The inclusion of people of all abilities with intention began at Camp Rancho Framasa in 1995. I was fresh out of college with a degree in Park and Recreation Administration with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. My husband, the camp director, and I were living at camp and working hard to give it a future. Something we said back then was, “If inclusion was easy, everyone would be doing it.”

When I think back on that time and that statement, I have mixed feelings. Some of what we were doing felt “hard,” but today I don’t think it was hard as much as it was unfamiliar. I had the degree, the experience, and the knowledge of the camp world. It was just about bringing it all together. It really wasn’t difficult at all.

I wonder if some camps are not intentionally inclusive because it feels too hard. Some may think it’s too expensive, not worth the effort, or that their camp is not accessible. I can say wholeheartedly that I hear you, and those things might feel true in some ways, but there are other truths to consider.

Too expensive? We were often asked if campers who received support paid extra. No, they did not. We had a yearly grant to help pay for additional staffing, and we were very creative in adapting our activity areas. We were gifted an all-terrain wheelchair and used our camp community to train our staff. Who doesn’t have a special education teacher or social worker among their alums? We made it work. It really was a matter of connection with folks outside of camp and with those who are loyal believers in camp.

Not worth the effort? I know most of the people who choose to read this have had that feeling, that almost unnameable moment when a camper smiles at you and says, “I can’t wait to come back next summer, and I want you to be my counselor.” It feels good. It feels like you have done work that matters because you have made a difference in the life of a child. Camps build community and relationships and support children and staff in becoming competent, kind, and curious people. I believe the more inclusive camps are, the more inclusive communities outside of camp become. My husband often says, “Camps are doing nothing short of changing the world.” Do you believe that? I do. It is worth the effort.

Camp not accessible? Neither is Camp Rancho Framasa, and yet we had a thriving community that included people who needed support in many ways, including mobility. That all-terrain wheelchair was incredibly helpful in getting individuals where they needed to be at any given moment; we actually had two over the years I worked at camp. In addition, we built simple platforms to support mounting a horse, used stationary bows at archery, and created supportive seating for canoes.

I am curious, what else feels hard for camps? I can think of other barriers, and I have not yet been stumped for a solution. Also, what is the truth about your camp? Can you see a way to inclusion? I would love to hear about it.

Peace,

Angi