The power of Camp
International Womens Day is a globally recognized holiday celebrated annually on March 8th. The day celebrates the courage, strength, and resilience of women from around the world.
In honor of International Womens Day, we have spoken to our Director of Advancement and Engagement Cindy Benedek about the power of camp. As a fellow camper herself, Cindy worked her way up through the ranks and eventually became a Camp director of her childhood summer camp which we think is super inspiring in itself!
Summer camp is a unique and magical place where female campers and counselors can be their true selves, away from societal pressures and expectations. At camp, the pressure to look your best, with a full face of make-up, is replaced with the freedom to communicate without worrying about likes or social engagement and that plays a huge role in confidence-building. Camps encourage female campers to be unapologetically themselves, empower each other, and have the space to create the ultimate girl crew/sisterhood. This girl crew/sisterhood provides female campers with a sense of belonging and connection. Close camp friends provide campers with a “social family” and help them feel safe, loved, and accepted for who they are.
At some camps, female campers participate in single-gender activities, which creates opportunities where they do not feel the pressures of gender roles which permits them to learn and pursue areas that interest them no matter what is considered socially acceptable for their biological sex. Summer camps also hold award ceremonies to recognize campers, which reinforces the concept of celebrating women and their achievements.
We asked the team what embracing Equity meant to them within the context of summer camp and this is what Mark and Lizzi shared...
"Campers and staff come from a variety of backgrounds and everyone's needs are different. Everyone has their own 'backpack' and you don't know what's in someone else's. People require different approaches or support in different manners to overcome difficulties so there is no one size fits all approach." - Mark
"Summer camp is an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Campers and staff are empowered to be confident, kind and resilient leaders, regardless of their background or identity. As we celebrate IWD, we also want to recognise the challenges that many people still face around the world. As a camping community we will continue to support and uplift individuals both in and outside of camp. Together, we can create a more equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive!" - Lizzi
Thanks for reading!
