudding, hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison talk to Dr. Mary Breunig, an associate professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. Dr. Breunig shares her journey from flute performance to outdoor education to kickball den mother, emphasizing the ...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/camp-as-a-sacred-playground Creating Safe Spaces to Explore Faith & IdentityIn 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 mini...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/decoding-how-camp-helps-kids-find-themselves Hearing Youth Voices in Camp Research with Dr. Barry GarstIn 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 yo...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/building-sustainable-camps Insights into JCamp 180’s Camp Research and Consulting ModelIn 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 impo...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/a-question-of-value How do you Define “Camp” and its Economic Impact?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 doll...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/scenario-planning-101 Exploring Camp Futures: Key Drivers and Scenario PlanningIn 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 plan...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/campahead/intro-to-mental-time-travel Welcome to Camp Ahead: The Futurology of the Summer Camp IndustryIn 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, a...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/make-impacts-welcome-diversity-with-camp-research Diversifying the Narrative by Bringing Practitioners to the Research Table 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 edu...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/excel-doesnt-have-to-be-scary Harnessing Data for Camp Success with Lee BiearHosts 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 jus...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/camp-research-catalyzing-change Exploring the Future of Camp Research & its Impact with Laurie Brown In this episode, hosts Travis Allison and Dr. Mandi Baker discuss the significant research efforts and initiatives undertaken by the American Camp Association to understand and improve summer camps. Special guest Laurie Brown, Ph.D, Senior Director of Innovation and Learning at the ACA, shares insights from her journey as...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/impact-of-research Exploring Camp Research Innovations with Victoria PovilaitisIn the first episode of the second season of 'The Pudding,' hosts Dr. Mandy Baker and Travis Allison invite Victoria Povilaitis, Director of Program Innovation at Tim Horton Foundation Camps, to discuss the exciting developments and research initiatives in camp programming. Victoria shares her insights on the program quality and artistic methods us...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/camp-researchers Let’s shed light on some of the most prominent camp research, right from the researchers themselves!Our guests, Victoria Povilaitis, Lori Brown, and Jake Sorenson, are not your typical academics. They are the frontline champions of camp research, dedicated to unveiling the intricate ways camps contribute to community building, character building and emotional growth. From the playful yet practical enhancements ...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/ethics Camp Research - The Ethical WayMandi gives us a mini-masterclass on all things research and how it applies to both the formal and informal research that we conduct at our camp. In this episode, we cover: What are the common ethics terms and basic ethical practices that camp practices that camp pros should be aware of?What are the overarching values that form the foundation of ethical oversight?What ethical practices shou...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/gen-z Unlocking the Potential of Gen-Z at Summer CampStaffing continues to be one of the biggest thorns in the paws of our industry. It’s a challenge that isn’t likely to go away soon, so what can we do to ride this wave, rather than just letting it crash into us? Travis and Mandi dig into this topic and share how an approach of curiosity is a Camp Pro’s best tool when working with this generation of camp staff. In this episode...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/power-between-people With great power comes…well, you know the rest.We all know that even in the sunshine and butterflies that is summer camp, there is evil lurking about. An evil that affects people and communities from all over. It has a name, too. Are you ready? Power. Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but it’s something nonetheless that we need to talk about when it comes to the microcosm that is summer camp. On this episode, Man...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/good-for-everyone Just BEING at camp is a good thing - the science proves it!We intuitively know that camp is a good thing. We can tell a million heart-filled stories about how camp changes lives. But as you all know, the proof is certainly in the pudding - so for the discerning camp pros (or camp families we are trying to convince to come to camp!) this episode will be a great place to start! Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis unpack ...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/being-in-nature And are we thinking about “nature” too specifically?Being in nature is good for us - we know this intuitively. But did you know that science backs this up? It is proven, beyond doubt, that being in nature decreases anxiety, decreases rumination, and alleviates low mood. Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis unpack some of the major findings over the last few years of research when it comes to being outdoors and its effect ...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/bubble-magic How do you measure magic?Every camp professional, whether new or seasoned, knows what we mean when we say “camp magic”. For most of us, we think of camp magic as this ethereal, indescribable, ever-present part of camp. This “magic” is what many of us feel sets camp apart from everywhere else. To a camp researcher, this camp magic is something that is actually definable. Tune in to this episode to hear Travis and Ma...
Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/decoding-research What is research, and what can it be for camp pros?We need to start here. Before we get into how to use research to empower our marketing and recruiting efforts, we need to unpack the basics of research. So, whether you’re a research buff or not, this episode is meant to get everyone on the same page before we really dig deep. You’ll hear about: What are the basics of research and the process behind it t...
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