Building Camp Communities Through Diversity

As this year's Mid States Camp Conference approaches, I find myself talking more excitedly about our theme and the entire conference each day. "Building Camp Communities Through Diversity" had been discussed amongst the Steering Committee before, and we have touched on this topic like many others do and just skim the surface. While the conference is going to be full of all of the things we have all grown to love Mid States for - the community feel, the jump start to getting in to that "camp mode", the new songs, the professional opportunity for our younger staff members, a chance to reconnect with old camp friends of our own - it is also going to be full of ideas and discussion to make us all think about diversity and what it means us as individuals, as well as our camps and their future.

Perhaps we feel we embrace diversity enough, and there is nothing else we can learn. There is always something to learn about how someone thinks and feels. We as camp professionals are in these roles because we want to make a difference in other people's lives - the campers who step foot on to our properties, the staff members whom we are teaching to be good adults, the parents we are giving a brief respite, the communities that we are teaching about the environment and our natural community. We have much to learn so that we can keep on making that difference and teaching as we go because the campers we are serving may not look the same as they did years ago. The families do not fit the portraits that we saw years ago. The staff members appear different than we remember. If we want to be intentional about how we teach and what we offer, we need to know all we can about who our campers, families and staff members could be.

Our keynote speakers will begin the process for us - opening our minds at the beginning of the conference, and sending us off with the list of "how to's and why's" at the end. There will be one entire education session time devoted to many topics on diversity for you to choose from and attend. Our goal is for this conference to feel like camp, and we want you to leave ready to put the finishing touches on your summer and be ready for those staff members and campers to arrive.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting specifics about the conference from Keynote General Sessions, to Leadership Institute courses and Education Sessions, to updates on the little things that make Mid States the conference we all love. Be sure to check back often. You can find us on FaceBook, as well - be sure to attend the event for the most current updates.

In Camp Spirit,
Carissa