How Cedar Springs Camp Built a Retention Machine Using Outdoor Live-Action Gaming (Rebooking Surge)

How combining commercial-grade, rugged tech with 6 tactical storylines cured teen camper churn, delivered 100% portable operations, & made live-action gaming their #1 driver for repeat enrollment...

Case Study: Cedar Springs Camp

This is how a Washington summer camp turned outdoor laser tag into its highest-retention activity through immersive storytelling and rugged tech.

Founded in 1965 in Lake Stevens, Washington, Cedar Springs Camp has spent nearly six decades evolving to meet modern youth needs.

While much has changed over the years, the camp’s core mission remains absolute: making a lasting, positive difference in the lives of kids and youth. To keep campers coming back year after year, leadership needed activities that transcended traditional camp games.

Delivering high-engagement action that fosters teamwork, strategy, and camaraderie.

By the Numbers

* 17+ years of continuous operation with Battlefield Sports gear (invested in 2009, upgraded in 2019)

* 6 Distinct historical and tactical storylines driving high rebooking rates

* 2 Age Tiers served seamlessly: from "Cub Explorers" (ages 5–8) to high-energy youth and teen squads

* 100% Portable setup deployed across rugged outdoor woodland acreage.

The Challenge: Fighting Disengagement & Churn

Summer camps live and die by their repeat attendance. Camp operators constantly face the challenge of keeping tech-savvy kids physically active, socially connected, and genuinely immersed in outdoor camp life.

Traditional camp activities often lack the depth, structure, and adrenaline rush required to hold the attention of older kids and teens, leading to flat engagement and plateaued enrollment.

"What if your next best attraction was built around an idea every guest already understands? Take the thrill of a video game… then let them live it in the great outdoors."

"Much has changed around here since then, but our commitment to making a difference in the lives of kids and youth remains the same."

SEE THE SUCCESS STORY

The Solution: Upgrading to Live-Action Tactical Gaming

In 2009, Cedar Springs integrated Battlefield Sports laser tag equipment into its programming.

Built tough for all-weather outdoor environments, the gear proved reliable from day one.

To future-proof the attraction, Cedar Springs upgraded its hardware and transitioned to the advanced SATR3 software suite in 2019, unlocking streamlined game management and dynamic player controls.

Key Takeaways

Thematic Storytelling: Campers don't just run around a course; they play through historical and tactical scenarios. Games like Capture and Hold, Team Elimination, Capture the Flag, and Domination give players clear mission objectives.
Scalable for All Ages: Younger campers ("Cub Explorers," ages 5–8) enjoy accessible outdoor games, water activities, and pedal carts, while older kids dive into high-stakes "Special Ops" woodland missions.
Zero Licensing Friction: With commercial-grade hardware, zero royalties, and zero mandatory licensing fees, the camp retained full operational autonomy.

The Impact

By anchoring their adventure programming in story-driven gameplay, Cedar Springs solved the engagement puzzle. Campers stopped viewing laser tag as a simple arcade distraction and started treating it as a team-building mission.

"When the kids had a storyline, a background as to why they were trying to take this hill, then they got really engaged."

"Offering a 'special ops' theme in our summer camp has worked well for us. That's one of the reasons that we get so many rebookings for our camp," said Mark McKinney, Cedar Springs Camp.

For the Big Kids

Cedar Springs offers a "Battlefield Live Camp" with exhilarating outdoor laser tag games for campers aged 7 to 13. The games include Capture the Flag, King of the Hill (Capture & Hold), and Red vs Blue (Team Death Match).

The activities build teamwork, strategic thinking, and communication skills.

"Battlefield Live is more than a game; it's an action-packed camp where fun, strategy, and camaraderie come together, creating an unforgettable summer experience for every young adventurer."

For the Little Kids

The Cub Explorers is a Camp program for kids aged 5 to 8. It offers a range of activities that blend fun, adventure, and learning. The campers enjoy water activities, pedal carts, jumping pillows, and outdoor laser tag. Here's what Cedar Springs Camp said about the laser tag experience.

"Battlefield LIVE is not just laser tag; think of paintball (without the mess and pain), airsoft (but no pellets everywhere), and first-person shooting games (except with exercise built-in) in one amazing sport. The versatility and durability of the gaming equipment let players run missions in any climate, and infrared technology means they can battle anywhere (no more cheesy neon!). All the games and missions in the popular first-person video games are taken to the next level and can be played on our battlefields."

"The versatility and durability of the live-action gaming equipment let players play missions in any climate, and infrared technology means they can battle anywhere (no more cheesy neon!). All the games and missions in the popular first-person video games are taken to the next level and can be played on our battlefields."

"When the kids had a storyline, a background as to why they were trying to take this hill, then they got really engaged. Offering a "special ops" theme in our summer camp has worked well for us," said Mark.

This Has Worked Well For Us

At our summer camp, we have six different themes or storylines. One of the themes is about history. The campers are immersed in the culture of the battle that they are playing. That's one of the reasons that we get so many rebookings for our camp. When the kids were immersed in a story, they had a reason why they were trying to take over this hill. It really engaged them. This has worked well for us.
Mark McKinney

The adventure began in 2009 when Cedar Springs Camp invested in a range of Laser Taggers.

After a decade of successful Laser tag games, they upgraded the activity with more taggers!

In 2019, they upgraded to the latest SATR3 software.

“Capture and Hold, Team Elimination, Capture the Flag, Domination… are just some of the games we play on camp,” said Mark.

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