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 future and past SkeptiCamps on Lanyrd
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.
Follow the #SkeptiCamp feed on Twitter
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.
Our SkeptiCamp page on Facebook offers a low-traffic feed.
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
- 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'
