This document describes a World Cafe method for engaging people in meaningful conversations. The World Cafe involves: 1) Gathering in small groups around "campfires" to discuss questions and share insights, with some staying as hosts and others moving between groups. 2) Discussing topics for 15 minutes then moving to new groups, taking insights from previous discussions. 3) Identifying patterns and insights that emerge across multiple discussions. The goal is to have an interactive discussion and generate ideas people may not have thought of alone.

1. S’Mores
Campfire
Café
Putting
conversations
to work

2. “It's never enough just to tell people about some
new insight. Rather, you have to get them to
experience it in a way that evokes its power and
possibility. Instead of pouring knowledge into
people's heads, you need to help them grind a
new set of eyeglasses so they can see the world
in a new way.”
˜John Seeley Brown

3. What is a World Café?
• A powerful method for engaging people in
conversations that matter?
• An approach that grew out of a 1995
rainstorm in California?
• A gathering of people who share ideas,
insights, and listen to each other actively?
• A dynamic activity during which I get to
doodle on the tablecloth if I want?

4. IT’S ALL OF THE ABOVE

5. “Since our earliest ancestors gathered in circles
around the warmth of a fire, talking together
has been our primary means for discovering
common interests, sharing knowledge,
imagining the future, and cooperating to survive
and thrive.”
The World Café Foundation
http://www.theworldcafe.com/

6. So let’s gather around our respective campfires
at S’Mores Campfire Cafe and talk.
Here are the guidelines for your conversations:
• Pretend you’re in a local café talking with your
group.
• Keep the conversation relaxed. You’re not
competing here; you’re listening,
commenting, building on others’ insights.
• Get everyone in your group involved, even if
someone’s participation is mostly listening.

7. • Listen together for patterns and insights that
emerge from your discussions.
• When you move to another table, take your
insights from the first table with you.
• Use the opportunity to bring about a
meaningful discussion.
• Recognize that your group,
working as a whole, is likely to
come up with insights (“aha
moments”) you may not have
thought of alone.

8. • Talk among your tablemates until you are
signaled to move to another table.
• One of you will stay behind as “table host” at
each table, while the rest (“visitors”) move on.
• Table host briefly reviews what his first group
came up with for the new visitors.
• Feel free to doodle or draw on the paper on
each table.
• Someone serves as recorder for each group to
write the top ideas your group comes up with
and writes them on the index cards.

10. Last-Minute Instructions
• You’ll have 15 minutes to meet around your
first campfire, so get the discussion going right
away.
• At the 15-minute mark you’ll hear a signal to
move to another campfire; your group
members go to different campfires.
• A signal will be given at the end of the second
15-minute campfire discussion.
• The group as a whole will debrief.

11. WRAP-UP
• Discuss themes that emerged from a number
of groups.
• Identify insights (“aha moments”) anyone
gained.
• Talk about how this method (World Café)
might be useful in your local situations.
• Hear about how the group discussions will be
shared with participants.