Culture at Camp – How we foster growth and show respect to one another
Gorman Heritage Farm’s philosophy of programming is designed to provide fun camp experiences that empower each child to enhance:
- self-esteem
- confidence
- friendship
- sense of community.
In our programs, each camper is provided with opportunities to participate and encouraged to choose the level of challenge at which they are comfortable.
- Each of our camp themes focuses on unique skills related to agriculture, food, sustainability and the environment.
- Campers are challenged to learn and practice new skills, which by design begin at an introductory level and increase in difficulty through the week.
Through the guidance, planning, and support of their peers and the staff team, achievements are highlighted and given equal value to the successes of the group. As each challenge is individualized, so is each success; there is no single manner or type of success.
Through purposeful and developmentally appropriate times of reflection, both formally and informally, a culture is created where each camper can take ownership for their accomplishments and internalize their successes. By providing a cycle of challenge → success → reflection, individual discovery follows. Discovery refers to the characteristics, strengths and interests that campers recognize about themselves, that are not impacted by their perceived limitations.
Our overall goal is to foster a strong, positive self-image, while promoting social skills and independence in an environment of emotional, physical and medical security.
What steps do you take to promote diversity and inclusion in your camp culture?
We believe in an all-inclusive approach to all aspects of the organization. Campers, families, staff, and volunteers should feel valued and included in their experience regardless of gender, marital status, family status, religious or political beliefs, neurotype, race, age, sexual orientation, disability or other physical, emotional, cultural or medical factors.
We believe in using a person-centered approach in our programming at all times.
- Gorman Heritage Farm works to realize the dignity and worth of each individual and to eliminate human barriers based on all assumptions that prejudge individuals.
- Our programs are designed and implemented to reduce stereotypes and to foster positive intercultural relationships.
- At the Farm, everyone is welcome.
Gorman Heritage Farm embraces diversity.
- Diversity refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.
- Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, geographic region, neurotype, and more.
- These differences are welcome and strengthen the program that we provide at camp.
The objective in our camp culture is that campers learn to appreciate diversity in each other, recognize that everyone is unique, and to learn to live in a multicultural community.
What is the camp discipline and behavior policy?
Gorman Heritage Farm camp staff will use positive problem solving techniques with any camper(s) having a discipline issue. Generally, the pattern below will be followed:
All camp staff will be trained to:
- Redirect the camper’s behavior
- Attempt to discern the source of the camper’s behavior
- Provide alternative positive activities to stop behavior
If behavior continues, camp staff will:
- Remove camper from offending situation
- After securing supervision for other campers, a camp staff will attempt to discern the source of the camper’s behavior in a one-‐on-‐one conversation, outline steps to positive behavior through conversation, writing, drawing, or other methods appropriate to the child.
- Camp staff will then return the child to camp activities, monitor the behavior, and provide guidance to the camper as needed
If these actions are not enough, camp staff will collaborate with the Director of Education/Camp Manager and the camper’s guardian to achieve resolution, with removal from camp being a last resort.
While we welcome all children to summer camp at Gorman Heritage Farm please understand that in severe cases, in the interest of safety of the other campers and staff members, Gorman Heritage Farm staff reserves the right to remove a child from any activity due to inappropriate behavior.
Depending on the severity of the situation your child may be asked not to return to camp or you may be called to pick your child up from camp early. In the case that your child is removed from camp due to behavior issues, you will not, under any circumstances, be issued a refund.
If your child has any behavioral issues please note this on your child’s health profile when registering. Please be specific. Behavioral issues are not typically a problem at summer camp at Gorman Heritage Farm but must be considered for the safety of all involved.