Currently, for Swimming/Waterfront Activities, Everyone Must Wear
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Camp Ten Trees Policy – DRAFT (Airen Lydick, Executive Director, March 2013) Policy In The Works Regarding: Swimwear During Camp Ten Trees Summer Camp Sessions In beginning to draft clearer language for a policy regarding swimwear at Camp Ten Trees, I noticed that we lack language (within the Summer Camp Volunteer Handbook and within summer camp policies) around dress code in general. There is some established history around dress code expectations at camp sessions, however, in my opinion. Below, I have identified some components of it: 1. Campers and volunteers will not wear clothing with offensive language or pictures. I believe this is a well‐known and accepted norm of the Camp Ten Trees summer camp sessions, drawn directly from the document PACKING LIST FOR SUMMER CAMP, which states “DO NOT BRING THE FOLLOWING…clothing with offensive language or pictures…” This document is distributed in every camper's Camper Confirmation Packet and is also provided to volunteers to help them in packing their own belongings for the summer camp sessions. 2. Campers and volunteers will wear clothing when going about their daily schedules during camp sessions. I believe this is a well‐known and accepted norm of the Camp Ten Trees summer camp sessions. I base this belief on the following observations: (a) Firstly, we talk (during training and at camp sessions) about cabin life volunteers facilitating conversations with cabin groups around clothing, getting dressed, changing for bed, etc. so that campers can have positive experiences around body positivity, privacy, comfort in their cabin spaces, etc. (For example, a cabin counselor might open this conversation in their cabin group on the first day with a prompt of “Let’s talk about what’s comfortable for each of us in terms of times when we’re changing, getting ready to go to bed, getting ready to go swimming, etc. in our cabin. Do people feel comfortable with some level of nudity at those times? Would people like to set up a changing station in the cabin somewhere? What are your thoughts?”) I believe that the simple presence of these conversations as a norm during camp sessions has implied that the common spaces, outdoor spaces, general camp environment is one in which people will be clothed to the degree expected in the world at large (i.e. wearing some sort of clothing “on bottom,” such as shorts or pants, and some sort of clothing “on top,” such as a tank top, t‐shirt, or sweatshirt). (b) There have been times (I can recall at least two, one in 2009 and one in 2010, I believe.) during which campers who had removed their shirts (once in the dining hall during the pie eating contest and once on the sports field during a game of some kind) were reminded that they needed to be wearing their shirts during camp. I specifically remember a volunteering telling a camper that we all need to wear our shirts because not everyone has the privilege of being able to remove a shirt in public without being told that that is not allowed. Although, this volunteer wasn’t speaking from a specific Camp Ten Trees policy, I believe this example underscores the established norm of our camp sessions regarding “nudity” in common spaces (in this example, dining hall), i.e. it’s not something we do. In my opinion, the above established history should probably be codified in policy as well. In other words, we should have a policy about dress code or clothing or something, not simply a swimwear policy. This will hopefully prevent confusion, a la “So, it’s really clear to me what I can wear when swimming, but I have no idea what your camp allows in terms of clothing, or lack of clothing the rest of the time!” With this is mind, here is my initial draft of a Camp Ten Trees summer camp policy dress code: Camp Ten Trees Policy – DRAFT (Airen Lydick, Executive Director, March 2013) Policy In The Works Regarding: Swimwear During Camp Ten Trees Summer Camp Sessions POLICY: Camp Ten Trees Dress Code for Summer Camp Sessions Aside from special circumstances explicitly described here or in other Camp Ten Trees policies, all campers and all adults (volunteers, staff, guests, etc.) will be clothed during participation in camp sessions. “Clothed” means wearing some sort of shoes as well as something “on bottom,” such as shorts, pants, skirt, etc., and something “on top,” such as t‐shirt, tank top, sweatshirt, etc. All campers and all adults will refrain from wearing clothing that features offensive language or pictures. Anyone who is unsure as to what constitutes offensive language or pictures should see the Camp Director for support/clarification. Specific Circumstances Regarding Dress Code: Within Cabin Spaces – A cabin group may establish different dress code norms for within the space of their own cabin IF this is accomplished through conversation(s) facilitated by the cabin counselor(s). Within Shower Spaces – Adults may not use shower spaces (including individual showers, shower house, or any other shower space) at the same time as campers. While taking showers, campers are not required to wear any clothing. While taking showers, adults (volunteers, staff, guests, etc.) are not required to wear any clothing. While Swimming – Campers are not required to wear shoes while engaging in swimming activities. Campers must always wear something “on bottom” when engaging in swimming activities. Some examples might include: swim trunks, a swimsuit bottom, shorts, etc. Campers may wear whatever feels most comfortable to them “on top.” Some examples might include: nothing, a swimsuit top, a sports bra, a t‐shirt, a swim shirt, etc. Adults are not required to wear shoes while engaging in swimming activities. Adults must always wear something “on bottom” when engaging in swimming activities. Some examples might include: swim trunks, a swimsuit bottom, shorts, etc. An adult must also wear something “on top” while engaging in swimming activities if that adult would be expected to do so in most public pool environments. Adults who are unfamiliar with public pool environments and/or who are not always sure what is expected of them in those environments should see the Camp Director for support/clarification. Additional Info that Could Be Helpful as Procedures or Programming for this Policy: Regarding the facilitated discussion around norms within cabin groups: * This discussion might include the topic of campers’ thoughts, feelings, preferences, etc. regarding changing clothes, getting ready for bed, getting ready to swim, etc. and other times in the cabin when themes of modesty, body positivity, cultural/religious/familial norms/etc. will likely arise. * Cabin counselor(s) should facilitate these discussions with a goal of helping campers to establish cabin rules and norms that honor individual campers’ desires while also creating a loving and engaging cabin environment for the cabin group as a whole. * A cabin group’s negotiated rules and norms regarding clothing, changing clothes, etc. while within the cabin environment may differ from the general dress code as long as these negotiated rules and norms are rooted in creating a loving and engaging cabin environment and are acceptable to all campers in that cabin. Regarding dress code While Swimming: * All campers and adults are encouraged to keep in mind their own comfort and empowerment when planning their swimwear and to also keep in mind the empowerment and comfort of others in the Camp Ten Trees summer camp community. For example, campers who will be swimming together during a daily swimming activity may benefit from a facilitated discussion at the beginning of the week to help everyone in supporting each other in having a loving, engaging swimming environment that honors the various kinds of diversity within the group. .