Camp Kidwell is a equal opportunity program and employer. Not only are ALL individuals welcome at Camp Kidwell, but we strive to help them celebrate who they are and be confident in expressing themselves! Below is our non-discrimination policy: Camp Kidwell does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity.
Camp Kidwell's Gender Inclusion Policy WHY DOES CAMP KIDWELL NEED A POLICY ABOUT GENDER INCLUSION? Our mission is to provide extraordinary camping opportunities for children and to be a valued resource to 4-H, youth, families, groups, and organizations throughout the region. Our motto is to teach young people skills for life in a safe, fun and loving environment. We believe an inclusive environment allows us as a camp community to achieve these goals and our campers, staff, and guests the opportunity to not only enjoy, but thrive through the MAGIC OF CAMP!
Unfortunately our children often don’t feel accepted in many places, are made to feel it is unacceptable to express themselves for who they are and are not celebrated for what makes them unique. We believe it is our responsibility as a youth organization to create an environment in which people of all races, nationalities, ethnicities, sexes, ages, abilities, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identities can come together to play and learn collaboratively and respectfully.
Alienation of LTGBTQ+ youth and other non-binary campers can be overt, like bullying, which we already address as part of our camp expectations. But it can also be unintentional with very uncontroversial things like cabin assignments, cabin names, pronoun use, bathroom designations, and the very common practice of splitting up campers into groups of boys and girls for activities for no reason other than expediency. We feel it is important for us to address this issue and set an example making sure that all campers are welcome and respected within our camp and in our community.
WILL BOYS AND GIRLS SLEEP IN THE SAME CABIN? Most will not. As a way to support ALL campers and staff and be sure everyone feels safe while they are here at camp, we will offer the option for the small number who choose to opt into a gender-neutral cabin. Parents will have the option to choose a cabin that corresponds to their camper’s gender or a gender-neutral cabin. Those campers who choose the gender-neutral option will be assigned to a cabin that will have others who made the same choice, regardless of sex.
WHAT WILL THE GENDER OF THE STAFF IN THE GENDER-NEUTRAL CABIN BE? We will make every effort possible to staff the gender-neutral cabin with representatives of each gender that matches, as closely as possible, the demographics of the cabin, however, logistics will dictate what is possible. Our existing policies about camper supervision and adult ratios will still be in place which strictly prohibits one-on-one monitoring of any camper in private and in bathrooms and expects all campers to travel in groups of three or more.
HOW WILL THE CHANGE EFFECT CAMPER SUPERVISION? Camper supervision will not be effected at all! All campers are supervised and have staff present and organizing their activities 24 hours a day. If they are not sleeping, using the restroom or possibly with the health officer, campers are participating actively engaged and participating in activities. The cabin group they are in will not affect what they do, when they do it or how our staff interacts with them.
WHAT ABOUT BATHROOMS AND CHANGING? All campers will change in the bathhouse in a stall or shower. Campers will be able to use the restroom of the gender they identify with. A single stall bathroom or shower is available for use by any person, regardless of gender, if that option is chosen. All conventional social norms about respect, modesty, and civility apply.
WILL CAMPERS CHANGE IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER? All campers and staff will change in the restroom in a stall. Kids are pretty modest and have been changing in private or under their covers already at camp for years. We expect changing in the restroom during shower time, before bed, at wake up and before activities will be quite natural. Ultimately respect, modesty, and civility for each other and examples set by staff will rule the day. WHAT IF MY CHILD PRESENTS AS ONE GENDER, IS PASSABLE AS THAT GENDER AND DOESN’T CONSIDER THEMSELVES “TRANS?” Each family will be given the option to select from the following cabin options: Boy, Girl, or Gender-Inclusive. We would love to discuss anything regarding your camper with you….if you are unsure at all, please feel free to contact us! We will also reach out if we are unsure of any information you have provided.
IF MY CAMPER IDENTIFIES AS GAY, BUT OTHERWISE CONSIDERS THEMSELVES CIS-GENDER, SHOULD THEY BE IN THE GENDER-INCLUSIVE CABIN? Campers who identify as gay should feel right at home registering for the cabin that corresponds with their gender identity. Cabin assignments are made to create a safe and comfortable place to call home for a week, sexual perference is not a factor in this decision at all. We assume gay campers have been participating in camp and have been assigned to the same gender cabins for years whether or not they have identified themselves and this policy isn’t intended to change that.
WHAT DOES THIS NEW WORD “CIS-GENDER” MEAN? The Latin prefix “cis” means, “near,” or, “on the same side of. “ It is used as the opposite of “trans” which means, “moved,” “crossed over,” or “across from.” “Cis-gender” means that one’s gender identity, how they think of themselves and how they prefer others to think of them, matches their body.
I KNOW MY CIS-GENDER CAMPER WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING IN THE GENDER-INCLUSIVE CABIN, AND I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, SHOULD I REGISTER THEM FOR IT? We’d prefer you let us know about your willingness to have your cis-gender camper assigned to the gender-inclusive cabin in the “Special Instructions” field and let us know if it is your strong preference or whether you just don’t mind. We want to reserve the gender-inclusive spots for campers who need it but will consider your strong preference if there are spots available. If we need to reassign cis-gender campers to the gender-inclusive cabin for logistical reasons, it will be nice to know your willingness and we will reach out to you directly.
WHAT ABOUT PRONOUNS? Camp staff will respect the pronouns the campers choose for themselves. In the camp registration form, there will be a field to list the camper’s preferred pronoun. Our staff will do their best to use them and model to the others campers what it looks like to treat each with respect. Campers and staff who intentionally use the wrong pronouns to antagonize others will be considered bullies and that will be addressed by our leadership.
WILL CAMPERS IN THE GENDER-INCLUSIVE CABIN MISS ANY PART OF THE CAMP PROGRAM? No, there are certain activities that campers participate in by cabin and other activities where campers are regrouped into teams, but there will be no activity where any camper will be excluded or receiving anything less than the full experience because of their cabin assignment or their gender identity. The amount of time that campers spend in their cabin, that isn’t devoted to rest or getting ready is a very small portion of the day. At all times, campers in the gender-inclusive cabin will fully participate and be engaged in the Camp Kidwell program.
DON’T YOU EXPECT TO LOSE REGISTRATIONS BECAUSE SOME PARENTS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR NEW POLICY? We understand it is possible that by choosing to formalize a long standing inclusion policy, some folks may decide Camp Kidwell is not for their family. Creating a welcoming and supportive environment for ALL campers, staff and guests is very important, and we believe that it is worth the risk. The policy changes a few things in how camp is layed out, of course. However, in the big picture, these changes will have a pretty small effect on the overall flow of camp. Being more inclusive and conscientious will make us a stronger and more compassionate community and we have faith that people will respond to our inclusiveness. We believe by having an open door for ALL individuals, more campers will feel confident and comfortable enough to participate in our programs!.
WHAT ABOUT…EVERYTHING ELSE? Camp Kidwell already has well-tested policies and practices that deal with all sorts of behaviors and contingencies that might arise at a summer camp for children. We have a well-trained staff, many of whom are educators and child development professionals the other 51 weeks of the year. We address things like bullying, inappropriate behaviors, camp romances, social awkwardness, special needs and anything else you can imagine might happen at summer camp as a matter of policy and practice and don’t expect that being inclusive of non-binary campers will affect any of our best practices. We’ve had gay, trans, and other non-binary campers before and accommodated them on an ad hoc basis; this step only allows us to streamline and standardize our practices.
ISN’T THIS A LOT OF WORK TO ACCOMMODATE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CAMPERS? EVERY SINGLE CHILD IS WORTH THE WORK TO GIVE THEM AN EXPERIENCE THEY CAN FEEL SAFE ENJOYING!
