A Camp Counselor’s Guide to Corporate Connection
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It’s all about kids today
I’m posted up at this giant boardroom table in my best business costume, trying not to sweat through my shirt as I explain why the “compliment hot seat” isn’t just some corny summer camp gimmick. Picture eight grizzled executives—old enough to be my dad—shooting me the “You better not waste my time, kid” look.
It’s my very first solo gig facilitating a forum, and I’m convinced any second now they’re going to see right through my stiff blazer and realize: “This guy’s just a long-haired camp counselor from 2009.”
Me at camp in 2009
My friend and total rockstar, Sylvia van Meerten—business coach, YPO Forum guru, all-around badass—sent me here to reduce what she calls the “trust tax.” That’s code for “Get these people to actually ask for help and trust each other a bit.” Not because it’s all warm and fuzzy, but because it makes stuff actually get done.
Sylvia wrote the whole agenda for me. I’ve run these exercises a thousand times—exactly 999 times with kids or camp staff, usually knee-deep in the woods. Now it’s game day in a Midwest manufacturing plant, and I’m absolutely terrified to drop the “summer camp” angle on them.
But I finally get there: Aw Shucks.
Aw Shucks
One person takes the “compliment seat.”
When it’s your turn, you’ve got 60 seconds to give a compliment or say what inspires you about that person.
Timer goes on, each person shares.
The person on the hot seat responds with either “Thank you” or “Aw Shucks.” (No monologues allowed!)
Rotate seats until everyone’s had a turn to get showered with compliments.
It’s called Aw Shucks because when Sylvia’s daughter, Greta, was four, someone complimented her drawing. She tried to argue back, and Grandma swooped in with:
“Greta, when you get a compliment, you can say ‘Thank you’ or ‘Aw Shucks.’ Anything else drags the whole thing out.”
So I’m explaining this to the CFO, the facilities manager, the head of sales... all these hardcore manufacturing pros. I’m petrified they’re about to laugh me out of the building.
I already know from my phone calls before today that everyone’s annoyed with Jim (that’s what we’ll call him). Jim’s the 60-year-old head of maintenance, big chaw of tobacco in his cheek, notorious for not suffering fools gladly.
When Jim sits down in the compliment seat, the crew goes around and says stuff like:
“Jim, it’s inspiring to know that when I ask you to do something, you’ll actually do it.”
“Jim, you’re the kind of guy who makes things happen. Without you, we’d be in big trouble.”
Sincere compliments, but not exactly Shakespearean sonnets.
And then I look at Jim—he’s tearing up! The tough-as-nails maintenance head is getting misty-eyed from hearing his coworkers appreciate him.
Boom. That’s when I realized: the world needs more of this. Facilitating a forum isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about building a container for real conversation, just like we do at camp. At the end of the day, we’re all just big kids craving connection.
Me in a business costume sharing this story at the Prairie Family Business Center Annual Conference
What’s a Forum, Anyway?
A forum is a group of 5–12 people who carve out regular time to have a structured, intentional conversation. Some folks call them peer groups or affinity groups. The ones I’ve seen most are modeled after YPO-style forums:
A Moderator runs a 2–3 hour meeting.
Everyone gives a timed “update,” then the group does a deep dive on a specific topic. (If you’ve done summer camp, think: grown-up cabin chats.)
Why I’m Obsessed with Forums
Equal Airtime
We literally set timers for each person so it’s not just Chatty Cathy dominating 90% of the meeting. Everyone gets their turn.It’s Facilitated
The moderator is the hero here. They keep the meeting on track, set the pace, and politely nudge you when you’re off-topic. Love it, because it lets me be fully present instead of worrying about the clock.No Judgment, Please
The entire goal is to actually listen—not to “should” all over someone else. No “You should do this,” no “Here’s where you screwed up.” Just open ears, open mind.Speak in ‘I’ Statements
Instead of jumping into advice, you share what’s real for you. It’s surprisingly tough, and I’m here for the challenge.Community on Steroids
I’ve never built deeper relationships faster, as an adult, than through forums. They create a seriously safe container where we can all be honest about what’s going on in our heads and hearts.
Summer Camp
As I’ve grown more comfortable leading forum-style conversations outside of the summer-camp bubble, I’ve come to love camp even more. Now, I proudly lead with my camp experience, and it’s wild how people’s faces light up when I say the word “camp.”
The truth is, people are starving for this stuff. Summer camp and forums are two of the best inventions on the planet for building and scaling trust—one kid or boardroom at a time.
Get my newsletter every week.
It’s all about kids today
Jack Schott
Summer Camp Evangelist