Episode 12: E. Bell, Chris J. & Creativity

We’ll be adjusting the format slightly as we work through the actual camp season. Stay tuned for more details.

Join E. Bell as he outlines his thoughts about what makes for the best possible creativity based learning in a camp (or really any) setting. Focusing on structure & safety; organization & a purposeful tone; and keeping things challenging & supported, this is the tested way to make sure kids can be their most creative in the camp setting.

This week we are joined by the very talented Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Jarrett is the writer and illustrator of award winning comics, books, and graphic novels for young readers. Jarrett is also a camp person, having served as a counselor at Camp Sunshine and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp! Jarrett's most recent book, Sunshine, is a graphic memoir documenting his time at Camp Sunshine, a wonderful organization in Maine that provides summer camp experiences for families affected by life-threatening childhood illness. To learn more about Jarrett's work, or grab links to one of his 3 TED TALKS, visit studiojjk.com. To learn more about, or contribute to, Camp Sunshine, visit campsunshine.org.

Today we are joined by some Camp People that are Camp Families - mothers and daughters with shared camp experiences. Though we're a little late for Mother's Day, these funny and heartfelt stories are the perfect example of how the camp connection is strong, especially when shared with family.

This week, we are thrilled to be joined by the Executive Director of American Camp Association, New England, Michele Rowcliffe. The ACA is a guiding force in the youth camping industry, "a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp program." A great conversation, and we're thrilled to talk with Michele.

Sorry everyone, but there's not a full episode in the can for this week. That end of semester crunch time has gotten the best of me. I've got some thoughts to share though, and a special request, so give today a quick listen, and we'll see you back here next week for more Camp People!

Today Eric is joined by author and camp person Rachel Bertsche. Rachel is the author of MWF Seeking BFF, and several other works of non-fiction that do something similar to what camp does - seek connection and explore the way we go about living and using the time we have.

For this week's episode, we side step the questions to do a deep dive on a singular topic: CREATIVITY. There is an abundance of creative problem solving in the summer camp setting and with my long term partner in crime, we explore what that means, what it does, and why we value it so much.

Today we are joined by two people who know first hand how important of an experience camp can be. From campers to camp counselors to counselors specializing in mental health for kids, we are pleased to welcome Megan (Watson) Clingerman and Taylor Mullen.

Well we finally did it. We made a Letter Day episode! Join us this week as we share listener mail and add in a fair amount of our trademark banter. We like us, and you should too.