Because every kid deserves a camp experience.

Would you agree that the world would be a much better place if everybody went to camp?

Of course! We know what camp does for kids. To have a place among a positive community is something that every single kid, no, person desperately needs.

Now, when we say EVERY kid, we mean it! No matter a child’s ability, background, race, gender, sexual orientation, personality or whatever else makes them unique, they deserve the transformative power of a camp experience.

Inclusion programs are becoming more and more prominent in the Day Camp industry, but we need to make sure that we’re doing it right. An inclusion program that is intentional, well thought out and comprehensively welcoming is not easy, but it’s not as hard as you might think.

Cue the Day Camp Pod! On this episode, Andy, Sam and Ehren are joined by THE Sari Grossinger from Camp Robin Hood. Together these Day Camp Pros offer advice and tips and tricks to both the prospective and the full-on inclusive day camps.

Tune in to find out about:

• Why do, don’t and should camps have an inclusion program?

• What are the benefits of an inclusion program?

• How do we hire and train staff to have be inclusive and work with campers with differing abilities?

• How do we work with families who may know a lot, or a little about their child’s needs at camp?

• What are the small, easy, adjustments that you can make to make your camp more inclusive?

We hope that this episode empowers you to get your inclusion on this summer! What do you do (or want to do) this summer to make your camp more inclusive for all kids? Let us know in the comments!

DCP - DAY CAMP PROGRAM IDEA OF THE WEEK - LEVEL UP YOUR DAY CAMP!

• Andy: L.A.R.P. - Live Action Role Play

• Sam: Tennis/Baseball

• Ehren: Chair Basketball

• Sari:  Welcome to Holland Poem and Sequel - staff training - empathy building
  
  

YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director Liberty Lake Day Camp, past president ACA NY/NJ

• Ehren Gluckstein, Assistant Director, Camp Robin Hood

• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor, Crystal Lake Park District

• Sari Grossinger - Co-Owner and Director - Camp Robin Hood
  

Bonus Content - Because you read the show notes, and you’re awesome.

Sam’s presentation on creating a culture of inclusion. (Thanks, Sam!)

Sponsors:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible!

• American Camp Association, NY & NJ   http://www.acanynj.org/

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/