Technology and Camp - Interview with Kevin Kelly

Technological Forces That Will Change the Camping Industry

It may be safe to say that we've started to reach a bit of a renaissance when it comes to technology at summer camp. If you've been a long-time lurker on the Summer Camp Professionals Facebook Community , you may have noticed that the conversations have started to shift from developing cell-phone policies and overall frustration with technology to a more acceptance/embracing (with a healthy dose of skepticism) attitude towards tech at camp.

According to Kevin Kelly, that progression is probably a good thing.

Kevin Kelly (Authour of The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future), joins Travis in this special interview edition of the CampHacker Podcast. Together, Kevin and Travis discuss his views on how not only the world as a whole, but our little camp world will surely be shaped by the integration of technology into the everyday.

Whether you're camp has a Pokemon Go-gettem attitude or if you are a camp still fighting for a true "unplugged" experience, this interview definitely has something for you to mull over.

We can't thank Kevin enough for joining us on the CampHacker Podcast. You should definitely head over to kk.org to check out more of Kevin's books, Cool Tools and other passion projects.

Thanks for listening, friends!

Stay tuned!

The next season of the CampHacker podcast will be coming soon!

Best of luck in wrapping up your summer and we'll see you in the fall.

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(Thank you!)

Do Kids Need a Summer Camp Technology Vacation? CampHacker #10

Unplug at Summer Camp

We talked this week about technology.   It's probably pretty obvious that we believe that modern technology is a boost to summer camps, however, our question this week: Is technology always good for our campers?  Should camp be the "place apart" where children can learn to use their imagination with out computers?

Dan was gracious enough to share with us a bit of information from his Masters thesis, which is on this very topic. He has written and spoken on this topic at many camp conferences.

It was great to have with us this week Rebecca Jess from Cairn, the camp that Beth and I used to Direct.  Thanks for joining us, Palais!

What do you think?  Is there a NEED for a place like camp for kids to unplug?

Tool of the Week – Something that you use to make yourself a better Camp Director

• Joe - Brother P-Touch Label maker
• Dan - S'More: Fundraising Resource for Summer Camps
• Rebecca - MadMimi - email newsletter service
• Travis - Petzl MYO-XP headlamp (Black Diamond headlamp with night-vision preserving red LEDs)

(please note: Amazon products are affiliate links)

Your Hosts:

• Joe Richards, Executive Director at Pearce Williams Christian Centre
• Travis Allison, Summer Camp Leadership and Marketing Consultant at Walking Maverick
• Dan Weir, Director of Camping Services at Frost Valley YMCA
• Rebecca Jess, Director at Cairn Presbyterian Camping & Retreat Centres

Thanks for the evening, friends.