Camp Dudley and Camp Kiniya are committed to being diverse, equitable and inclusive environments.  While Camp’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not new, we are affirming that commitment through a DEI Action Plan which identifies the actions that Camp is taking, now and in the immediate future, in furtherance of DEI.

DEI is who we are at Camp and therefore must be seamlessly woven through all of our programs, policies and plans. DEI requires continuous introspection, commitment and passion that lead to effective actions yielding measurable results.  By listening, sharing, learning and engaging, we strive to create an environment where every voice is heard, and every person is respected, loved, valued and feels welcome in our community.

The Board of Trustees’ DEI Action Plan presents the steps that Camp is undertaking to:

• increase diversity in our community
• ensure equitable access to Camp and its many offerings
• promote an environment in which all of our community members know that they are truly respected, valued, and welcomed for who they are

DIVERSITY IN OUR CAMP COMMUNITY

• Camp Dudley and Camp Kiniya are working intentionally to build a community of people who come from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Over the last decade, we have significantly increased the number of campers of color.
• We have built, and are working to expand, strong Community Partner relationships which broaden our access to diverse campers.
• During Leadership selection and Staff hiring, we look to build diverse cohorts.
• We have increased, and are working to expand, availability of, and access to scholarships to support building socio-economic diversity in our community.
• Camp has adopted a tiered tuition program to make its programs more affordable to a wider range of families.
• Camp provides “Leadership Grants” to those who are interested in Leadership but might otherwise stay home due to other financial obligations.
• In recent years, the Board has achieved gender balance (9 of 19 current trustees are female) and elected trustees from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (3 current trustees are African-American and 1 is AAPI), as well as Camp’s first openly LGBTQ trustee.

DEI TRAININGS FOR LEADERS, STAFF AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

• DEI trainings are provided to all Leaders and Staff to support an inclusive and equitable culture throughout the organization at each Camp.
• As part of Camp’s commitment to a culture of equity and inclusivity throughout the entire organization, the Board of Trustees have also participated in DEI trainings.
• As a sample of Camp’s DEI training initiatives click here.

CURRENT DEI INITIATIVES 

This summer, we implemented the following in furtherance of DEI goals. 

New DEI position – In summer 2021, Domanick Walker took on a new role as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, working on both sides of the lake with campers, leaders, staff, and our board of trustees to help make camp a more welcoming and inclusive place for all. With his unwavering commitment to teaching all of us how to create an equitable experience for every single person that walks through the gates, we have seen firsthand how quickly positive change can take place when someone as talented and passionate as Dom provides the leadership needed to make things happen. Even in the off-season, Dom continues to serve as a resource to our Directors and year-round team. 

Vespers incorporated DEI – Trained Leader/Staff facilitated discussions around inclusion for all at camp – with a focus on race and gender – which empower campers to think through their own dreams for a better, more inclusive future for themselves and others. 

Kiniya Bridge The Gap (BTG) Program – We established an affinity space for summer community members of color to be nurtured in self-care and informal sharing. Led by Kiniya’s staff member, Hannah Williams, with support from senior staff and Dom Walker, the BTG program fostered an allyship group to nurture inclusive culture. Hannah and BTG participants also created new playlists for us to use for Kiwi Dances and other dance parties/celebrations that include more diverse music and artists.

Dudley Posters & Signs – Each of our cabins and programs areas showcased new posters and signs promoting tolerance, diversity, inclusion, equity, and kindness to spark conversations and remind community members of these important aspects of inclusion.

Kiniya Little Library Project – Inspired by We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a nonprofit whose mission is “[to put] more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children.” Thanks to the generosity of our young alums, we funded and created a lending library at Kiniya, to bring a greater diversity of characters, authors, and stories to camp to ensure all our campers – including our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ campers – can see themselves in the books at camp. We wish for our community to gain exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences through the joy of reading and listening.

COMMITMENTS – UPCOMING DEI INITIATIVES

Domanick Walker, hired as our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the summer of 2021.