The Budget Dilemma  Every leader I talk to right now is saying the same thing: budgets are shrinking. The loss of federal funding that used to be dependable and the rising cost of nearly everything, from supplies to training tools, software to salaries, has forced organizations to face difficult choices about what to shift and it can be difficult to prioritize team development. I hear versions of this same struggle from many of the [...]

Introducing Joy Drop  For more than 40 years, Camp Joy has helped leaders and organizations across the tri-state area grow through immersive, experience-based leadership development. Along the way, we have seen what helps teams build trust, navigate change, communicate more effectively, and turn shared experiences into meaningful progress. Now, we are bringing those lessons to you through Joy Drop. Joy Drop is a new newsletter featuring practical insights, useful activities, and honest conversations about [...]

Pudding, our feral Rock Dove (pigeon), has become a familiar face in Camp Joy's Nature Center. Curious, social, and always eager to interact with guests, it's hard to imagine that his story began with a serious injury that threatened his survival. Found shortly after hatching, Pudding's journey from an injured young bird to a beloved animal ambassador is a testament to his resilience. How Pudding’s story started At just two and a half weeks [...]

There's a moment at the top of the pamper pole when the world goes quiet. The trees, the sky, the voices below, all of it softens. And you're left with one question: Am I doing this? Judy answered that question on her 68th birthday with a resounding, joyful yes. The leap that started long before the climb Judy is the mother of Elyse Lohrbach, our Executive Director. But to understand what happened on that [...]