Splat Camp: Scenario camp

[Tinraven]

I am the director of a scenario paintball camp for children's camp in colorado. I am directing the camp for highschool age kids and maybe some first year college kids. I wanted to get some input from anyone who has done a paintball camp or scenario event like this. I need to know what things you liked and what did not work. I am also looking for some equipment ideas. I have a CO2 fill station but I don't have HPA. I don't have much if any money this year to use but are there any ideas that might help me better supply the campers. Thank you Tinraven
(email: [email protected])

[PYROMAN315]

Tinraven,
Try not to take this the wrong way, but by going on my personal experience, your no where near ready for a camp. The first thing you need is a facility, gear, and co2/HPA fills available. To do this, youll need money, which you stated you dont have available this year.
Camps are a great thing if they are run right. You need to be organized and prepeared well ahead of time as well as having a very strong promotional response.
My opinion (If it counts), wait until next year to run a camp. Visit several other camps in the mean time and offer to pitch in and help them out with theirs first. This way you will get an inside view on how things are run and what to prepare for. It will also give you some ideas on themes and games to play.
Ive been a player for over 10 years and have owned a Scenario Event company for almost 5 years now and I have considered holding a camp here in Illinois as well. Im in an awesome location with several huge fields located nearby with tons of high schools and colleges close too. Ive done the math and considered the profit/overhead ratio and the potential is huge. But, most players are already focussed on the types of play they want to play at the ages your talking about.
If you hold a camp this year, let me know how it goes. Be sure to consider everything that is involved first and make it worth while for the players in the camp. Nobody will be willing to throw out a bunch of bling without having some kind of celeb show up at the camp first.

PYROMAN

[Tinraven]

PYROMAN315,
Thank you for your concern. I am doing the camp on behalf of a local childrens camp. It is a none profit Christian camp. I understand the potential for disaster without any money or little is there but I am working with the camp in funding most of the cost. I would like to know what you meant by players being focused on certain types of play at the highschool and college age. I will try and keep this post updated with my progress. Thank you, Tinraven.

[Glickman]

i would also work something out with http://www.nationalpaintball.com/

they work with setting up fields and packages

[PYROMAN315]

I agree with GLICKMAN. NPS is our main event sponsor for our games and they are great to work with. However, that also falls back into the funds department. Im not trying to dampen your spirits TINRAVEN, but just trying to let you know how much time and work will be involved in hosting an event.
Even with the playing experience I have, and being in this business for 5 years, we still have plenty of things go wrong or get forgotton at every event. Comprimise and improvise are the two key words in my company.
It was difficult trying to figure out exactly what you were attempting to do. Is this camp for kids only? Is this a Scenario set up for other players? Is this a one to two day deal with meals included? Theres alot to consider. Most "Paintball Camps" bring in actual celebs that are in the industry like Tom Kay, Bud Orr, Bob Long, etc.
I have held several Young Guns camps for kids just getting into paintball. We held them every Saturday for 4-5 hours each week, for 6 weeks. They got a reduced rate on paint and a low field fee and in return we ran them through tournament play, open play, and Scenario play games so they had a feel for different aspects of the game. We used rain days to strip guns and show them how to maintain their gear.
With high school and college kids, most of them are set into playing only one or two types of play. Tournaments and open play are the most common. Scenario play is usually rare because most fields dont hold more than one or two "BIG GAMES" each year.
Good luck and let us know how it goes. Your biggest downfall will be not having HPA fills for the players.