Not that being a counselor is an entirely altruistic act. No summer camp would be complete without a little romance, and Brenner admits that he's been on several dates with campers (which isn't as taboo as it sounds, given that those campers are his own age). But Brenner is eager to make one thing clear: "We didn't start Recession Camp to meet women."
Both Brenner and Feldman say that Recession Camp has reminded them of the importance of leading a balanced life. Camp will end when they find jobs -- which means it may or may not last beyond the summer -- but they both hope to continue pursuing extracurricular activities purely for fun. "Now that I've taken some time off, gotten some perspective, and met a lot of diverse people, I have been able think about how I like working at a startup, how I'm very entrepreneurial, and how I want to build a company. At the same time, I want to make sure that I keep perspective and keep my priorities in order," Feldman says. "And I think a lot of other people are figuring that out too. We'll see if it holds true as the economy starts to turn around."
Echoes Brenner, "For the past few years, people in the Bay Area were in such a go-go-go frenzy that they didn't look out the window and enjoy the view. Recession Camp is an acknowledgement that we need to get a little more balance in our lives. It's hearkening back to the feeling I had at summer camp." But Brenner adds with a laugh, "Of course, it's not the same. I'm not in a bunk bed in a cabin with 10 other teenagers."
Curtis Sittenfeld (csitten@soli.inav.net), a former Fast Company staff writer, lives in Iowa. Learn more about Recession Camp on the Web.
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