Summer Camp 2026

A message from our Camp Director

Let’s Talk About Gaga

If you’re not familiar, here’s a quick introduction to one of CBC’s favorite games.

Gaga is a fast-paced—but gentler—version of dodgeball, played in an octagonal “pit.” The goal is simple: strike other players below the knee while avoiding getting hit yourself. Its origins are a bit murky, but it rose to prominence in summer camps in the 1980s and has since become a staple on playgrounds and at camps across the country.

At CBC, campers love Gaga. In fact, they love it so much that the rules even made their way onto the back of our 2025 staff sweatshirt.

But Gaga is more than just a game—it’s also a space where something very real happens.

Like many fast-moving, competitive activities, Gaga can spark disagreement. The pace is quick, perspectives differ, and the outcome matters deeply to those involved. In those moments, it can feel like everything is on the line. If that sounds familiar, it should—because it mirrors the world our campers are growing up in.

We live in a time where disagreement is constant, and the skills to navigate it productively are not always easy to come by—even for adults.

What makes camp different is the environment in which those disagreements unfold.

At camp, young people are part of a close-knit community where they experience one another fully—through shared challenges, successes, setbacks, and daily life together. Relationships form quickly, and a sense of belonging takes root. That foundation changes how conflict is experienced and resolved.

Most importantly, our staff work intentionally to model healthy, respectful conflict resolution. They guide campers through moments of disagreement, helping them practice listening, perspective-taking, self-advocacy, and empathy. Campers are not expected to avoid conflict—they are supported in learning how to move through it.

And that may be one of the most important skills we can help them develop: the ability to disagree while still caring for and respecting one another.

So yes, Gaga is a favorite game. But it’s also something more—a daily opportunity to build resilience, communication, and community.

This is just one of many reasons why camp matters, and why we believe so deeply in the experience we offer.

We’re so glad your camper is joining us—or considering joining us—this summer.