Camp: Life, Leadership, and Why You Never Stop Paddling

by Michael D. Eisner, John McPhee (foreword)

Updated and expanded for its 20th anniversary, Camp is former Disney CEO Michael Eisner's coming-of-age story about his time in camp and how the indispensable lessons he learned there continue to influence him in business and in life.Over the years, as a camper and a counselor, Michael Eisner absorbed the life lessons that come from sitting in the stern of a canoe or gathering around a campfire at night. In this deeply personal memoir, he recounts his experiences at one remarkable summer camp and examines how they helped turn him into the man he is today.Camp is Eisner's ode to Keewaydin—a Vermont camp that four generations of the Eisner family have attended for 100 years—as well as a guide to growing up, building relationships, and developing the tools of leadership. Through heartwarming anecdotes from his time spent at Keewaydin and stories from his life in the upper echelons of American business that illustrate the camp's continued influence, Eisner creates a touching and insightful portrait of his own youth, as well as a resounding declaration of summer camp as an invaluable national institution. With new material from the author on the continued impact Keewaydin has had on his life in the twenty years since the memoir's first publication, Camp remains an important personal chronicle of the success mindset and of the character-building that a child can find in a remote corner of the Vermont woods and carry into adulthood.

Genres: Nonfiction

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Retired Chair and CEO of Walt Disney: Former President, Paramount Pictures Corp: Former Head of West Coast, ABC Television Network

Reviews

[Lea Fortkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a love letter to overnight camp that will resonate with anyone who has ever gone and knows, with the absolute certainty of experience, that it can enrich children’s lives in a way that no other experience can. Did I tear up at the closing campfire? I did.

We need summer camp today more than ever.

[Sheree Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it was the narrator, but the reading was a bit slow & choppy. Loved the content though. This camp concept was born during the birth of Baden Powell’s concept of Boy Scouts and his wife’s concept of Girl
Guides. Many programs sprung from the need of renewing one’s self in nature.
I am very involved in Boy Scouts of America as a leader, now known as Scouting America. I was briefly in Girl Scouts as a child but never camped, so lost interest. I now enjoy this program (SA) with my granddaughter. I hear many fond remembrances from dads & grandfathers bringing their grandchildren to the camp they spent their summers at.
This & other similar programs are struggling with attendance. There is apparently less connection with nature today. Especially now with continued defunding of National Parks & the latest edict for the Pentagon to disassociate with Scouting America (formerly known as BSA) because we are “Too Woke”.
I strongly suggest the Congress reconvene their next session spending several weeks at some of our best parks. Each afternoon spent taking short hikes, witnessing breathtaking overlooks, spending their evenings around a campfire…definitely completing several Merit Badges, specifically the Citizenship series, might help them reconnect with these magnificent National Treasures & American values. I believe that might help blow some of the dust out of their brains & open their hearts. Unplug the electronic circus so they can just hear each other, maybe become a bit “woke” to what is really important. I know that much of citizens of this great nation would be happy to spend some of our tax $$$ to send them to camp while we have some national silence to catch up on some restful sleep.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reflects on the author's life-changing experiences as a camper and counselor at Keewadyn, a Vermont camp that four generations of his family have attended over the past 100 years. Eisner uses the campfire to explore the values that shaped his character and influenced his career as one of the most significant media executives of his time. He examines the lessons of teamwork, resilience, leadership, and creativity that he learned in the wilderness.

I appreciate how the author shares his personal stories, including canoe mishaps, rainy hikes, and moments of humble growth. Many of these experiences parallel the demands of leadership in the boardroom. The book discusses the vital lessons he learned as a teenage camper—such as resilience, grit, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure—and how these lessons prepared him for the challenges he faced while leading The Walt Disney Company and navigating the complexities of Hollywood.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[James Rohrbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp took me back to my own childhood camping experiences--both as a camper and a camp counselor. I found myself getting giddy at times recalling campfire songs and camping adventures. These moments shape who we are--and they certainly shape our ability as leaders to bring together diverse people towards common goals. These are also moments where we learn how to best contribute in life. As Eisner points out these are the same skills we use in business today--especially figuring out who is best equipped to play what role. He also points out how difficult it is in business to subscribe to work in a team and "help the other fellow" when competitiveness, jealousy, and geed get in the way unlike during moments of camping. If life was always like camping!

This was a good read and certainly reminds us of the experiences that shape how we are, but also those experiences we need to continue to create for the generations ahead. This is an easy and quick read that can be an enjoyable reflection on our own pastimes.

[Allison Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such fond memories of camp myself (attended Lake Retreat in Ravensdale, WA from 3rd grade through high school). It didn't last for most of the summer like Keewaydin did, but I could relate to the lessons Michael D. Eisner learned: Discovering the value of self reliance, learning what it really takes to be a leader, understanding what it truly means to be a team player, and realizing the genuine value of helping the other fellow are tenets of the Keewaydin experience that Michael Eisner never forgot. Thank you Goodreads, the author, and publisher for the free (super nice finished hardcover edition!) of this book:-)

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. To be honest, I entered to win it without seeing what it was about solely because it was written Mr. Eisner. I'm a big Disney parks fan, so I was happy to read something he has written. While the book didn't really talk about his time at the company, I found myself really enjoying it. It reminded me of the two summers I spent at 4-H Camp as a child. It's a great read for anyone who wants to feel nostalgia for summer camp or someone who wants to learn about Mr. Eisner's childhood.