This week on The Watchers, we sit down with filmmaker Carina Mia Wong and Wayfinder Experience camp director Judson Packard to talk about the powerful new documentary We Can Be Heroes. The film explores the transformative magic of Wayfinder, a camp where young people build confidence, emotional resilience, and community through immersive role-playing games.

Carina, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist, shares what drew her to tell this story, while Jud gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the camp creates such a safe and encouraging space for growth. We dive into everything from the challenges of making a film about such a vulnerable and unique environment to the incredible impact the camp has on its campers. (Also we talk about Jersey because of course we do. Make sure you're following us on Instagram for a cameo from our patron saint, the Jersey Devil.)

We Can Be Heroes has already earned incredible (and well-deserved) recognition, winning the Special Jury Award for Bravery and Empathy at SXSW, the Audience Award for Best Feature Doc at the Woodstock Film Festival, and the Best Feature Documentary Award at the Nevada City Film Festival. If you’re into stories about healing, connection, and hitting people with big foam swords, this one’s for you.

Learn more about The Wayfinder Experience: https://wayfinderexperience.com/

Follow:

We Can Be Heroes: @wecanbeheroesdoc

The Wayfinder Experience: @wayfinderexp

Carina Mia Wong: @carina.mia

Judson Packard: @larp_kween

The Watchers: @WatchersPodNJ

Andrea: @AQAndreaQ

Jodie: @jodie_mim

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."