Strategies for Promoting Inclusion and Belonging at Camp

All of the inclusion, diversity, social justice, and equity work that many are doing in the field right now — all of it is to get us on level ground. To help us to understand that we are all connected. Nature provides us the level ground and the perfect environment to heal our cultural divide through camp.

This Camping Magazine article discusses why it is important to have gender inclusive spaces at camp.

Recognizing the profundity of hardships and their potential long-lasting impact on developing psyches, this past summer Ekundayo Bandele launched a Self-Identity Camp for Black Youth. The goal of this day camp at Hattiloo was to encourage youth in the Black community to explore and express their feelings about their wants, needs, challenges, fears, triumphs — anything and everything that moves them and speaks to who they are as individuals.

The American Camp Association (ACA), in partnership with Teaching Matters, offered a series of webinars over the past year enabling camp educators to discuss how to talk about anti-racism in the camp setting. Those conversations are continued here.

While we relish the opportunity to write each edition of the column, this issue is particularly exciting as it is composed with the hope that it is useful for those who will be...

What if I told you that as a camp counselor you are in the position to change a life? That by committing to making your campers feel seen, heard, and valued, you could be an...

Welcome to Trail Mixed: Inclusion at Camp. We are happy you are here. The stated mission of the American Camp Association (ACA) is enriching the lives of children, youth, and...

Several years ago, when I directed my camp program specifically for African- American teen girls (Camp Butterfly), there were many memorable moments. But one in particular has been...

That question was one that I and my collaborator Leila Bighash sought to help answer in our recent study , recognized at the ACA National Conference with the Eleanor P. Eells Award...

LGBTQ+ leadership camps allow LGBTQ+ youth to be themselves and feel accepted and loved in a summer camp environment.