Last week in the Summer Camp community, discussions centered around both practical and lighthearted topics. Members addressed ongoing maintenance issues, like the pesky sputtering hot water in the bathhouse, while also delving into staff training needs. There was a bit of nostalgia with a lively debate about the origins of “Boom Chicka Boom,” and strategic conversations on improving camp experiences, especially concerning safety and emergency preparedness. The theme of balancing tradition with innovation was a common thread throughout the discussions.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Sputtering hot water in the bathhouse
Camp maintenance is always a hot topic, and this week, members are tackling the issue of inconsistent hot water. It’s a practical concern that affects daily camp life. Read more here
What tech training actually helps staff
Exploring which tech skills are genuinely beneficial for camp staff, this discussion highlights the importance of relevant training. Read more here
Who actually wrote Boom Chicka Boom
A fun debate has emerged about the origins of this campfire classic, sparking memories and stories from camps past. Read more here
Kickoff question for camp trivia night
Members are brainstorming engaging questions to start camp trivia nights on a high note. It’s all about creating memorable camp experiences. Read more here
Testing a 20-minute welcome circuit
This topic delves into creating an effective and efficient welcome routine to set the right tone for campers. Read more here
Homesickness and safety: what’s working now
A vital discussion on current strategies to tackle homesickness and ensure camper safety, emphasizing well-being at camp. Read more here
Updating our emergency drill plan
Updating emergency procedures is crucial, and this thread focuses on refining plans to improve response times and safety. Read more here
Thanks for staying engaged with our camp community. Your contributions and discussions make camp life better for everyone. Looking forward to seeing what ideas emerge next week!
Pretty sure Boom Chicka Boom is folk/traditional — tons of versions and no single credited writer — the camp-song equivalent of arguing who invented “knock-knock” jokes. If we want to pin it down, I can check ASCAP/BMI and our old songleader binder this week; does anyone remember the earliest camp year you heard “I said a boom-chicka-boom”?
The way we keep that campfire chant from turning into a shout-fest is to assign one caller and use a two-finger spin as the cue for the next verse so the echo stays tight and the tempo doesn’t creep. Tiny caveat: with younger cabins we switch to a clap-then-point cue because it’s more obvious. @Maya, do you remember when we added that to staff training — was it 2016?
I’m with @gthompson75 that the campfire chant is folk/traditional, but I’d lock that in the songbook: credit ‘Traditional; variants’ and give counselors a foam baton for passing the lead so the echo stays clean. Since last week was all about ‘staff training’, let’s drop a 60-second demo clip in the training drive and call the authorship debate settled, . Anyone have a 90s song sheet we can scan for the archive?
I’m fine with ‘Traditional’ too, but let’s add a provenance note like “earliest print sightings: late '80s/early '90s scout books” and a one-line rule: “Leader only; repeat after me.” To keep it tidy, have the leader snap once after each line as the handoff cue — quieter and easier than props when you’re holding a guitar, @gthompson75. If someone has a citation we can add it, but either way that keeps the song fun without turning the fire ring into a popcorn machine.
Agree with @lee12 on crediting it as “Traditional; variants”; what’s worked for us is giving the leader a bandana and a clapper — one click to start, two to change style, flat palm to end — and indoors we swap the clapper for a soft hand drum to keep volume down. Want me to draft a one-line cue for the songbook?
I poked around and everything I can find points to no single author — just later popularizations. Could we mark it “Traditional” and add a quick note like “avoid accents; pick style-from-list,” plus a QR to a 30‑sec demo, @lee12? The origin debate feels like arguing who invented s’mores.