I always chuckle a bit at camp directors who try to sell their camp based on giant iceberg floats in the bay or paintball or other gimmicks. A good camp is not about the grounds or the facilities or the activities. A good camp is based on relationships between campers and leaders, among campers, and among staff. I've seen great facilities that host mediocre camps because the staff didn't take the time to build a community.
For this reason, I love Camp Talk by AroundtheTableGames.com. The product is 50 small cards attached to a cool carabiner with a small LED flashlight (perfect for finding the bathroom at night). Each card has a question designed to spark conversations among kids at camp, such as "What would your friends say that they like most about you?" This is what camp should be about, and I highly recommend that camp directors buy sets of these inexpensive discussion starters for their counselors. Parents, consider getting one before your son or daughter heads off to camp, or include it in a care package during their stay. If you have questions, contact Beth at Around the Table Games. She's super nice. Rating: A
