Ensuring our Day Camps are inclusive for campers, staff and families of all genders.

We know the power of a week at camp. A child’s life can be changed for the better simply by spending 5 days at our day camps.

Now that we’re firmly planted in times where most people value inclusion, camp directors know that we need to keep being leaders and a bastion of inclusion in the world. In a lot of cases, camps have done a fairly good job evolving to reflect those inclusive values, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the conversation.

Part of being inclusive is to be constantly be reflecting and re-evaluating our programs, hiring & facilities to ensure that we aren’t creating barriers for people to feel included and welcome at camp.

When it comes to gender, we need to recognize that being inclusive means going just beyond not limiting the programs that boys and girls can take part in. We need to look deeper into things like what programs we are offering, what language we are using every day and even how our staff hiring practices can have some biases in them. What about campers and staff who identify as transgender? How are you evaluating your camp beyond just male and female?

This kind of thing is tricky! It can be hard to navigate, but that’s why you’re here with us on the Pod! To help us all learn, joining Sam, Ehren and Andy on this episode are Leslie Keller from TIC Camps in Maryland, DC & Virginia, and Genna Singer from Camp Settoga and the JCC of Manhattan to discuss with us the ins and outs of gender issues in Day Camp programming and operations.

We know that this isn’t the end of the conversation about Gender and Day Camps. What did we miss? What would you like to hear more about?

Please let us know in the comments or by email: [email protected]

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THE DAY CAMP PROGRAM TIP OF THE WEEK

Andy: “Camp-Paign” 2020

Sam: Negative Space Tye Dye

Ehren: Question Cards

Leslie: Stereotypes vs. Statistics

Genna: Time Capsule/Settoga Moments

YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ, partner/founder Everwood Day Camp, founder/past president NJ Camps Government Affairs Project

• Ehren Gluckstein