Incite Change

Campfire Effect with Matt Kaufman

Matthew Kaufman · March 24, 2026

Author · Leadership · Life Coachin

Interview with Matthew Kaufman

Campfire Effect with Matt Kaufman — Matthew Kaufman

Podcast: Incite Change

March 24, 2026 · 41 min

Today with us on the Incite Change Podcast, Coach Mauro sits down with Matt Kaufman. Matt Kaufman is the Director at Camp Ramaquios, bringing years of hands-on experience in the camp world. Having held various roles over the years, he has developed a deep understanding of…

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Campfire Effect with Matt Kaufman

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Key topicsHow camp gives kids the “good stress” they need to grow.Matt explains that kids don’t just need protection from stress-they need supported challenges with real people, the way camp pairs “I’m scared” with “I’m not alone.” He shares what he sees when a child faces something hard without their usual digital distractions, and how that combination of challenge and connection builds resilience. He then shows parents simple, grounded ways to create these same conditions at home. How small camp-style routines create safety and engagement in classrooms.Matt shows how camp uses simple rituals, predictable routines, and movement breaks to help kids feel settled and ready to participate. He explains why the brain needs safety and activity before it can learn well. Teachers walk away with camp-inspired practices that fit naturally into a school day without sacrificing instructional time. Why time as a camp counselor becomes a powerful early leadership lab.Matt explains how living and working with a group around the clock forces young adults to build communication, regulation, and conflict-resolution skills faster than most early jobs. He shows how those experiences translate directly into real workplace strengths-and how emerging leaders can articulate those strengths in new roles. View all topics →

About Matthew Kaufman

Camp Director and Author Exploring the Neuroscience Behind What Makes Camp Transformative

40 years Summer camp experience2 Books authoredAmazon bestseller The Campfire EffectValedictorian Cornell master's programme

Matt Kaufman has spent most of his life at summer camp, but not because he lacked options. In school, things came easily. He moved quickly through classes and eventually graduated from Cornell University with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, finishing his master’s program as valedictorian. Camp was different. He was the quiet kid who had to push himself to talk to people, try things that felt uncomfortable, and work through everyday conflicts in a place where no one cared about grades. That early contrast—school rewarding his mind and camp reshaping his whole self—never left him.

As he moved into the Summer Camp industry and eventually became Director at Camp Ramaquois outside New York City, he began to see the same pattern play out in thousands of young people. A child or staff member would arrive one version of themselves and, little by little, become someone steadier, braver, and more connected. The change was consistent enough that Matt found himself asking what was underneath it: what exactly is happening at camp—socially, emotionally, and in the brain—that helps people grow in such reliable ways?

His first book, The Summer Camp MBA, explored that question in the context of leadership, showing how bunk life teaches teamwork in ways most workplaces struggle to create.

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About this episode

Today with us on the Incite Change Podcast, Coach Mauro sits down with Matt Kaufman.

Matt Kaufman is the Director at Camp Ramaquios, bringing years of hands-on experience in the camp world. Having held various roles over the years, he has developed a deep understanding of camper development, staff leadership, and the intentional programming that makes camp a powerful environment for growth.

A strong believer in what he calls the "campfire effect," Matt emphasizes the impact of simple, shared moments in building connection and confidence. Whether it's late-night conversations, team challenges, or time around a fire, he recognizes that these experiences are often the most meaningful and transformative for campers.

Through his leadership, Matt continues to shape a camp culture rooted in mentorship, belonging, and personal growth. His experience and passion for camp life drive his commitment to creating spaces where young people and staff alike feel empowered, supported, and inspired.

Episode Timestamps

● [02:00] Life as a Camp Director

● [05:30] What Camp Really Offers

● [08:30] The Science of Belonging

● [12:00] Creating Psychological Safety

● [16:30] The Power of Achievable Goals

● [20:30] Stress + Support = Growth

● [25:30] Feeling Part of Something Bigger

● [30:30] Making Growth Enjoyable

● [34:00] Designing Intentional Communities

● [39:30] Retention & Emotional Connection

● [43:30] Rituals & Shared Experiences