Participant Field Guide
Welcome
Welcome to Lighthouse & Campfire.
Lighthouse & Campfire is a shared outdoor leadership experience designed for people who believe some of life's most meaningful lessons are learned through participation rather than observation.
Over four days and three nights, participants engage in conversations, practical challenges, shared responsibilities, reflection, campfire discussions, and meaningful experiences designed to develop communication, awareness, judgment, adaptability, and leadership.
Participants do not simply hear lessons.
They experience them.
This field guide is intended to help you understand what to expect and prepare for your experience.
The Experience
Lighthouse & Campfire is a four-day, three-night leadership experience conducted in a relaxed outdoor environment.
The experience is built around:
- shared experiences
- communication
- reflection
- adaptability
- leadership
- mentorship
- human connection
- practical problem solving
Rather than relying solely on presentations or classroom instruction, participants learn through experience, discussion, observation, participation, and reflection.
Some lessons can be taught.
Others must be experienced.
What Participants Explore
Throughout the experience, participants may explore topics related to:
- communication under changing conditions
- trust and teamwork
- leadership and mentorship
- decision making under pressure
- assumptions and verification
- situational awareness
- adaptability and problem solving
- reflection and personal growth
- operational leadership
- creating meaningful learning experiences for others
Every activity is designed to create opportunities for learning, discussion, and reflection that connect to real-world leadership challenges.
What Participants Experience
No two experiences are exactly alike, but participants can expect a combination of:
- practical team challenges
- communication exercises
- leadership experiences
- cooperative problem solving
- shared meals
- camp responsibilities
- guided reflection
- campfire discussions
- individual reflection time
- opportunities to teach, mentor, and support others
The goal is not competition.
The goal is participation, engagement, awareness, and shared learning.
The Journey
Day One — Arrive
Participants arrive, set up camp, meet one another, and begin building connections through shared responsibilities, practical activities, and the first campfire conversation.
The experience officially begins at noon.
Day Two — Explore
Participants work through challenges involving communication, assumptions, teamwork, uncertainty, and changing conditions.
Many activities require participants to adapt, solve problems, and support one another.
Day Three — Reflect
Experiences focus on leadership, responsibility, consequences, and personal reflection.
Participants complete the Walkabout, participate in the final campfire, and begin considering what they will carry home.
Day Four — Carry It Forward
The experience concludes with breakfast, camp breakdown, final reflection, recognition, and departure.
Participants leave with their challenge coin, their journal, and their own interpretation of the experience.
Reflection & Recreation
Periods of Reflection & Recreation (R&R) are intentionally built into the experience.
Participants may choose to:
- walk the trails
- journal
- fish
- play camp games
- sit quietly
- talk with others
- reflect on the experience
Some of the most meaningful conversations occur during these unscheduled moments.
Campfire Conversations
Some of the most important learning happens after the activity is over.
Each evening participants gather around the fire to discuss experiences, leadership challenges, personal perspectives, and lessons from the day.
The campfire becomes a place to:
- ask questions
- share experiences
- discuss leadership
- reflect on challenges
- learn from one another
Participants are never required to share, but everyone is encouraged to listen.
Location & Environment
The experience is conducted in an outdoor environment that becomes part of the learning experience itself.
Participants should expect:
- changing weather conditions
- uneven terrain
- campfire environments
- shared gathering spaces
- outdoor activities
- quiet spaces for reflection
The environment is not simply where the experience takes place.
It is part of the experience itself.
Accommodations
Participants will be provided:
- individual tents
- camp seating
- shared gathering spaces
- campfire areas
- group meal areas
Participants should bring:
- sleeping bag or bedding
- pillow
- weather-appropriate clothing
- comfortable footwear
- flashlight or headlamp
- refillable water bottle
- toiletries
- personal medications
- notebook or journal (optional)
A detailed packing list will be provided before arrival.
Physical Expectations
This is not a physically demanding outdoor adventure program.
Participants should expect:
- light walking
- standing for periods of time
- moderate outdoor activity
- participation in shared experiences
- changing weather conditions
Activities emphasize communication, awareness, leadership, reflection, and engagement rather than athletic ability.
Meals & Shared Responsibility
Meals are part of the experience.
Participants may assist with meal preparation, camp setup, camp breakdown, and other shared responsibilities throughout the event.
These moments often create some of the strongest opportunities for:
- communication
- teamwork
- relationship building
- leadership development
Technology & Presence
Participants are encouraged to be fully present during activities, meals, and campfire discussions.
Phones and electronic devices are welcome, but participants are encouraged to limit their use during shared experiences whenever practical.
The goal is not to eliminate technology.
The goal is to create space for meaningful interaction, reflection, and connection.
Final Thoughts
Lighthouse & Campfire is not a competition, a retreat, or a traditional training program.
It is an opportunity to step away from many of the distractions of everyday life, share experiences with others, and explore leadership through participation, reflection, and conversation.
People rarely remember the PowerPoint.
They remember the moment.
We look forward to seeing you around the campfire.