On a recent episode of NHPR’s Outside/In, host Nate Hegyi explored how our growing reliance on GPS shapes the way we navigate — and how it changes the way we think. We’ve all heard the stories: cars following turn-by-turn directions straight into lakes (à la Michael Scott) or attempting to turn left inside tunnels. These stories are funny, but they also point to a deeper issue. When we outsource our sense of direction, we stop building the mental maps that help us make good decisions.
GPS tools aren’t the problem — we use them every day. But the conversation is a reminder of something we see constantly in our work with camps: tools help, but context is everything.
In our strategy and planning work, we see two very different modes of thinking among camp leaders:
GPS-thinking (copy & paste):
“Another camp raised $500K with a gala.”
“They switched to two-week sessions — we should, too.”
“They recruit counselors from X university — let’s do that.”
It feels fast and efficient… but it’s often brittle.
Map-thinking (context & choice):
You start by understanding the landmarks — your mission, outcomes, values — then read your terrain: facilities, staffing, location, family needs, community expectations. From there, you chart a route that fits your realities.
The NPR episode illustrates it perfectly: when you let a device do the wayfinding for you, the parts of your brain that build real understanding go quiet. The same is true when you let someone else’s playbook guide your camp.
But shortcuts can lead to real problems when the solution isn’t built for your terrain — financially, operationally, or culturally.
Start with landmarks:
Mission, values, non-negotiables, and the youth outcomes you promise.
Read the terrain:
Local demand, pricing norms, lodging capacity, staffing realities, regional calendars, program risk profile.
Select a route:
A small number of moves that reinforce each other — not a disconnected collection of tactics from other camps.
Field-test and recalibrate:
Pilot small. Gather signals. Adjust before you scale.
The power is never in the tactic itself. It’s in the fit.
When camp directors adopt a map mindset:
GPS-level ideas still have a place — but only when held inside a mental map of your camp’s landscape.
Use these five questions before copying any tactic you hear at a conference, on social media, or from a peer:
Borrowed strategies are only helpful when they align with your landscape.
Your camp doesn’t need another camp’s roadmap.
You need a clear understanding of your own.
When leaders build that map — grounded in mission, informed by data, shaped by reality — their strategy becomes durable, their staff aligned, and their decisions far more confident.
