Is Summer Camp Inherently Racist? A Frank Discussion on DEI in the Camp Industry
This week on the CampHacker Podcast, Travis Allison gets straight to the point with Chris Hudson, Rachel Kent, and Simone Gamble: Is summer camp inherently racist? They dig into the history of camping and how it's wrestled with being truly open and welcoming to everyone. The group doesn't shy away from the industry's past and looks closely at the challenges camps still face in making sure all kids and staff feel like they belong.
The conversation moves beyond just talking about diversity to practical steps camps can take to show they're serious about inclusion. They discuss real actions like looking at their own numbers, setting clear rules, and making sure their leadership reflects the campers they serve. The episode also touches on the tricky balance of speaking out about these values in today's world. Ultimately, the panel pushes the camp industry to really think hard about who feels welcome and to actively build camps where everyone can thrive.
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Tool of the Week - Make Yourself a Better Camp Director
Travis - The World’s Fairest City - yours and mine (book) https://amzn.to/4ihb8no
Chris - Laziness does not Exist https://bookshop.org/a/84130/9781982140113
Rachel - Your Next BreakThrough Mark Manson newsletter - https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Simone - The Anti-Racist Organization : Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace : Shereen Daniels https://bookshop.org/a/84130/9781119880622
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Your Hosts
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro
Chris Hudson, Camp Consultant and Director - Camp Highlight
Simone Gamble, Founder - OAAARS
Rachel Kent, Camp Consultant, RKent Consulting
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