Reflecting on InCommon BaseCAMP: Four Essentials to Consider

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

There are several avenues to deepen your understanding of identity and access management (IAM) topics and trends affecting the research and education (R&E) community. But of all the possibilities that exist, there’s none quite like InCommon BaseCAMP.

BaseCAMP is a virtual learning experience that can be enjoyed from the convenience of your office but packs the punch of an in-person experience. It is chock-full of sessions, breakout room presentations, and conversations that help attendees better understand InCommon, the fundamentals of the federation, and how to address challenges related to IAM.

This year’s BaseCAMP, hosted by InCommon and Internet2 staff, was a weeklong sharing of frameworks, ideas, data points, journeys, and frustrations. Members of the R&E community presented sessions intended to help participants of InCommon see and optimize InCommon’s value.

“We had a great number of first-timers,” said Clara Broomfield, training program manager of InCommon. “Members of the community were thoroughly engaged, asking questions and participating in candid and deep discussions. We covered a lot of ground. It was an incredible success.”

As with all learning experiences, there is more knowledge than there is brain space to hold it, and we can’t digest this knowledge all at once. We must unpack new learning in small bites to put it into the context of our day-to-day.

That said, here are four essentials that would make reflecting on this year’s BaseCAMP more seamless as you consider a time well spent:

1. The BaseCAMP Survival Guide: If you still haven’t wrapped your mind around important terms, platforms, or the nuts and bolts of BaseCAMP, consider the BaseCAMP Survival Guide. It’s a handy reference that covers the basics of InCommon, Internet2, the InCommon Federation, and key programs like eduroam. This lightweight resource includes a link to a glossary of essential terms and details about BaseCAMP activities like CAMP Fires and games.
2. InCommon BaseCAMP’s Sessions: Fear you missed important snippets of information when you stepped away? Don’t worry! Each session was recorded so you can go back and review content you may have missed or want to revisit. Whether you took a break during a session or simply want to reinforce what you learned, these videos let you absorb the material at your own pace. We’ve also included links to each session’s slide decks for easy review of the session materials presented. These resources are available to this year’s BaseCAMP attendees through the end of the year.
3. The InCommon BaseCAMP Slack Channel: Your direct line to the BaseCAMP 2025 community long after the event ends. This is where conversations continue, connections deepen, and fellow CAMPers can continue to share their wins and challenges. The Slack channel serves as your bridge to the broader InCommon community and the supportive peer network that understands your IAM journey.
4. InCommon BaseCAMP’s CAMP Fires: These casual, themed discussion sessions at the end of each day provided some of the most valuable networking and knowledge-sharing moments of the week. Whether you explored IAM trends, shared deployment experiences, or discussed current challenges, the CAMP Fires created intimate spaces for deeper conversations with peers and presenters. While these sessions weren’t recorded, the connections you made and insights you gained during these relaxed discussions often prove to be the most lasting takeaways from BaseCAMP.

Though the conference is over, the learning doesn’t end. Stay connected as we forge ahead and learn from each other.

First-time attendees and newer participants want to hear from you!

As a first-time CAMPer, do you have ideas or suggestions to take next year’s BaseCAMP to the next level? Email Clara Broomfield or interact with InCommon staff members in the BaseCAMP Slack channel to share any comments or feedback that would help improve next year’s experience.