Starting summer camp conversations to bridge a generation gap
ROLE
Brand Designer
ROLE
Brand Designer
TIMELINE
1 Week
TIMELINE
1 Week
SKILLS
Communications, Storytelling
SKILLS
Communications, Storytelling
TOOLS
Figma
TOOLS
Figma
context:
context:
Camp Swamp is a non-profit organization that provides camp and retreat services in Georgia for kids ages 9-18. The organization runs 7 weeks of overnight camp during the summer and rents out their facilities to schools, churches, universities, and any sports or business groups during the year.
As a Media Relations Intern, I developed resources to promote connections between parents and children with the goal of building stronger connections with the organization's audience .
Camp Swamp is a non-profit organization that provides camp and retreat services in Georgia for kids ages 9-18. The organization runs 7 weeks of overnight camp during the summer and rents out their facilities to schools, churches, universities, and any sports or business groups during the year.
As a Media Relations Intern, I developed resources to promote connections between parents and children with the goal of building stronger connections with the organization's audience .
result: (still waiting for the metrics to come back)
result: (still waiting for the metrics to come back)
✹ Learned how to tailor messaging to parents and children in ways that foster meaningful interaction.
✹ Developed skills in simplifying complex ideas into approachable prompts
✹ Learned how to tailor messaging to parents and children in ways that foster meaningful interaction.
✹ Developed skills in simplifying complex ideas into approachable prompts
the [short] process ↓
the [short] process ↓
how might we use media and messaging to encourage stronger parent–child connections?
how might we use media and messaging to encourage stronger parent–child connections?
inspired by the game 'We're Not Really Strangers'
inspired by the game 'We're Not Really Strangers'
the goal:
the goal:
This project would be successful if at least 80% of parents reported that their child shared something new, personal, or meaningful with them as a result of the project.
This project would be successful if at least 80% of parents reported that their child shared something new, personal, or meaningful with them as a result of the project.
the ideation:
the ideation:
I knew I could use my past experiences to help me come up with something that could connect parents with their kids.
When I went to summer camp, one of the best times to connect with my family was the Saturday night dinner after coming home. We got to tell the stories of our week at camp around the dinner table.
With my family, some of the best conversations I've had were in the car playing the game, We're Not Really Strangers. These cards asked questions that we hadn't thought about before and opened small doors for us to be more vulnerable with each other than before.
I knew I could use my past experiences to help me come up with something that could connect parents with their kids.
When I went to summer camp, one of the best times to connect with my family was the Saturday night dinner after coming home. We got to tell the stories of our week at camp around the dinner table.
With my family, some of the best conversations I've had were in the car playing the game, We're Not Really Strangers. These cards asked questions that we hadn't thought about before and opened small doors for us to be more vulnerable with each other than before.
the questions:
the questions:
I considered how parents and children connect at different levels. I wanted to balance approachable prompts with deeper, more reflective questions.
One part of camp's mission statement is the order in which belonging is experienced at camp: play, connection, community, then wonder. Play is where kids learn that they can trust their peers through when doing something fun & simple. If they can trust others in play, they open themselves up to start building connections. The connections strengthen and become their community. Community is where belonging is found and wonder is experienced.
The goal was to create a natural flow where families could begin with simple topics (the play) and gradually move toward more meaningful discussions about feelings, values, and personal experiences (wonder).
I considered how parents and children connect at different levels. I wanted to balance approachable prompts with deeper, more reflective questions.
One part of camp's mission statement is the order in which belonging is experienced at camp: play, connection, community, then wonder. Play is where kids learn that they can trust their peers through when doing something fun & simple. If they can trust others in play, they open themselves up to start building connections. The connections strengthen and become their community. Community is where belonging is found and wonder is experienced.
The goal was to create a natural flow where families could begin with simple topics (the play) and gradually move toward more meaningful discussions about feelings, values, and personal experiences (wonder).
the most important part:
the most important part:
Sometimes it’s not that people don’t want deeper conversations—they just don’t know how to have them.
The value wasn’t in the questions themselves, but in the instructions on how to use them.
Some instructions seem like common sense, but sometimes we just need to be reminded to listen.
Sometimes it’s not that people don’t want deeper conversations—they just don’t know how to have them.
The value wasn’t in the questions themselves, but in the instructions on how to use them.
Some instructions seem like common sense, but sometimes we just need to be reminded to listen.
the final product + learnings:
the final product + learnings:
Holistically, I learned how to practice asking better questions. Wording and framing mattered as much as the questions themselves. Choosing specific, approachable language and providing clear instructions helped set up the framework of the conversation.
Sometimes we don't need to ask a million questions, we just need to ask the right ones.
Holistically, I learned how to practice asking better questions. Wording and framing mattered as much as the questions themselves. Choosing specific, approachable language and providing clear instructions helped set up the framework of the conversation.
Sometimes we don't need to ask a million questions, we just need to ask the right ones.
Like what you see?
Or just want to talk?
I really love new coffee shops + rich conversation!
Like what you see?
Or just want to talk?
I really love new coffee shops + rich conversation!