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Summer camps create memories and friendships that last a lifetime, but staying engaged with campers during the school year can be a challenge. With the increasing accessibility of online platforms, Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) can be a powerful tool to keep the camp spirit alive and ensure return registrations. Here’s how to use online LARP to enhance camper retention during the school year.

What is Online LARP?

Online LARP is an adaptation of traditional Live Action Role-Playing to virtual platforms (like Zoom). Participants assume characters’ roles and interact in a digital environment, guided by a storyline or set of objectives. While lacking the physical aspect of traditional LARP, online versions offer unique advantages like:

Accessibility for some people with disabilities
Reaching your geographically dispersed campers
Introducing new campers to returning campers before summer begins
Requires very little space
Largely weather-proof

Why Use Online LARP for Camp Retention?

Maintain Engagement: LARP is an interactive and fun way to keep campers involved, reminding them of their positive camp experiences.
Strengthen Bonds: Campers reconnect with their friends, fostering lasting relationships and engaged in Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Promote Continuous Learning: Camps with an educational component can use an online educational LARP, or EduLARP to reinforce and build upon concepts introduced during summer sessions.

Steps to Implement Online LARP for Camp Retention

Set Clear Objectives: Understand your goals. Are you aiming to strengthen community ties, reinforce lessons from camp, or introduce new camp themes for the next year?
Choose the Right Platform: There are several online platforms suitable for LARP, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and more. Your choice will depend on the complexity of your game and the age group of your participants.
Design an Engaging Storyline: The story should resonate with camp themes or values. For instance, if your camp focuses on science, a LARP session could revolve around solving a fictional scientific mystery.
Schedule Regular Sessions: Consistency is key. Regularly scheduled sessions, be it monthly or quarterly, will give campers something to look forward to and ensure sustained engagement.
Incorporate Feedback: Allow campers to influence the story’s direction or provide feedback on gameplay. This empowers them and ensures the LARP remains relevant to their interests.
Promote and Remind: Use email newsletters, social media, and other channels to keep campers informed about upcoming online LARP events.

Best Practices for a Successful Online LARP Session

Design or Find a System: You can either make your own online LARP system for navigating your adventures, or you can take our free online course which uses the Universal Game System Lite and has documentation on how to run not only an in-person LARP, but also an Online LARP. (Yes, it’s free and no strings attached – we are trying to make LARP more accessible and wide spread)
Moderate: Ensure there’s a skilled moderator or game master to guide the story, resolve conflicts, and keep the game flowing smoothly.
Incorporate Multimedia: Use videos, music, images, backdrops, props, and even dress in a costume or use masks to enhance the virtual environment and make the experience more immersive. Encourage your campers to also use (appropriate) costumes and backdrops.
Safety First: Especially with younger campers, ensure that all online interactions are safe. Set ground rules, use secure platforms, and monitor discussions.
Stay Inclusive: Make sure every camper, regardless of their technological proficiency, can participate. We highly recommend offering tutorials or tech support ahead of sessions.
Follow-Up: After a session, send out a recap, highlight memorable moments, and tease the next adventure to keep the excitement alive.

In the digital age, the end of summer doesn’t mean the end of camp camaraderie. By leveraging online LARP sessions during the school year, camps can maintain and even boost engagement, ensuring campers eagerly return year after year. It’s not just about retention; it’s about enriching the camp experience and making memories that bridge the gap between summers.

Guardian Adventures provide consulting and a free LARP for afterschool programs, summer camps, amusement & attraction industries, and more.

Live Action Role Playing (LARP) can be an effective and engaging way to learn about different cultures – both in an informal learning environment like summer camp and in the formal classroom. However, to make sure that your LARP is respectful and accurate, it’s important to work with a Cultural Advisor. A Cultural Advisor is someone who can provide insights into the customs, beliefs, and traditions of a particular culture or lived experience, and help ensure that your LARP is culturally appropriate.

Here are some steps on how to create a LARP that explores culture using a Cultural Advisor.

Step 1: Choose a culture

The first step is to choose a culture to focus on. This could be a culture that is familiar to you, or it could be one that you have always been interested in learning more about.

Step 2: Find a Cultural Advisor

Next, find a cultural advisor who can provide guidance and support throughout the process. The best cultural advisors are actual members of the culture you wish to explore. You can locate a cultural advisor through your personal network, a cultural center, or through a directory such as CulturaConnector.com. If you are unable to find a Cultural Advisor, you might consider using a LARP adventure like Quest for the Caribbean Cure that has already been developed in partnership with a Cultural Advisor.

Step 3: Develop a storyline

Once you have found a cultural advisor, it’s time to develop a storyline for your LARP. This could involve creating a scenario that is based on a specific event in the culture’s history, or it could be a more general theme that allows participants to explore different aspects of the culture. It is best to explain what outcome you wish to achieve to the cultural advisor and ask for them to direct you on what kind of story would be best suited to your objective.

Step 4: Work with your Cultural Advisor to create characters

The characters in your LARP should be authentic representations of the culture you are trying to teach about. Working with your Cultural Advisor, you can create characters that are accurate and authentic. Your Cultural Advisor can also help ensure that the language and behaviors of the characters are appropriate for the culture being represented.

Step 5: Plan the setting

The setting of your LARP is also important, as it can help to create an immersive experience for participants. Your Cultural Advisor can provide guidance on costuming, masks, props, decorations, and other elements that are specific to the culture being represented.

Step 6: Promote your cultural LARP

Once you have planned your LARP, it’s important to promote it to potential participants. You can also reach out to cultural organizations or groups that may be interested in participating in your LARP. Be sure that any person who plays a cultural “face character” (where their actual face is seen instead of a mask) is a member of the culture. If not, it may be best to use artistic or symbolic masks instead. At no time should a person attempt to change their natural skin tone or eye shape through makeup to look like a member of the culture they do not belong to.

Step 7: Host your LARP with your Cultural Advisor present

The final step in creating a cultural LARP is to host the event with your Cultural Advisor present. Your Cultural Advisor can help ensure that the event runs according to their consultation, and can address any questions or concerns that may arise during the event.

After the cultural LARP is complete, it can also benefit the participants to do a debrief and address any of their questions or to improve their understanding of the experience. This is particularly important for an educational LARP (edu-LARP) to improve the transfer of new knowledge.

Cultural LARPs can be an immersive and exciting way for both the LARP designers and the participants to learn about a culture. Bringing a Cultural Advisor into the planning as well as production stages can ensure that your cultural LARP is appropriate and respectful and help your organization avoid negative social media. Other than visiting the culture firsthand, there are not many other experiences that can create an immersive learning environment than a cultural LARP.

Guardian Adventures provide consulting and licensing of educational adventures, including a free LARP and cultural programs, for summer camps, amusement & attraction industries, and more.

Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) is a unique and immersive form of role-playing game (RPG) that involves physically acting out characters’ actions and interactions in a live setting. Running a LARP event can be challenging – especially for those new to the world of RPGs. But it can also be a rewarding experience, and with proper planning, it can be a memorable and even impactful event for all involved.

Here are some suggested steps for running a LARP:

Choose a Theme: First, decide on a theme or setting for the game. This can be based on a fictional world, historical event, or even a modern day scenario. The theme or setting will provide a foundation for the game and will help to guide the creation of characters, costumes, and props. You should also consider if the theme fits any educational outcomes you want your players to gain, such as STEM or social emotional learning (SEL).
Choose a Game System: This is what tells your participants and staff how to play the game. Think of it as the “rule book” or “instructions” of any tabletop game. If you are not already using an established LARP game system, you will need to either create one or decide which one to use. If you are new to running a LARP, simple is best. Creating your own system can be a long endeavor because it requires playtesting and updating numerous times. Some free LARP systems are available. You might want to be certain that the game system you choose covers your preferred type of combat or conflict system whether that is using foam weapons or nonviolent communication.
Create Characters: When running a shorter LARP, it is advisable to create established characters for the participants to play. For longer LARPs, you can provide character creation sheets with rules and the participants can design their own character. In either case, these characters should be well-rounded and have distinct personalities and abilities. They should also be appropriate for the theme or setting of the game. Providing a character sheet with the character’s background and abilities can be helpful for the players to better understand and connect with their character.
Props & Costumes: If you are running a short term LARP, participants (called “players”) should be provided with costumes and props to help them fully embody and represent their characters. For longer term LARPs, players can create their own according to the requirements. These can be as simple or as elaborate as desired, but they should be appropriate for the theme or setting of the game. Foam weapons and shields or NERF Blasters can also be provided for safe combat scenarios if this is part of your LARP theme.
Create the Game Scenario: This is often referred to as the “module”, “adventure”, or “quest” for the players to participate in. This scenario should be based on the theme or setting of the game and should provide a clear goal for the players to work towards. The scenario should also include challenges and obstacles that will require the players to work together and use their characters’ abilities. The module might also include STEM or SEL aspects if you want to make the LARP educational.
Communicate Safety Rules: It’s also important to have a clear safety protocol in place and to train staff and players on these rules before the start of the LARP event. This includes the use of foam weapons or other interactive combat, as well as guidelines for physical contact. It’s also important to look at your LARP through the eyes of accessibility and make adjustments for people with disabilities.

On the day of the event, it’s important to have a clear plan and schedule for the game scenario, and to have a designated person in charge of keeping the game moving and managing any issues that arise. It’s also important to have a designated person in charge of safety during the event. Please keep in mind that there is a saying in LARP that “no story survives first contact with the players”. What this means is that you should be prepared to flex and change your story or even your desired outcome depending on what the players do. Having some skill in improv acting is very helpful in this area.

After the event, it’s a good idea to have a debriefing session with the players to gather feedback and suggestions for improvement. This can be done through group discussions or written evaluations.

It may sound like a lot of preparation and logistics… but running LARPs and experiencing the level of player immersion and impact can be a powerful reward. As you create and run more, you will become more skilled at it and the preparation gets much less cumbersome. You will likely also look back on your start of running a LARP with gratitude because you will soon realize that there is nothing quite as exciting as acting out an adventure.

Guardian Adventures provide consulting and licensing of educational adventures, including a free LARP and cultural programs, for summer camps, amusement & attraction industries, and more.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an important aspect of personal development that can be taught using a variety of methods, including Live Action Role-Playing (LARP). LARPing allows participants to physically embody a character and interact with others in a live setting, which can provide a unique and immersive experience for teaching SEL. LARP allows for a limitless range of scenarios and themes such as Real World, Fantasy, Historical, Sci-Fi, Superhero, and more.

SEL can be taught using LARP through the creation of characters and scenarios that involve social and emotional challenges. For example, a real world LARP could be set in a high school where characters have to navigate social hierarchies, form relationships, and deal with difficult emotions such as jealousy, betrayal, and anxiety. Because of the “pretend” nature of LARP, participants can choose to be characters who conduct themselves in a manner that the participant would like to explore… such as a character who is more courageous, honorable, or assertive than the person would actually feel in life outside of the LARP. If the participant makes a mistake or their decisions don’t feel right, they can always “blame” it on the character and try something different.

SEL can also be taught through the use of non-player characters (NPCs) who can serve as role models or antagonists. NPCs are typically played by staff or teachers and are intended to move the exercise forward for the participants. NPCs can be used to model positive social and emotional behaviors, such as empathy, kindness, and assertiveness, or to challenge players to practice dealing with difficult emotions and situations.

As well, SEL can be taught through the active practice of nonviolent communication in dynamic scenarios involving Improv and basic character guidelines. This can include negotiation skills as well as learning how to express feelings in a manner that is not aggressive or accusatory.

It’s also important to debrief and reflect on the LARP event as a way to evaluate the learning experience and to integrate the SEL lessons learned into everyday life. This can be done through group discussions, written reflections, or even creating an action plan to apply the learned skills into real-life scenarios.

In addition, it’s important to have clear safety protocols in place and to train staff and participants on safety rules before the start of the LARP event. This includes the use of foam weapons or props as well as guidelines for physical contact. It’s also important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency.

LARP can certainly be enjoyed for just being “fun”. But it should never be overlooked as a powerful tool for personal and even professional development. By embodying characters and experiencing immersive scenarios firsthand, participants can learn about and practice different social and emotional skills in a safe and controlled environment. And when debriefing is provided, they can transfer those new skills outside of the LARP environment and into real life.

About: Guardian Adventures provides free and licensed educational games, adventures, and LARP systems for summer camps, schools, and recreation organizations.

LARPing, or live action role-playing, is a fun and exciting game that allows participants (called “players”) to fully immerse themselves in a fictional world. However, it’s important to ensure that everyone involved is both emotionally and physically safe throughout the event.

Here are some tips to help make sure your LARP is safe for all players:

1. Clearly communicate rules and expectations. Before the event, make sure all participants understand the rules of the game, as well as any expectations for behavior. This will help prevent any misunderstandings or accidents during the LARP.
2. Have a safety plan in place. It’s important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency, including emotional distress. This includes maintaining a first aid kit and location, emergency contact numbers, and a designated person in charge of handling any safety issues that may arise.
3. Use safe combat and weapons. Make sure that all combat and weapons used during the LARP are safe for use. This might include using foam weapons with specific safety elements, having a weapons check, and testing players for proper combat technique before the event. Be certain that all participants understand what is considered appropriate contact level for striking each other with a foam weapon.
4. Be specific around what is not allowed. For example:
  - No carrying or bodily moving another person
  - No lying on the ground when there is combat in the area
  - No running at night or in low-light situations
  - No climbing up structures
5. Make sure that there are designated “non-combat” areas where there are fragile props or unsafe trip hazards. Also consider using plastic props instead of glass and battery operated candles instead of actual candles with real flames.
6. Encourage consent. Make sure that all players are aware of the importance of consent and that any physical contact or combat is only done with the explicit consent of all involved. For example: All participants (not just players) have to ask and receive consent to touch another person’s body before doing so. Also, check in with participants and provide a system of communication (especially a command for halting all action) if they feel uncomfortable with any aspect of the game.
7. Provide a way for participants to opt-out. Some players may not feel comfortable with some aspects of the LARP, such as combat or certain role-playing scenarios. Make sure there is an easy way for them to opt-out or take a break if they need to. You might also consider providing less intense interaction options for those who are younger or prone to feeling overwhelmed.
8. Encourage open communication. Throughout the event, encourage players to speak up if they have any concerns or issues, including emotional safety. This will help ensure that any problems are addressed as quickly as possible.
9. Provide debriefing and support after the event. After the event, provide an opportunity for players to debrief and process their experience. This can be done through a group discussion or one-on-one support with a designated person.

As you can see from above, a great deal of safety at LARPs has to do with open communication and boundary setting. It’s important to cover each of these points in any LARP event so that your players and participants feel confident that they can speak up if they feel unsafe and that their physical and emotional well-being is the top concern during the event. With these considerations, your players can focus on having fun and enjoying the many benefits of LARP.

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About: Guardian Adventures provides free and licensed educational games, adventures, and LARP systems for summer camps, schools, and recreation organizations.

Integrating Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) into a summer camp can be an exciting and engaging way to provide campers with a unique, educational, and immersive experience. LARPing allows campers to physically embody a character and interact with others in a live setting, which can help to build problem-solving techniques, improvisational skills (thinking on your feet), and competency in teamwork.

The first step for integrating LARP into a summer camp is to decide on a theme or setting for the game. This can be based on a fictional world, historical event, or even a real-world scenario. The theme or setting you decide on will provide the foundation for the game and will help to guide the creation of the story, characters, costumes, and props.

Once the theme or setting has been decided on, the next step is to create characters for the campers to play. These characters should be well-rounded and have distinct personalities and abilities. They should also be appropriate for the setting of the game. Providing a character sheet with the character’s background and abilities can be helpful for the campers to better understand and connect with their character, as well as for remembering what their chosen skills are, and how many times they can utilize them.

In order to further the immersion of the experience, campers should be provided with (or have time and resources to make) costumes and props to help them fully embody their characters. These can be as simple or as elaborate as desired, but they should serve to amplify and support the setting of the game.

If the game style involves physical conflict scenarios with play weapons then foam swords and shields or NERF Blasters can be provided for safe interactions. Or if the conflict (which is what makes an adventure a challenge) is only verbal, what real-life or pretend skills can you provide that help the campers navigate the conflict and succeed through the practice of those skills?

The set of game rules and mechanics (how the game works) are also important. Choose a system that is not too complex, making it hard to comprehend, and not so simple as to make it limited and boring. If you are a novice at LARPing, you may choose a simple LARP system to start and then graduate to a more robust LARP system that provides more character, skill, and interaction options.

The final step is to create an interactive scenario, or “quest”, for the campers to participate in. This scenario should provide a clear goal, perhaps one that is in alignment with your camp mission, for the campers to work towards. The scene should also include challenges and obstacles that will require the campers to work together and use their characters’ abilities. Ideally, each scenario requires a diversity of skills so that each camper has the opportunity to “shine” in the moment when they use their special skill to accomplish the goal.

The scene may also require campers to accrue their skills through the completion of projects based in STEM or other academic topics. The important thing is to make sure that the STEM is directly related to the challenge the campers are facing and not just “tacked on” as an educational lesson. These educational elements add a much higher level of value to the camp program because the campers can learn topics applicable to their studies at school.

It’s also important to have a clear safety protocol in place and to train staff and campers on safety rules before the start of the LARP event. This includes the use of safe weapons and shields, guidelines for physical contact, and even established rules of verbal conflict that keep the interactions from escalating to an “out of game” situation where the campers feel personally attacked.

In addition to the LARP event, there are opportunities to include other activities that tie into the game. This includes workshops on crafts that fit the theme such as archery or fencing lessons, historical reenactment and improv lessons, negotiation and social-emotional exercises, and other activities that will help to further immerse the campers in the LARP while also enriching their lives outside of the game. You can even run online LARPs during the non-summer camp season so as to keep your campers engaged in your camp alongside the friends they made at your camp.

Integrating LARP into a summer camp can be an exciting and engaging way to provide campers with not just an entertaining and exciting activity, but a truly enriching and educational experience. Give it a try with our free LARP game and see how quickly your campers will feel like heroes as they take on the challenge of saving the world.

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About: Guardian Adventures provides free and licensed educational games, adventures, and LARP systems for summer camps, schools, and recreation organizations.

Using Online LARPs in the Off Season as a Summer Camp Retention Tool

What is Online LARP?

Why Use Online LARP for Camp Retention?

Steps to Implement Online LARP for Camp Retention

Best Practices for a Successful Online LARP Session

Creating a Cultural LARP

How to Run a LARP in 6 Steps

How to Teach SEL Using LARP

How to Keep a LARP Safe

How to Add LARP into your Summer Camp

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