Why do children often return from camp happier, calmer, and more confident—and why doesn’t that feeling always last?
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to camp director and author Matthew Kaufman, who breaks down the neuroscience behind camp and explains why it works so powerfully for children.
With more than 40 years of experience and an engineering mindset, Kaufman reveals that what looks like “camp magic” is actually intentional design rooted in brain science.
From helping shy children feel safe enough to take risks, to teaching kids how to handle stress, failure, and challenge in healthy ways, this conversation offers parents a new lens on child development. Kaufman also shares practical strategies parents can use during the school year—like creating meaningful family rituals and knowing when to support rather than step in.
This episode is for parents who want to:
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Foster resilience without overprotecting
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Understand the difference between distress and healthy challenge
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Support confidence, independence, and emotional safety
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Learn how belonging impacts learning, behaviour, and well-being
MATTHEW KAUFMAN
Camp Director
Author
Former Camper
Former Camp Counsellor
Father of 1
“You can’t do anything—you can’t grow, you can’t learn—unless you feel safe. And over time, a collection of small moments at camp made me feel safe and helped me appreciate the experience I was going through.”
