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SkeptiCamps are informal, community-organized conferences borne from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. Everyone from casual skeptics to the experienced participate, give talks and get to know each other.

Meet SkeptiCamp

Follow the #SkeptiCamp feed on Twitter

Don't let the "camp" fool you. SkeptiCamp is NOT a kid's camp. Nor does it involve the outdoors.

Rather, SkeptiCamp stands as a new model for conferencing among skeptics — a model that focuses on providing each of us a rich avenue to gain proficiency in the skills and knowledge of this domain.

Like the traditional lecture-oriented events that have dominated skepticism for decades, SkeptiCamps also feature talks — typically a day's worth. But the similarity ends there.

To mount a traditional event typically requires the resources and expertise of an established organization. By contrast, the SkeptiCamp model places substantive events within reach of informal groups of skeptics anywhere around the world.

Traditional events often require the hassle and costs of travel to attend. With SkeptiCamp you can host a local event each year.

Our SkeptiCamp page on Facebook offers a low-traffic feed.

SkeptiCamps are typically free to attend — you 'pay' by helping to organize the event or ideally by offering a short talk to your peers on a topic that drives your passion for science and skepticism. At the very least we ask that you engage with your fellow participants.

SkeptiCamp events will normally take place at low-cost venues, such as a meeting room at one's local library, community center or university campus. You can also find them in the back rooms of pubs and restaurants.

SkeptiCamps are open events, meaning that anyone can organize an event and participate, including giving a talk. No hurdles of permission or politics need be overcome to host an event. We do however encourage simplicity and collaboration in organizing to allow events to recur from year to year by ensuring that an inordinate burden does not fall upon the few.

To keep these events substantive, the SkeptiCamp model does make two important requests of us. First, those of us giving talks must take questions during our talks when prompted by the politely raised hands of our fellow participants. Second, SkeptiCamp asks that speakers be prepared to provide a source on any claim likely to be challenged. We must guard against the damage that misinformation can wrought.

Tearing down the barriers to events that can make us better skeptics is what SkeptiCamp is all about. Join with us in this ambitious experiment to share what you know and to learn from your peers. You might even have fun doing so!

So what's next?

Hosting your first event starts with a call for organizers, a meeting where you decide on potential dates and venues. Full details at Organizing a SkeptiCamp Event.

This is a collaboratively-edited wiki, so please give back by sharing your experiences of organizing, specifically on the What Went Right and What Went Wrong pages, to benefit the organizers of future events.

For more information

• SkeptiCamp en Español - our Spanish language wiki

• NEW! Top 10 SkeptiCamp FAILs, Part 1 Part 2 (August 2012) - common mistakes in two-part article that builds on What Went Wrong page.

• Leveling up as a Skeptic - SkeptiCamp at 50 events (June 2012) - introductory article in the JREF's SWIFT blog

• Top Seven Reasons Why SkeptiCamp Sucks (February 2011) - fun article exploring downsides of open events in the Indie Skeptics blog

• Barcamp conference model - SkeptiCamp is Barcamp adapted to domain of scientific skepticism

• SkepTV (tagged) - Videos at SkepTV tagged as 'skepticamp'

Upcoming Events

We're nearly 60 events and growing!

	SkeptiCamp Phoenix January 26, 2013 Phoenix, Arizona
	Surfcoast Summer SkeptiCamp February 9, 2013 Airey's Inlet, Victoria, Australia
	Fort Collins SkeptiCamp February 23, 2013 Fort Collins, Colorado
	SkeptiCamp Ottawa February 24, 2013 Ottawa, Ontario
	SkeptiCamp Chicago March 2, 2013 Chicago, Illinois
	SkeptiCamp Denver April 27, 2013 Castle Rock, Colorado
	SkeptiCamp Colorado Springs June 29, 2013 Colorado Springs, Colorado

You can edit the text in this sidebar yourself! To do so, go to the Upcoming Events Template page.

Please help tidy things up by keeping events in chronological order and moving past events to the Event Archive.