Let’s roll through a quick list that’s at the very heart of everything we believe about camp, activities, programming, child development, agency, staff energy and heck, just having fun:
- Nart
- Jujitsu
- DJ Yoga
- Basketball
- Spanish 101
- Grove Mania
- Knot Jewelry
- Watercolor Postcards
If you’re scratching your head wondering what exactly is going on here, you’re far from alone.
Parents often ask us about these some-mysterious/ some-not activity names showing up on their campers’ schedules during time at Twin Creeks.
This is Masterclass.
Every week, kids are choosing from about 30 different activities, many of which look nothing like traditional camp programming. We aren’t rolling with “arts and crafts” or “games.” These are real classes, taught by our staff who around themes and skills they are genuinely passionate about.
Welcome to the most [chaotic], creative, and surprisingly successful part of our daily schedule.
What Masterclass Actually Is
Every afternoon at Twin Creeks, we run two Masterclass periods.
Each counselor creates or supports a 5-day curriculum of their choosing.
Could be anything from fencing with pool noodles to advanced watercolor techniques.
Campers select two Masterclasses per session, one for each afternoon period.
On it’s face, this is a pretty simple breakdown. Create a class, join a class, learn cool stuff. Easy.
But we’ve come to understand, that this Masterclass programming is incredibly unique in nearly every way.
This isn’t the usual camp “choice time” where kids pick from a predetermined list of activities we’ve been running for decades. This is real free choice for both campers and staff.
Counselors get to teach what they love. Campers get to learn or interact with what actually interests them.
Just consider this timeline:
- June 20th → the Masterclass list didn’t yet exist.
- June 27th → 30 different classes up and running, each with its own lesson plan and committed group of staff and campers.
The Trust Factor and Why This Works
Most camps don’t attempt this and I don’t blame them. It takes an enormous amount of trust in the staff and the kids to pull it off.
The entire program hinges on staff showing up knowing they are going to own a certain (not insignificant) portion of the camp schedule. They know they’ll create and design something, mostly from scratch, based on things they already love or love doing.
During staff training, Amy and Lisa work with each group to refine their Masterclass.
And here, I have to admit that when Amy first suggested we do this more than a decade ago, I thought, “Yikes, that seems like a lot of work.”
But she brought her Reggio Emilia educational background, knowing full well that real learning happens when child-led curiosity meets passionate teaching. The best learning happens in this way, time and time again.
And, as I’ve been reminded many times through the years (both about this, and in other parts of our life), she was right.
When kids choose what they want to learn and commit to it, they show up differently. The staff excitement is contagious because they’re “selling” their course during sign up periods, and then teaching what they already love.
Plus, the cultural continuity remains unmatched. Returning staff plan their Masterclasses months in advance. They know this is their chance to share something meaningful.
The Bigger Picture
Again, most camp brochures won’t include Puzzler, Futsol, You Like Rocks, or Camp Conservation.
It’s totally rational to stick with the predictable: predetermined activities, fixed schedules, safe choices that guarantee a baseline experience.
And that’s all fine. We do plenty of that stuff as well.
But for us, Masterclass represents everything Twin Creeks believes about what works with kids.
We aren’t going for bouncy house or prepurchased inflatable fun. We are striving for a unique camp experience that combines everything you probably already think about summer camping (the outdoors, the traditions, the “regular” stuff) with an element of individuality and inspiration.
Because this program embodies one of our core philosophies: we trust our people.
We trust our counselors to create meaningful experiences.
We trust our campers to make good choices and commit to them.
We trust the process, even when it means some classes might not fill or work perfectly (sorry You Like Rocks, you just didn’t quite cut it this time around).
It’s like when your kid makes you a birthday card. It definitely (and I mean definitely) doesn’t look like what you can buy in a store. But it doesn’t matter because it’s theirs. Ownership + investment is what makes Masterclass work.
In a world where kids and adults are often told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, Masterclass gives them real choice.
Real choice, it turns out, leads to real engagement.
And real engagement is at the heart of this program.
~Iain
