This award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the international camping community through their leadership and their support of the camping philosophy.
The 2025 Recipient of the John “Jorgi” Jorgenson International Development Award is Travis Allison.
Travis Allison helps camp leaders all over the world who are so overworked and overwhelmed, they’re afraid they’re missing essential tasks of the job.
Too many camp teams run on willpower: buried in busywork, firefighting daily, and losing time for the people and impact that matter. Safety risks, staff burnout, and slipping camper retention follow when systems don’t exist.
Travis helps camp leaders do their work with less stress by creating systems that care for people and support each camp’s distinct purpose. Travis designs tiny, practical workflows—often a single 10‑minute change—that immediately give teams back time, reduce mistakes, and rebuild trust. He simplifies communication to keep families and staff aligned, automates repetitive tasks leaders hate, and teaches human‑first uses of AI that fit real camp workflows.
A longtime leader in the camp and recreation world, Travis co‑founded GoCamp.Pro, has produced nine niche camp podcasts with a global reach, and built the Summer Camp Professionals community of 25,000 members around the world. His TEDx talk about the power of a single moment with his Camp Kintail counsellor has inspired audiences internationally. He has coached in Seth Godin’s altMBA program, pilots AI‑driven lean systems for camp ops, and consults with directors to turn empathy into reliable, scalable practice.
An active international volunteer, Travis brings practical, compassionate leadership to camps worldwide—helping teams simplify systems, amplify impact, and rediscover why they do this work.
