SkeptiCamp - How to Guide

Thank you for your interest in all things SkeptiCamp - this is a "how to" guide for groups/individuals interested in organizing these mini-events. Below you will find articles written about SkeptiCamps, also links to videos from SkeptiCamps and links to miscellaneous items that can be used to assist you. Questions? AboutTimeBoard@gmail.com or reach out to myself, Susan Gerbic on Facebook messenger or to any of the people or groups mentioned in these links. If you have articles, videos or information that will help others with putting on a successful SkeptiCamp, please be in touch. We grow from learning from others.

SkeptiCamp in a nutshell - These are meant to be a "give-back" to your local skeptic community. They are usually free or very very low price to attend, most accept donations to cover costs. You are looking for an audience of 15-50 people mostly made up from people who are knowledgeable of the topics associated with scientific skepticism. 

 

SkeptiCamps are designed to find within the community, new Leaders, Doers, Mentors, Money, Organizers, Attendees and Helpers that are needed to fight back against misinformation. The ACTION of putting on a SkeptiCamp will help find these people.

 

SkeptiCamps are also meant to educate and inspire your attendees. Outreach to the public is encouraged but essentially in your first few attempts you are looking for attendees that are already all in in the world of scientific skepticism.

 

You are looking to grow your people. You can do this not only by looking for people wanting to "do more" but by helping them build on their skills, such as giving a 10-minute talk, helping with food, prep and clean-up, handling the video or AV. Making videos after the fact. Designing logos or swag. Assisting with website or handling other tasks as needed.

​

Usually SkeptiCamps are best organized with 1-3 people who have worked together before. Keep it small, do NOT throw it out to a larger group asking for help. The hardest part of the planning is to pick a date and a venue. Use your small committee to do this task. You are looking for a free or cheap venue that has parking, allows food and tables for your attendees. Pick a weekend that works well for the community, but works best for the organizers. You will never find a perfect date that fits everyone, so pick what works best for you. Look for venues that give discounts to non-profits (then co-sponsor with a group that is a non-profit)

​

Once the venue and date are in order, THEN you are able to secure more help. Put out a Save-the-Day announcement. You want a simple website where you will keep your content, all other links from social media and meetup will all refer to ONE PLACE which is the website. 

​

Ask for volunteers to speak, and for tasks that you farm out to others to do. REMEMBER your goal is to allow others to do tasks, so do NOT do all yourself. This should be fun and not a stress-fest. 

​

Does your SkeptiCamp have a theme? Do you want it to be a mix of topics? 

​

In my opinion it is best to avoid topics that are Social Justice, political or directly attacks religion. VET your speakers. If you want to add "professional" speakers to your day, look around local colleges and get suggestions from others. It is possible to find speakers from within the community that you wouldn't expect would normally speak at a small event. But you would be surprised, some speakers may not live in your area, but might travel to do a talk (sometimes on their own dime) in order to support a small group. Check CFI Speakers Bureau website here.

​

Bring in snacks, coffee, drinks and such (ask your peeps to donate) avoid carbs as it just makes the attendees sleepy, fruit and nuts are always welcome. Schedule breaks throughout the day. Nothing will run on time, so sneak in a couple 15-minute hidden breaks to use just in case.

This is important ... During the lunch break - you do not want people to leave to get food. IF they return, they will run late and that messes up everything. So bring in food. Get big pizza's delivered or get sub sandwiches. Put a donate jar near the food and ask for donations. (put a paypal/venmo link also) When you advertise tell people to pack a lunch, bring snacks and bring their own coffee cup. You might lose some money on this, but it's usually absorbed by a volunteer that is happy to cover the costs. 

Find a fun friendly person in your group and assign them the task to be the "social butterfly" making everyone fell welcome. Print flyers with the speakers bios and blurbs for the talks, supply writing instruments (don't buy these, you have them stuffed in a drawer somewhere). Make sure there are nametags! Do fun interactive talks at the beginning of the SkeptiCamp so that it breaks the ice with people and they start mingling early in the day. Example is to have a group quiz with the audience voting on the right answers by a show of hands, simple is best. 

Panels are fun, and a way to use many of the people who want to participate. 

 

Think about your emcee, it might not be the main organizer, you are looking for a specific type of personality that will keep things on time, or be very flexible if things are falling apart. Someone with energy and engaging personality. 

 

Make gift bags, get swag, something inexpensive and fun to give away. 

 

Always have posters or visuals for behind the speakers and on the lectern. Find someone who will take photos, you will need these to promote the future SkeptiCamps. Signage to show people where the event is and display the wifi code. If you can get someone to video (or more than one) also look for someone who will create the videos. Do you have a YouTube channel, maybe you should? 

​

Survey for after the event might be a great idea. GET NAMES and emails, send a follow-up thank you, invite to future talks and events. 

​

Always have a place to go to afterwards for dinner. Make sure it a place where people can mingle and are able to go up to the counter and order/pay on their own. You do not want to deal with separate checks and waitstaff. Decide on the location and announce it throughout the day. 

Many SkeptiCamps have a SitP event the night before, a "meet the speakers" event. Have nametags and make sure it is a location that allows people to mingle, separate checks or for people to order on their own at the counter. Personally I give a thank you card to speakers with money in the card to cover part or all of their dinner, usually about $30. Ask your peeps and see if you can source that money from the group. 

​

Some SkeptiCamps have a next day planned. It could be another day of talks, or a fun event. Tour a science museum (maybe get behind the scenes), a visit to a "haunted' building, a hike, a local attraction, a ghost walking tour? 

​

If your group does other talks thought out the year, be sure to promote those. Will there be a bigger event in the future like a CSICon, be sure to promote that. In fact reach out to CFI for swag and support, info@CenterForInquiry.org will get you to the correct person. 

 

Remember your goals. This is a give-back to your community. The goal is to get people together, make new friends, renew friendships, inspire them and mentor them to do more within our communities. This should be a low-cost venture, don't be shy about asking for donations. This is NOT a money-making-event. People like to feel welcome and acknowledged, we also like to feel a part of something bigger, so give them this opportunity. Do not purchase things that are just going to be thrown out, so encourage people to bring their own water bottles and cups (have a contest for the best brought cup) 

 

See the articles below for ideas and examples. There is really no correct way to do a SkeptiCamp as you will see in the following articles and videos. 

 

*  About Time YouTube channel with videos from SkeptiCamps over the years

​

* CFI - Best Practices for Holding Virtual and Hybrid Events | Pass the Torch

​

* CFI - How to Market Your Group Events | Pass the Torch Skills Seminar​