This year’s Gamecamp was held between June 24th and August 16th at Hola folkhögskola in Kramfors. With an incredible group of participants, leaders, guest lecturers, and partners, these weeks turned into a total success, achieving results beyond our wildest dreams!
During eight summer weeks, 13 young adults aged 18-29 were on-site at Hola Folkhögskola to learn the basics of programming, game design, digital graphics, and pitching techniques. The participants also had the opportunity to develop their own games. You can read more about the games created during the camp further down in this article.
A highly appreciated feature was our invited guest lecturers from the gaming industry who were present to share insights and experiences from their careers. We were honored to host Ali Farha from Star Stable Entertainment, Nika J. Bender from DICE, former Gamecamp participant Victor Vuorijärvi, now working at Sharkmob, Petra Skoglund from Avalanche Studios, Prashant Trivedi from Massive Entertainment, and Hind Toufqa from Nordic Games.
These professionals serve as positive role models for our participants, and the importance of this cannot be overstated. By hearing the guest speakers’ stories about working in the gaming industry and having the chance to ask questions, we hope to inspire future careers, whether in gaming or other fields.
A Concept Developed Over Time
The motivational study course Gamecamp was developed by us at FCV Sweden in 2020-2021 in collaboration with Jobbcenter and the municipal adult education in Boden. The course was first held in the summer of 2021. Since then, Gamecamp has been organized three times in Boden and as many times in Kramfors. Along the way, the concept has evolved and improved based on participants’ suggestions and requests.
The purpose of Gamecamp is to break the exclusion experienced by young adults who are neither working nor studying, a life situation that can be devastating for both self-confidence and self-esteem and often leads to mental health issues. Both national and regional reports show that the mental health of children and young people is worsening. By combining study and career guidance with game-based learning, we aim to inspire those far from the labor market to find their own motivations, boost their self-esteem, and take the next step in life.
Hot Skills: A Crucial Piece of the Puzzle
One of our most important tools for boosting participants’ self-esteem is the board game Hot Skills.
The game provides participants with strategic challenges that not only entertain but also prepare these young adults for working life. By participating in various community activities, players increase their chances of securing employment. Hot Skills serves as a tool that allows players to explore both the positive and negative aspects of change. With the accompanying guide for coaches and teachers, Hot Skills is a valuable tool for guiding and preparing the target group for the job market.
An Outstanding Result
Our concept stands out compared to other similar initiatives due to our unusually good results. Now, a few years after we launched this, we can state that, on average, 97% of our participants have moved on to studies or other activities directly after the summer course. According to statistics from MUCF (Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society), it is difficult for municipalities to reach and engage the target group of young adults who are neither working nor studying. We believe our success is due to our deep understanding of what attracts this target group. Gaming and IT are significant parts of their daily lives, and by building our concept around this, we can meet on common ground that is exciting and interesting enough for them to want to participate.
Here’s what Lars Lundqvist, CEO of FCV and the initiator of Gamecamp, has to say about the fantastic outcome:
“Our Summer/Winter Gamecamp concept is a successful example of how magical things happen when several actors come together to achieve a goal. That as much as 97% of our course participants move on to studies or other occupations is unique for this kind of initiative. It’s an incredible result, and there’s no stronger proof that our methods truly work,” says Lars Lundqvist.
This year’s Summer Gamecamp has been a journey full of development, camaraderie, and new insights. This would not have been possible without all the amazing participants, partners, staff, guest lecturers, and the long-term work for young people in Kramfors. We now look forward to following our participants’ continued successes and are confident that they all have exciting futures ahead of them!
Gamecamp is made possible through a collaboration between FCV Sweden, Hola folkhögskola, Region Västernorrland, Kramfors Municipality, MISAM/AME in Kramfors, and the Kramfors Coordination Association.
Want to Know More?
We want to join forces with more partners, and after several years of fantastic results, we can confidently say that the concept really works. For us, collaboration is the most important parameter, and we always ensure that what we do together is tailored to local conditions.
Are you interested in organizing your own Summer Camp? Or would a Winter Camp be a better fit for your organization? Or why not both?
Get in touch and book a no-obligation meeting with us, and we’ll discuss how we could achieve great things together. Email us at info@fcvsverige.se, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Our participants’ own game projects
The Scare Amazing Wolf Game
A 2D horror game where you wake up in the middle of the night with a rumbling stomach. You want a grilled sandwich, but the kitchen is overrun by wolves. With the wolves hot on your heels, you try to make sandwiches while slipping on the slick floor—nothing will stand between you and your Croque Monsieur.
Dino Rhythm / Rhythm Knightmare
A music and rhythm-based 2D platformer where timing is everything. Play as dinosaurs or knights who throw swords, knives, and other sharp objects both indoors and outdoors. Master different time signatures to the tunes of Metal/EDM to build your combo meter. Watch out, or you might lose your bangs in the process.
Bring Out Your Dead
A 2D catcher game where recycling takes center stage in true Monty Python style. Only those who have passed on should be collected in your wheelbarrow—no heart-beating specimens, we must think of the environment. Try to do your best day’s work in this medieval version of waste management.
Cow On Steroids
This is not a feel-good movie about a pig creating harmony on a farm. We’re here to take over the farm, of course through non-democratic means. Pickups and body size are the keys to success.
