Tim Paczesny, an avid outsdoorsman and dad to four, has created a game that teaches people about the outdoors.

Starting with a napkin sketch, some business savvy, and perseverance, Paczesny created the board game called CAMP, which will have it’s first birthday this month.

“I was in the woods with my daughter and she had asked what a track in the ground was from,” Paczesny says of how his idea was born. “After I identified it, I thought that if I could create a game out of things that have to do with the outdoors that I could teach people about the outdoors.” Over 1,000 of games were sold in the first month.

“With CAMP, I have sold 5,000 games, which to me means that I have taught 5,000 children or adults something about the outdoors,” Paczesny says. “That in itself is very fulfilling to me.”

With the average child watching over 20 hours a week and statistics showing violent images on TV reaching over 8,000 per child, adds Jesse DenHerder, “Education Outdoors, Inc., has really been embraced by families that long for a refreshing change in the types of products available to their children.” DenHerder is the design and marketing manager for Paczesny’s toy company.

Education Outdoors has also released an activity book themed after CAMP characters, and the book and game have each won two awards.

Paczesny, 34, also has a 10-year-old company in Eastport, called TSR (Training, Services and Repair).
“I think there needs to be more small businesses,” Paczesny says. “Michigan as a state needs help in the economic area and small businesses help.”

The game is available at Cabela’s, Gander Mountain, and many small toy retailers. Visit campboardgame.com or call 231-599-2763.