The Camp Program Lab

By Curt Jackson

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Image by Curt Jackson

Category: Education

Open in Apple Podcasts


Open RSS feed


Open Website


Rate for this podcast

Subscribers: 9
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 212

Description

The Camp Program Lab is a podcast for summer camp professionals who want fresh, practical ideas for creating unforgettable camp experiences. Hosted by Curt and Chris, each episode explores the creative side of camp programming—from games, themes, crafts, special events, and staff training to traditions, trends, and the occasional questionable idea that deserves to be tested. Some episodes offer rapid-fire inspiration you can use immediately. Others take a deeper look at the challenges camp professionals face when building programs, leading staff, and keeping campers engaged. Whether you’re a camp director, program director, activity leader, counselor, or simply someone who loves camp, consider this your place to experiment, borrow ideas, and make good programs even better. Subscribe, head into the lab with us, and discover your camp’s next great idea.

Episode Date
SCP 212: “I would 100% be out there just digging holes!”
Oct 28, 2026
SCP 211: "I'll take a hint for 20, Alex!"
Oct 19, 2026
SCP 210: "Zero Editing, People!"
Oct 14, 2026
SCP 209: "You lost the Bob Ross name. Now you're just Bob Evans!"
Sep 23, 2026
SCP 208: The Final Episode?
Jun 05, 2024
SCP 207: Useful Lessons We've Learned in Our Camp Careers
May 28, 2024
SCP 206: Spicing Up Capture the Flag
May 16, 2024
SCP 205: After Hours Activity Ideas for Camp
May 01, 2024
SCP 204: Magazine Style #11
Apr 19, 2024
SCP 203: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 2)
Mar 27, 2024
SCP 202: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 1)
Mar 27, 2024
SCP 201: 20 Special Guests Suggestions for Your Camp
Mar 12, 2024
SCP 200: Bringing Entertainers to Camps: A Chat with Academic Entertainment
Feb 28, 2024
SCP 199: The Art of the Mini-Camp
Feb 14, 2024
Episode 198: Unleashing Your Campers’ Inner Problem Solver: Puzzle Hunts and More
Jan 30, 2024
SCP 197: Magazine Style #10
Jan 18, 2024
SCP 196: Great Ways to Thank Your Staff at the End of Summer
Jan 02, 2024
Episode 195: Water Activities to Keep Your Campers Cool Next Summer
Dec 20, 2023
SCP 194: Remix: Camp Wide Games
Nov 22, 2023
SCP 193: Magazine Style Episode #9 (A.I. Edition)
Nov 08, 2023
SCP 192: 8 Special Events You Should be Offering at Camp
Oct 24, 2023
SCP 191: C.A.F.E. Bags
Oct 11, 2023
SCP 190: We’re Back
Sep 28, 2023
SCP 189: Remix: Spicing up Rainy Day
Jun 02, 2023
SCP 188: Ideas for Your Pirate Theme Week
May 18, 2023
SCP 187: Magazine Style Episode #8
May 01, 2023
SCP 186: Staff Only Activities
Apr 13, 2023
SCP 185: Our Favorite Skits
Mar 24, 2023
SCP 184: Our ACA National Conference Experience
Mar 13, 2023
SCP 183: Magazine Style Episode #7
Mar 08, 2023
SCP 182: The ACA National Conference is Next Week!
Feb 16, 2023
SCP 181: Camp Websites We Like
Feb 16, 2023
SCP 180: Fun Items You Should Be Selling in Your Camp Store
Feb 03, 2023
SCP 179: Summer Camp Themes Based on 2023 Movies
Jan 27, 2023
SCP 178: It’s Story Time with Curt!
Jan 17, 2023
SCP 177: Top Shot Ideas for Target Activities
Jan 13, 2023
SCP 176: A New Year - 2023
Jan 06, 2023
SCP 175: I Saw It on TikTok
Nov 09, 2022
SCP 174: Magazine Style #6
Nov 06, 2022
SCP 173: STEM Activities
Oct 27, 2022
SCP 172: New and Fantastic Program Additions?
Oct 20, 2022
SCP 171: Remix: Counselor Bag of Tricks
Oct 06, 2022
SCP 170: Fall Event Ideas
Sep 29, 2022
SCP 169: Magazine Style Episode #5
Sep 16, 2022
SCP 168: Summer Recap with Kelie Cook
Sep 09, 2022
SCP 167: Summer Recap with Chris Kallal
Sep 01, 2022
SCP 166: Running an Alumni Program with Jeff Bradshaw
Aug 10, 2022
SCP 165: End of Season Staff Ideas
Aug 04, 2022
SCP 164: Magazine Style Episode #4
Jul 28, 2022
SCP 163: Mid-Season Burnout Busters
Jul 20, 2022
SCP 162: Magazine Style Episode #3
Jul 14, 2022
SCP 161: How Chris’ Summer is Going So Far
Jul 06, 2022
SCP 160: Magazine Style Episode #2
Jun 30, 2022
SCP 159: Record Breakers
Jun 23, 2022
SCP 158: Activity Stations
Jun 17, 2022
SCP 157: S.T.E.M. Activities
Jun 08, 2022
SCP 156: Our First Magazine Style Episode
May 31, 2022
SCP 155: Ropes and Team Building Resources
May 26, 2022
SCP 154: Dangerous Camp Activities
May 18, 2022
SCP 153: Trivia Games and Events
Apr 16, 2022
SCP 152: Used To Be a Thing
Apr 09, 2022
SCP 151: Favorite Mobile Apps
Apr 01, 2022
SCP 150: Summer Camp Traditions
Mar 24, 2022
SCP 149: Our Favorite Carnival Games
Mar 17, 2022
SCP 148: Adding Whimsy to Camp
Mar 10, 2022
SCP 147: Favorite Pinterest Picks
Mar 05, 2022
SCP 146: Escape Bags
Feb 24, 2022
SCP 145: Camp Staff Go Bags
Feb 17, 2022
SCP 144: We’re Back!!!
Feb 17, 2022
SCP 143: Winter Camp and Event Ideas
Dec 10, 2021
SCP 142: 17 Phrases You Should Never Say to Your Staff
Nov 24, 2021
SCP 141: 9 Staff Supervision Tips
Nov 11, 2021
SCP 140: Activity Mash-Ups
Nov 03, 2021
SCP 139: Starting a Summer Camp with Laura Kriegel
Oct 29, 2021
SCP 138: Being a Conference Presenter
Oct 21, 2021
SCP 137: Unique Meals at Camp
Oct 14, 2021
SCP 136: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Books
Oct 07, 2021
SCP 135: New Ideas for Next Summer
Sep 29, 2021
SCP 134: Red Flags to Watch For During Your Job Search
Sep 23, 2021
SCP 133: Fall/Winter Retreat Ideas
Sep 09, 2021
SCP 132: Our 2021 Summer Recap
Sep 03, 2021
SCP 131: Disney vs. Six Flags - Lessons from the Theme Parks
Aug 26, 2021
SCP 130: Staff Recognition Ideas
Jun 11, 2021
SCP 129: Camper Recognition Ideas
Jun 10, 2021
SCP 128: Camp Programming Using Odd Holidays
Jun 09, 2021
SCP 127: Spice Up Your Hikes
Jun 08, 2021
SCP 126: A Variety of Puzzle Race Activities
Jun 07, 2021
SCP 125: Birthdays, Mail Calls, and Attention Getters
Jun 07, 2021
SCP 124: 9 Unique Summer Camp Ideas
Jun 06, 2021
SCP 123: Customer Service Tips
Jun 05, 2021
SCP 122: Teaching Skills to Campers
Jun 03, 2021
SCP 121: Counselor Hunts
Jun 02, 2021
SCP 120: Fun Staff Training Ideas
May 27, 2021
SCP 119: Social Distance Activities Part 2
May 19, 2021
SCP 118: Social Distance Activities Part 1
May 12, 2021
SCP 117: Homesickness (and Parentsickness) Tips and Tricks
May 05, 2021
SCP 116: An Interview with Royleane Allen of 413 Strengthgear
Apr 29, 2021
SCP 115: Running Overnight Camp in 2021 with Samantha Townsend
Apr 23, 2021
SCP 114: Running Day Camp in 2021 with Shanelle Lambert-Rauh
Apr 19, 2021
SCP 113: I Don't Like It! (Staff Version)
Apr 07, 2021
SCP 112: How to Get the Most Out of Your Camp Store with Jason Brown (Pt 2)
Mar 31, 2021
SCP 111: How to Get the Most Out of Your Camp Store with Jason Brown (Pt 1)
Mar 31, 2021
SCP 110: Making Your Special Events Great
Mar 24, 2021
SCP 109: Animals at Camp - an Interview with Shauna Guglielmo
Mar 18, 2021
SCP 108: Running a Day Camp with Limited Resources
Mar 10, 2021
SCP 107: Would You Rather Have This or That at Camp?
Mar 03, 2021
SCP 106: Keeping Staff Engaged Pre-Camp
Feb 25, 2021
SCP 105: Going Green with Danny Sudman
Feb 18, 2021
SCP 104: Year-Round Engagement Ideas
Feb 11, 2021
SCP 103: Theater Tips Applied to Camp with Lindsey Sigler
Feb 04, 2021
SCP 102: Creating Programming around a Book
Jan 27, 2021
SCP 101: Interview with Jason Levasseur from the Rock Star Project
Jan 21, 2021
SCP 100: The Centennial Episode
Jan 13, 2021
SCP 99: Stolen Summer Camp Ideas
Jan 06, 2021
SCP 98: I Don't Like It! (Camper Version)
Dec 30, 2020
SCP 97: Should You Be Using JotForm for Your Camp?
Dec 25, 2020
SCP 96: I Don't Like It! (Parent Version)
Dec 23, 2020
SCP 95: Staff Recruitment
Dec 19, 2020
SCP 94: Interview with Kelie Cook
Dec 09, 2020
SCP 93: 10 Reasons Why Batman Would Make a Great Camp Counselor
Dec 02, 2020
SCP 92: Team Building with Michelle Cummings
Nov 26, 2020
SCP 91: Tabletop Game Activities
Nov 17, 2020
SCP 90: Video Game Activities
Nov 17, 2020
SCP 89: Running Camp in 2020 with Michael Garcia
Nov 11, 2020
SCP 88: It's Time for SCampCon!
Oct 28, 2020
SCP 87: Teen Leadership Programs
Oct 20, 2020
SCP 86: Starting a Podcast Program at Camp
Oct 14, 2020
SCP 85: Revenue Beyond Registration
Oct 07, 2020
SCP 84: Virtual Escape Rooms
Sep 28, 2020
SCP 83: Programming Resources
Sep 20, 2020
SCP 82: Virtual Conferences
Sep 08, 2020
SCP 81: Camp Cancelled? Let's Talk Ideas for a Plan B
Sep 01, 2020
SCP 80: Brain Breaks
Aug 25, 2020
SCP 79: Pinterest Finds
Aug 18, 2020
SCP 78: Matt Henry and the Take Two! Program
Aug 12, 2020
SCP 77: Online Apps, Sites and Software to Help with Your Virtual Programming
Aug 05, 2020
SCP 76: Virtual Camp Success Stories part 4
Jul 31, 2020
SCP 75: Virtual Camp Success Stories part 3
Jul 30, 2020
SCP 74: Virtual Camp Success Stories part 2
Jul 29, 2020
SCP 73: Virtual Camp Success Stories part 1
Jul 28, 2020
SCP 72: Lessons from Running a Virtual Harry Potter Camp
Jul 21, 2020
SCP 71: Interview with Allison Miller and Steve Slavkin with Happy Camper Live
Jul 14, 2020
SCP 70: Programming Through Different Lenses
Jul 07, 2020
SCP 69: Bingo Variations
Jul 07, 2020
SCP 68: Being More Racially Inclusive at Camp
Jun 28, 2020
SCP 67: Virtual Camp Snack Ideas
Jun 17, 2020
SCP 66: Interviewing The Dynamic Duo
Jun 09, 2020
SCP 65: Virtual Camp Kits and Boxes
Jun 02, 2020
SCP 64: An Interview with Matt Ralph of Summer Camp Culture
May 27, 2020
SCP 63: Virtual Camp Ideas 2.0 - Part 2
May 19, 2020
SCP 62: Virtual Camp Ideas 2.0 - Part 1
May 19, 2020
SCP 61: Virtual Camp Storytelling - An Interview with Meghan Gardner from Guardian Adventures
May 05, 2020
SCP 60: Cooking with Campers
Apr 28, 2020
SCP 59: Native Americans - What's Appropriate at Camp with Paul Gowder
Apr 21, 2020
SCP 58: Better Camp Crafts - Part 2
Apr 14, 2020
SCP 57: Better Camp Crafts - Part 1
Apr 07, 2020
SCP 56: Virtual Camp Ideas
Apr 01, 2020
SCP 55: Hometown Stomping Ground Virtual Camp with Jack Schott
Mar 26, 2020
SCP 54: Beekeeping at Camp with Kevin Johnson
Mar 24, 2020
SCP 53: Cool Tweaks to Make at Camp
Mar 22, 2020
SCP 52: Hatchet Throwing Programs with Drew Demery
Mar 10, 2020
SCP 51: Creating Mystery Trails
Mar 03, 2020
SCP 50: What Would You Do at Camp with a Little Extra Money?
Feb 25, 2020
SCP 49: Around the World Theme
Feb 18, 2020
SCP 48: Disney Theme
Feb 11, 2020
SCP 47: Destination Hikes
Feb 04, 2020
SCP 46: Programming Binders
Jan 28, 2020
SCP 45: Olympics Theme Ideas
Jan 21, 2020
SCP 44: The Hero's Journey for First Time Campers
Jan 14, 2020
SCP 43: Star Wars Theme
Jan 07, 2020
SCP 42: Evening Activities for Summer Camp
Dec 31, 2019
SCP 41: Program Ideas for Teens
Dec 24, 2019
SCP 40: Best Things We Did Last Summer
Dec 17, 2019
SCP 39: S.T.E.M. Programming with Tara Laidlaw
Dec 10, 2019
SCP 38: Movie Themes
Dec 03, 2019
SCP 37: Tips for Hosting Retreats with Andy McClung
Nov 26, 2019
SCP 36: Our Favorite STEM Activities
Nov 19, 2019
SCP 35: Scavaganza with Jenn Ward and Amanda Borbee
Nov 12, 2019
SCP 34: Things We'd Like to See Happen in the Summer Camp Industry
Nov 05, 2019
SCP 33: The Exciting World of Pali Adventure Camp with Stephen “Snacks” Smigielski
Oct 29, 2019
SCP 32: Ideas for your Superhero Theme
Oct 22, 2019
SCP 31: Planning for Inclement Weather with Cricket Snearing
Oct 15, 2019
SCP 30: Anytime Activities
Oct 09, 2019
SCP 29: Halloween Events at Camp
Oct 01, 2019
SCP 28: Horse Programs with Christy Landwehr of CHA
Sep 24, 2019
SCP 27: Themed Specialty Camps with Ilana Schlam
Sep 17, 2019
SCP 26: What is Color War?
Sep 10, 2019
SCP 25: Listener Questions
Sep 03, 2019
SCP 24: Nature Watch with Jeff Salzman
Aug 28, 2019
SCP 23: SCampCon Talk
Aug 20, 2019
SCP 22: Outdoor Ed
Aug 14, 2019
SCP 21: Would Chris Try It?
Aug 07, 2019
SCP 20: Team Building
Jul 30, 2019
SCP 19: Treasure and Scavenger Hunts
Jul 23, 2019
SCP 18: Campfire Programs and Game Shows
Jul 16, 2019
SCP 17: Recognition Programs
Jul 09, 2019
SCP 16: Animals in the Nature Center
Jul 02, 2019
SCP 15: Making Day Camps Feel More "Campy"
Jun 25, 2019
SCP 14: Escape Rooms at Camp
Jun 18, 2019
SCP 13: Camp-Wide Games
Jun 11, 2019
SCP 12: Games in the Dark with Judd King
Jun 04, 2019
SCP 11: Spicing Up Your Rainy Day Plans
May 28, 2019
SCP 10: Spicing Up Your Arts and Crafts
May 21, 2019
SCP 9: Spicing Up Your Aquatics
May 14, 2019
SCP 8: Spicing Up Your Target Activities
May 07, 2019
SCP 7: Specialty Summer Camps
Apr 30, 2019
SCP 6: Theme Meals at Camp
Apr 23, 2019
SCP 5: Our Favorite Summer Camp Themes
Apr 16, 2019
SCP 4: Pros and Cons of Camp Themes
Apr 10, 2019
SCP 3: Giving Counselors the Opportunity to Make the Most of Camp
Apr 02, 2019
SCP 2: Time Fillers
Mar 26, 2019
SCP 1: An Introduction
Mar 25, 2019