Last week’s discussions in the Summer Camp forum were both practical and insightful. Members shared strategies on managing homesickness and ensuring camper safety, highlighting current best practices. There was also an engaging debate about the origins of the camp song “Boom Chicka Boom,” which sparked interest in camp traditions. Additionally, technical challenges like inconsistent hot water supply and effective staff tech training were hot topics, as members exchanged experiences and solutions.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Homesickness and safety: what’s working now
Members are sharing effective strategies for addressing homesickness and safety concerns in camps. It’s valuable for anyone looking to improve camper well-being and safety protocols. Read more here
Who actually wrote Boom Chicka Boom
This thread dives into the origins of a popular camp song, sparking a lively discussion about camp culture and history. It’s a fun read for anyone curious about camp traditions. Read more here
Sputtering hot water in the bathhouse
A practical discussion about dealing with inconsistent hot water supply in camp facilities. Perfect for those managing camp operations and maintenance. Read more here
What tech training actually helps staff
Participants discuss which tech skills are truly beneficial for camp staff, helping to streamline operations and enhance camper experience. Read more here
Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions and shared experiences. Keep contributing and supporting each other!
I’ve always heard “Boom Chicka Boom” is traditional/author unknown, with camp variations spreading in the late ’80s, so the origin’s blurrier than a counselor’s flashlight at lights-out. Does anyone have a pre-1990 songbook or staff manual that names a writer? In the meantime, let’s credit it as “traditional” in the songbook and note to revisit, and check Boom-Chicka-Boom - Ultimate Camp Resource for earliest citations.
I checked a few songbooks and camper newsletters and only see late-’80s/early-’90s printings calling it “traditional,” plus no hits in ASCAP/BMI under the title. If anyone has a pre-1988 source, could you post a page snap, @CampArchivist? Harder to date than a marshmallow on a bent stick.
@sjones One concrete step: search Newspapers.com plus GSUSA/4-H leader manuals for the first line and sort by oldest; print will lag oral use, but it can still pin the channel (cheer or Scout trainings), which are as slippery to date as sunscreen at waterfront. Anyone have a 1990–1992 Girl Scouts Sing Together! or a 4-H camp packet to check?
Since last week’s tech hiccups came up, a low‑cost thing that’s worked for me is digging into old staff training binders — copier date stamps or initials on song sheets will sometimes flag who led the ‘repeat-after-me’ number and the year, which gives you a concrete starting point… If you turn up a name, I can cross-check our alumni notes to see when that counselor arrived and whether they were known for teaching it.