Inclusion & Belonging at Clearwater

We believe that confidence gives us the ability to know our worth while upholding the dignity of those around us.  We believe that courage is what drives us to learn from and honor diverse ideas, backgrounds, abilities, values, and identities. We believe that compassion is what opens our hearts and spaces to those around us who have been belittled, hurt, or marginalized because of who they are or what they believe.  We believe that the strongest Clearwater community is one that is rich with diversity, where every person feels the spark of belonging.

We acknowledge the myriad dimensions of diversity that our campers and staff bring to camp—race/ethnicity, household income, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and religious beliefs, among many others. We are actively working to build a community where campers and staff representing diverse identities feel like they belong, and are committed to the continuous learning and improvement necessary to make this so.  

This is especially true as we consider what it means to be Clearwater Camp for Girls. We acknowledge our name for over 90 years has new meaning today as we expand our understanding of gender.  While we consider our learning in this area to be ongoing, we remain anchored in our unwavering belief that when women and girls lead with confidence, courage, compassion, and community–the four points of the Clearwater compass–they actively contribute to safe and inclusive spaces, both at camp and at home.

Therefore, our approach to gender identity as it relates to women and girls is as follows:

• We welcome individuals who identify as a girl, who are assigned female at birth, who are nonbinary, gender fluid, or otherwise gender expansive and would be well-served by Clearwater’s mission and values.  
• Our staff are trained to ensure every camper feels seen, valued, and celebrated for who they are.  Staff are encouraged to model and promote behaviors that allow campers to express their identities while also recognizing and respecting the identities of others.  This includes the use of affirming pronouns.
• We welcome alumni who no longer identify as female with open arms back to our campfire circle. Once a Clearwater Voyageur, always a Clearwater Voyageur and as we all have pledged, friends who have camped together shall never again divide.
• If our staff become aware of a camper who is exploring their gender identity, we will center the camper’s well-being to support that camper while at camp. Clearwater is a place that fosters self-discovery and it is not uncommon for campers to try on different names, etc. We will only inform parents/guardians that a camper is exploring their gender identity if our leadership and wellness team members determine it is necessary for the child’s wellbeing and if the camper consents to sharing their situation with their parent(s)/caregiver(s).

We encourage families to consider the ways in which our program and culture will affirm their child’s gender identity.  These elements include:

• the use of she/her pronouns and use of expressions such as “Clearwater daughter” in common language, when addressing groups, and in songs. 
• the lack of private/individual sleeping spaces within our shared living environment.  Our bathing areas do include private showers and bathroom stalls.
• the regular naming and celebration of our female-centered, female-powered community.
• the fostering of belonging while celebrating our differences to create a diverse environment so that every Clearwater daughter can grow and become her/their best selves. 

We acknowledge that gender identity and sexuality are distinct dimensions of diversity, therefore our approach to sexual orientation is clearly laid out in our parent handbook and staff manual.  To summarize:

• We embrace and welcome campers and staff for who they are and would never ask a camper or staff member to hide important aspects of their identity; as such, campers and staff are welcome to share their sexual orientation if they feel comfortable doing so. 
• Neither campers nor staff are permitted to discuss details of their romantic relationships, regardless of their sexual orientation.
• Neither campers nor staff are permitted to engage in romantic activities while at camp, regardless of their sexual orientation.

We encourage families to discuss how their child will be welcomed and supported at Clearwater during their pre-enrollment Zoom meeting with the Camp Director and/or Leadership Team. Additional questions can be directed to the Camp Director via email at any time.

We will continuously improve our efforts to make Clearwater a welcoming, safe, and inclusive place for all.  We do this by listening to every member of our community with empathy, and with a commitment to doing the best we can to support each person’s unique needs.  You can join us on this journey by sharing your insights and talents in the following ways:

1. Parents and caregivers of current campers can share their insights via the parent and camper survey shared as a part of our end-of-session communications.  This survey includes questions for both parents/caregivers and questions for parents/caregivers to answer together with their child.  Responses are anonymous, results are reviewed by the leadership team and the board as a part of our continuous improvement process.  Summaries of what we learn, and what we are doing to improve, will be shared as available on this page. 
2. Alumni and community members are invited to share questions, insights, and feedback on Clearwater’s approach to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as described on this page by emailing the board at board@clearwatercamp.org.   
3. All community members are encouraged to express their interest in serving on the Clearwater board or one of the board’s operational committees via our volunteer interest page or by sending an email to boarddevelopment@clearwatercamp.org. Suggestions for training or resources that might support the approach described on this page are always welcome and can be shared one or both of these ways.

We will not tolerate harassment, bullying, exclusive behavior, harmful and/or hurtful treatment of any camper, staff, or members of our leadership team and board.  This includes, but is not limited to, interactions at camp, over email, or on social media. While we eagerly invite questions and feedback shared in the spirit of continuous improvement, we will not respond to communications considered to be hurtful and/or unproductive to the beliefs and efforts described here. Communications deemed more serious will be reviewed by the leadership team, the board, and our legal counsel, who together will determine the steps necessary to ensure the safety of our campers, staff, alumni, and volunteers.