If you were to rate your camp’s performance on a scale of 1 to 10, we could all agree that lower numbers would suggest some level of crisis. Leaders would be actively seeking solutions or making changes to navigate out of a score of 1 to 3.
Perhaps this is why doing “alright” or “good enough” with a score of 4 to 7 is more dangerous. Psychologists call this the Region Beta Paradox. The theory suggests that people tend to remain in a suboptimal state for longer as long as the state is relatively acceptable. In short, people tend not to act until it feels painful or like a crisis.
We all know someone with nagging shoulder pain or a similar injury who has not sought medical assistance or physical therapy. If their shoulder were broken, they would immediately go to a hospital. Or consider surveys showing that many people remain in jobs or relationships that are not ideal because they want to avoid the discomfort of change. Yet in reality, these individuals would likely be better off if they actively pursued a better situation.
Kaleidoscope would say the same theory can be true for camps. Maybe your camp operates “in the black” by balancing a budget, but the budget does not fund depreciation or set aside reserves for the next HVAC unit or piece of kitchen equipment that fails. Or consider a camp board that is engaged and committed, but does not include the skills needed to navigate the organization’s current season. Thriving boards typically include professionals with defined qualifications rather than relying primarily on “love of camp” or “grew up here” as selection criteria.
The danger of scoring somewhere in the middle of the 10-point scale shows up in a few key areas:
Sudden shifts threaten viability.
The pandemic showed how quickly circumstances can change. Loss of a major donor or institutional support can have a similar impact.
The industry continues to evolve.
Camps are innovating to meet the needs of new generations. Word of mouth drives enrollment for many camps, and failing to keep pace can affect reputation and market share.
Mission impact should always be advancing.
Thriving camps consistently seek growth, whether programmatic, operational, or experiential.
As the new year begins in earnest, Kaleidoscope continues to talk with camps across the spectrum:
• those seeking help to navigate out of crisis
• those actively thriving and planning how to stay ahead
• those unsure of where they stand but ready to gain clarity and momentum
Wherever you are on that continuum, we are ready to have the conversation and help put an end to “good enough.”
