Camping Life: A New Way to Onboard

What began as a creative workaround during COVID-19 has grown into a signature onboarding experience at Maine Medical Center. Camp Competency, led by Britney Meunier, along with co-presenters Michael DeFrancisco, Emily Bovino and Amy I. Stafford, now anchors the transition-to-practice journey for critical care and progressive care nurses. The session “Competency Campfire Stories: S’Mores and Skills, Cocoa and Curriculum, Sparks and Social Media,” at 11:45 a.m. Monday, brings that story — and its lessons — to life.

The program’s name came from a learner who told the team they felt like they were “at a summer camp with the best camp counselors.” Meunier says the theme stuck, because it created “a positive and fun environment” at a time when new graduates were entering ICUs with limited clinical exposure. Originally designed to compensate for lost clinical time during COVID-19, Camp Competency has endured because of what it unexpectedly produced: connection.

The structure has evolved with feedback. Early versions ran Monday through Friday for four straight weeks —“a lot,” as the team notes. Now the program blends eight camp-day didactic sessions with embedded clinical time over five to six weeks. Cohorts have ranged from four nurses to 42, yet the team delivers the same experience regardless of size. Since 2022, more than 200 nurses have completed the program, with early cohorts showing retention rates above 90%.

Interdisciplinary involvement is intentional. Providers, PT/OT, respiratory therapy, social work, palliative care and even the CNO join sessions. Leadership buy-in has been essential, reinforced by visible outcomes and reduced preceptor burden. Leadership luncheons, scavenger hunts and camp-themed swag strengthen the sense of community.

Meunier emphasizes that creativity is a tool. “This type of onboarding program can be re-created in any environment with any type of resources,” she says. The team uses stories, games and campfire-style moments to reinforce learning. The presenters will dive into the particulars at the session, noting that marshmallows “may not be so metaphorical.”

Attendees will hear how Camp Competency blends structure, storytelling and social connection to build confident, supported ICU nurses — and how those ideas can be adapted to any organization ready to rethink onboarding.