I think of empathy as a radar I can sweep across a group of children, picking up who is standing a little apart, who is studying their shoes, and who is laughing a bit too loudly. Adults hide those signals better, though nowhere near as well as they believe. Reading the room is only half of it, and the other half is walking over to the new camper before their first meal.
This is the short version. The full lesson, with the story behind it, is in the book.
Take The Summer Camp MBA with you, or get the field notes by email while you work through the lessons here.