The Gift
Thanks for sticking with us. Welcome to the final installment of our five-part series. We are headed North, and in the holiday spirit we would like to offer all of our readers the gift of connectivity and community by sharing resources from Black/Brown professionals that can help improve cultural awareness and inclusivity at your camp - and much more.
“Well the river ends, between two hills
Follow the drinkin' gourd
There's another river on the other side
Follow the drinkin' gourd”
- Follow the Drinking Gourd, A Negro Spiritual ca.1873
From the beginning of the 1800s and through the reconstruction era, the big dipper, or drinking gourd constellation guided Black people north and quickly became associated with freedom, hope and opportunity. Like the drinking gourd, this post symbolizes the possible transition from the existing white-dominant camp culture to a more racially- inclusive one. Though much like the path to freedom, the transition to inclusive camps will require effort, planning, and significant determination.
Start at the Beginning. The first step for any organization seeking greater cultural awareness is an internal audit. These evaluations can help your camp: 1) establish a baseline, 2) identify areas for improvement and 3) guide thinking about new strategic priorities and policies that can lead to more inclusivity. The following are some organizations that can help you on this journey:
O.A.A.A.R.S - This referral system helps businesses, academic institutions, and nonprofits find and hire BIPOC consultants to provide training in the fields of social justice, equity, arts, wellness, and education. Browse through the system and get connected to trained professionals who can fill you programmatic needs.
Cross-Cultural Agility, LLC /Expert Online Training - We recommend training with consultant Niambi Jaha-Echols. Not only is she dynamic, but as a former ACA Board member and through her leadership with Camp Butterfly, Niambi also brings a wealth of camp knowledge and practical experience.
S’more Melanin - We are committed to supporting camps in improving their cultural awareness. As consultants, we provide our clients with activities and resources that not only aid in reflection, but also in the development of policies and best practices that align with their camp’s values.
Diversify Your Vendors. Now more than ever, small businesses are in need of help. Especially local Black owned businesses. Here are a few BIPOC-owned businesses that can help you meet some of your camp operational needs:
Disinfectant and Cleaning Supplies - Pur, Natural Annie Essentials, The Green Laundress
Sunblock - Black Girl Sunscreen
Bug Repellent - Eternile (G’weh Bug Spray), Garners Garden
Bedding and Apparel - Eight Generation, Slim Pickins Outfitters
Invest In Communities of Color. Families from historically marginalized backgrounds due to racism are not charity. Although providing camp scholarships is one way to provide access to youth who may not otherwise experience camp, it is not enough if your camp does not have the staff nor structure to truly mentor, coach and support these youth. However, there are entire organizations that specialize in building holistically inclusive spaces.
So what do we suggest? Try to partner with some of these groups to offer events, programs and/or recommend families participate in these outdoor groups in person and via social media. By building a strong community of BIPOC who understand the importance of outdoor recreation, we can increase the amount of BIPOC families who seek it and seek the camp experience. Here are a few organizations connecting BIPOC to nature already:
Latino Outdoors - NYC
Outdoor Afro - NYC
Camping Niore
The Great Outchea
Native Women’s Wilderness
Jenny Bruso-Unlikely Hikers
Fredrick Douglas once said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” We liken this to mean that if we start making spaces representative and inclusive now, it is going to grow a base of BIPOC children who feel comfortable, engaged and protected in the camp world. We are optimistic that this intentionality will convert to more representative and diverse camp professionals, camp leaders and owners, and overall more Black and Brown folks who take to the outdoors.
Throughout this series, we have emphasized that real inclusivity is a multi-pronged approach and process. Our previous posts stamp the importance of team training, BIPOC camper/counselor retention, increased representation and last, but not least, family/community engagement. If we can leave you with one impression, it is that you need to first do an honest assessment of where your program stands- then get to work.
It has been a pleasure writing this series over the last five months. With the composition of each article we have grown in our own edification and in our assertion that there is real need for this work. We are so humbled and lifted up by the warm reception of S’more Melanin and the outpourings of support for this endeavor. We were unsure where this endeavor would lead, but know that we are just getting started. Continue to stick with us and check out our new website at www.smoremelanin.com.