About Jack.
I own Camps Kenwood & Evergreen, a brother-sister overnight camp in New Hampshire. It was founded in 1930. I bought it in 2025.
I grew up at camp and never really left. Eight summers as a camper at Camp Stella Maris in upstate New York, then eight more on staff. I studied engineering, then co-founded a nonprofit camp called Camp Stomping Ground. Along the way I trained more than 10,000 camp counselors and visited 500+ camps.
This site is where I write about how kids actually grow up well, and what camp has to do with it.
Up front
I own a camp, so I have a horse in this race. When I write about Camps Kenwood & Evergreen, that's why. When I write about camp in general, it's because I've seen hundreds of them and I think it's worth getting right for your kid.
What I work on
The camp.Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. Brother-sister overnight camp in New Hampshire, founded 1930. 230 acres on a private lake. Every kid known by name.
The writing. Summer Matters, every Tuesday, read by 3,000+ parents who think hard about childhood.
The teaching. The Summer Camp Society, where I help other camp directors do this work well.
How I got here
Camp Stella Maris first. Sixteen summers there, half as a camper and half on staff.
Then I got curious about every other camp. I spent two years on the road visiting more than 200 camps in 47 states. I kept going. Today it's 500+ camps in 48 states.
In 2015 I co-founded Camp Stomping Ground, a nonprofit sleepaway camp. I started training counselors there and never stopped. More than 10,000 so far. I've spoken at 50+ conferences.
I also co-founded The Summer Camp Society, which helps camp directors run better camps.
In 2025 I bought Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. Thirty summers at camp so far.
A few things about me
- I once biked across Spain in a shark costume. Ask me about it.
- I think summer camp is the healthiest place a kid can spend a summer.
- I co-founded a nonprofit sleepaway camp called Camp Stomping Ground in 2015.
- I've trained more than 10,000 camp counselors.
- I've visited 500+ camps in 48 states. Still missing Alaska and Hawaii.
- I've spent 30 summers at camp, starting as a camper at Camp Stella Maris in upstate New York.
- I've spoken at 50+ conferences.
- I spend my summers at Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. Best office on earth.
Elsewhere
- Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. The camp I own and run. Where the writing comes from.
- The Summer Camp Society. What I teach other camp directors.
- Summer Matters. My weekly letter for K&E parents. Every issue, archived.
- Meet Jack at Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. My page on the camp's site.
- Camping Coast to Coast. The road trip where I started visiting camps. 200+ camps, 47 states, 2 years.
- Camp Stomping Ground. The nonprofit sleepaway camp I co-founded in 2015.
- Write From Camp. Where I write for camp directors.
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Read by parents and camp directors across the country.