On June 19, 2025, camps across the country will have the opportunity to participate in Opal’s Walk for Freedom — an event honoring the legacy of Juneteenth and the continued pursuit of justice, education, and unity in America.
This is an opportunity to raise awareness about the significance of Juneteenth and the impact of education, advocacy, and community engagement in shaping a more inclusive and informed society. By participating in this walk, camps can highlight their commitment to fostering values of freedom, resilience, and historical awareness in youth development spaces.
Focusing on our youth and young adults, Opal’s Walk for Freedom will showcase the dedication of the camp community to teaching history through active engagement. Camps will have the chance to integrate the walk into their programming, reinforcing the importance of community, learning, and action. These values are already part of the camp experience, and by participating in this initiative, camps will help inspire a new generation of community-driven leaders.
Opal’s Walk for Freedom began as a movement led by Dr. Opal Lee, whose dedication to making Juneteenth a national holiday has impacted thousands. Through this event, camps and youth-serving organizations can join a nationwide effort to continue sharing the message that freedom and justice are for all.
How Your Camp Can Participate:
Here's how you can schedule Opal's Walk for Freedom into your camp's programming on June 19.
Please note: Registration is optional but provides access to t-shirts and participation in the national virtual walk. If your camp cannot register everyone, you are welcome to register one adult to receive information and communications from Opal’s team. Camps that are unable to register this year are still welcome to host a walk and engage with the content.
- Register your camp through Opal’s Walk for Freedom to participate in the virtual 2.5-mile walk.
- Access educational materials, activity ideas, historical context, and tips for integrating the event into your camp programming.
- Encourage participation from your campers, staff, and families by organizing a local walk at your camp or in your community.
- Spread the word in a unified social media campaign using #OpalsWalkForFreedom and tagging @ACAcamps.
- Inspire storytelling by having campers and staff share their experiences through social media prompts and reflections, which will be included in a national recap video.
To support your camp’s involvement, ACA has created a Juneteenth Camp Celebrations page, complete with programming ideas and other resources to help your camp participate in this historic initiative.
Be part of this powerful movement! Plan now to add #OpalsWalkForFreedom to your camp’s programming on June 19, 2025.
Christen Peterson, CYC-P, is the director of inclusion and belonging with the American Camp Association. She can be reached at [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Camp Association or ACA employees.
