Breaking Ground 114 - Creating Belonging at Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee

Lauren Reichstein is the Manager of Camp and Adventure Programs with Girl Scouts of Middle TN and has been an active member in the camping industry for over 15 years.

As a camp director hired to work at a camp that I had never seen, I walked into the Camp Holloway lodge and was impressed. “We have accessible entrances,” I thought, “and our buildings are made for wheelchairs!” Indeed, Camp Holloway and Camp Sycamore Hills have a lot to offer.

• Both have accessible shower houses and buildings and a zero entry pool.
• Camp Holloway has a sidewalk and paved road system leading to cabins and an accessible platform tent unit.

But we have come to realize that accessibility is not just a “ramp.” It’s a mindset. More than that, it directly connects to the core values of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. We build “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” We want our campers to feel empowered, so that they can pursue their goal and interests. What better way to support them in this pursuit than by supporting each camper’s needs?

On a personal level, I have seen the difference it makes when campers who are singled out in other situations (for example, having to bring special food or being pulled to a different class in school, etc.) can come and have a similar experience as everyone else. Belonging is important, and being inclusive shows our campers they belong, and are wanted.

At summer camp, we make our dining hall experience a seamless one. Campers with allergies eat the same or similar meals as everyone else. Alternate options are available without question for campers who don’t like a meal or have sensory issues.

Outside of the dining hall, our staff are trained to understand different disabilities and how to best support these campers. That includes how to assist campers who:

• might become dysregulated easily,
• have sensory challenges, or
• need more explicit instructions and re-direction.

Though we are not a medical facility, campers with medical or physical needs can usually work their treatments into our camp day. We have had campers living with a variety of diagnoses, including:

• Type 1 diabetes,
• epilepsy,
• and cystic fibrosis.

Our health staff checks in with parents who indicate that their camper may need extra help or an accommodation before they come to camp. In general, we ask families to partner with us if their camper needs help accessing camp independently so that we can help them have the best possible camp experience.

Despite these steps, some families have shared experiences that have shown us that we could be doing more. We consulted with leaders in the camping industry (particularly those which specialize in camping for people with physical or intellectual disabilities), the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, and occupational therapists on summer staff to help guide our trajectory. Some of the things we’ve done include:

• Updating our materials to better explain what support needs we can accommodate
• Changing our pre-camp questions to invite information and strategies that will make campers successful
• Asking families for relevant information from school IEPs and 504 plans.

These changes allow our camp staff to ask knowledgeable questions and to know how to help campers be successful from the moment they arrive.

We are also partnering with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities to provide feedback on our forms and processes, the language we use to describe our accommodations, and training for our staff. We’re especially excited to have training sessions that will teach staff how to adapt activities to accommodate campers with varying needs in a way that benefits the entire group. We want campers to feel like they’re all having the same experiences whenever possible. We want to celebrate ways that campers and staff can support each other. We look forward to continuing to develop programming and facilities that are accessible to all and to build partnerships with organizations that can help in ways that we cannot.

Campers interested in coming to Camp Holloway or Camp Sycamore Hills with a troop or for summer camp (not required to be a Girl Scout) can visit our summer camp website at www.gsmidtn.org/summer-camp or can contact Lauren Reichstein, the Manager of Camp and Adventure Programs, at lreichstein@gsmidtn.org. More information on how we work with campers who have differing abilities and what accommodations we can offer can be found under the title, “Who Comes to Camp?” If families believe their camper may need accommodations to have an independent experience, we invite them to connect with us prior to registering. Though we can’t accommodate all needs, we have many plans in place and many options to consider. We look forward to welcoming all our campers this summer!