// the story (and a few s'mores)
We're glad you came. Grab a flashlight, find a log, and let's talk about why we're doing this.
// origin story
Picture this: it's a Tuesday. You've got back-to-back meetings, an inbox that hates you, and someone in your group chat just sent another article about how AI is going to either save or end your business. Cool, thanks.
We kept hearing from members across the region: "I want to learn this stuff but I don't know where to start, and I sure as hell don't want to sit through a vendor pitch."
So we did what camp counselors do — we built a campfire. Not a corporate program. Not a webinar series. A summer-long gathering where executives show up, geek out about AI, share what's actually working in their businesses, and leave with stuff they can use Monday morning.
No homework. No tests. No badges (okay, maybe one badge). Just three months of curiosity, peer learning, and the occasional really good question that makes the whole room go "oh wait, hold on…"
// about the program
CEO Summer Camp started with a simple question: "what if we just did this" instead of waiting for someone else to figure it out.
Here's the deal: AI is moving faster than any professional development program can keep up with. By the time a polished, accredited curriculum gets approved by a committee somewhere, the tools have already shipped three new versions. We don't have time for that. You don't have time for that.
So this is scrappy. It's voluntary. It's peer-powered. It's a group of curious executives who are already using these tools in our businesses, getting together to compare notes, ask the dumb questions out loud, and figure this out at the speed the technology actually demands.
The First and Final Campfires are hosted virtually with select in-person locations, and Zoom is always available for those who can't make it in person. The middle sessions are wide open for other bunks to host — and that's where this gets really good. The more people who step up, the bigger the campfire.
If you've got questions, ideas, or you want to host a session — find us in The Lodge or just email. We read everything.
See you at camp. 🏕️
— The CEO Summer Camp Team
// the bunks
Camp is open to all executives. Bunks are your peer group within camp. Here's who's participating:
Don't see your bunk yet? Sign up your chapter →
// stuff people ask
It's real summer programming for executives, themed like summer camp because it's more fun that way. No bug spray required. (Unless you really want to bring some.)
The program itself is completely free. No fees, no sponsorships, no upsells. Your time is the only commitment.
That said — the AI tools we'll be using (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) all have free tiers, and you can participate using just those. But if you really want to get the most out of them, the paid versions are significantly better. Think $20/month per tool — the cost of a hobby. You don't have to pay for anything, but the folks who do tend to get a lot more out of the sessions.
And hey — you never know. Someone in this room might vibe-code the next billion-dollar idea over Bug Juice. Stranger things have happened at camp. 🏕️
Nope! Come to one. Come to all six. Skip the middle and only do First Campfire and Final Campfire. There are no attendance awards. (Though Full Season Campers do get internal high-fives.)
Nope. The First Campfire is literally designed for that. We start with side-by-side tool comparisons and work up from there. Bring your laptop and your curiosity, that's it.
Definitely not. We've got sessions on prompt engineering, building agents, and rolling AI out across teams. And honestly — the most experienced AI users in the room teach us the most. Come share what you know.
Yes please! That's the whole point. Head to Get Involved and pick an open week. We provide the curriculum, facilitator guide, and Zoom — you bring the room and the energy.
We'll figure that out at the Final Campfire together. If it's working, we keep going. If it's not, we had one great summer. No pressure either way.
📣 Attention Campers!
Full playbooks, prep materials, and the First Campfire kick off June 1st. Get your trunk ready.