Hello Campers!
We at the Barista Guild of America are ultra excited about the introduction of Camp Pull-A-Shot East Coast held in scenic Pembroke, VA. Along with intensive barista learning, community building, endless s’mores, and the inevitable dance party, we’re bringing a bevy of team challenges to facilitate fun, camaraderie, and a sense of competitiveness to our camp experience. Camp team challenges yield some unforgettable moments (including some inventive brewing methods and former BGA Executive Council Chair Jason Dominy wearing a banana suit) and the upcoming camp team challenges should be no different.Campers will be split into ten teams design to be equally matched in experience, skill, and knowledge.
Teams will go head-to-head in a series of four challenges throughout the week:This year’s challenges bring back some favorites from previous camps, as well as an entirely new contest designed to stretch the scope of campers’ knowledge and skill.
Opening Night Challenge: The Price Is Right
Our opening night challenge is a Price Is Right-style game show, where teams estimate the price of coffee-related items - from brew ware to roasting equipment, cleaning tools and beyond. How much was that pitcher rinser again? What’s the average price of a gallon of whole milk? Memorizing the current Espresso Parts & Espresso Supply catalogs on the trip to camp might be a sound investment.
Night 2 Challenge: Coffee-Brewing Relay
On the second night, teams will compete in a relay-style coffee brewing competition. Teams will have to complete certain tasks before being allowed access to tools necessary to brew a cup of coffee. Will you be bobbing for apples? Hula-hooping for hot water? The relay legs feature physical challenges which are completely top secret and hidden in a sealed brown envelope. All we can say is: bring your running shoes.
Night 3 Challenge: Seed-to-Cup
Night 3 Challenge: Seed-to-Cup
New to the team challenge line-up: Seed-to-Cup! Tapping into the knowledge and skills learned during the week will be necessary to succeed in our final challenge. Teams must negotiate the purchase of green coffee, roasting, and brewing equipment with a limited amount of camp money. There will be a variety of choices to make regarding each of these steps: teams must weigh the risk versus reward of available items at each step in the chain and then be responsible for purchasing, roasting, brewing and serving their coffee for evaluation to a panel of judges.
Ongoing Challenge: Team Cafes
Ongoing Challenge: Team Cafes
Get your fellow campers caffeinated on some top-notch coffees while working on some the best equipment out there! Impress secret shoppers to gain maximum points for your team. Creativity is encouraged. Baristas are most at home behind the counter, but don’t get too comfortable --- you never know who’s evaluating your coffee, or, how they’re evaluating it!
As you can see, we have quite a full schedule of activities at Camp this summer. The best team overall wins a unique trophy and bragging rights for a year, so get limber and bring the heat.
Camp is nearly sold out: to participate in the learning, skill building, networking experience that is Camp Pull-a-Shot and take a step forward in your path as a professional barista, sign up today.
See you at Camp!
