BIPOC Overnight Camp: a beautiful embodiment of collective care and joy as resistance
The Education Justice Coalition hosted its first annual BIPOC Overnight Camp August 11-14. We had 18 campers from all over Vermont ranging from 12-17 years of age. It was truly incredible to bring everyone together in such a beautiful place, the Common Ground Center in Starksboro.
Laura Smith, Dana Decker, and Kayla Loving dreamed of the camp together and made it a reality along with the campers and community members who assisted in planning. Our mission was to bring youth of color into nature and create opportunities for connection, healing, and joy.
Our guiding principles focused our intentions:
We believe:
in the importance of affinity groups to inspire self-empowerment and build confidence and resiliency
in building relationships across the state
in building queer and trans affirming spaces
in centering empathy and care for our community
That pride in who we are as Black and Brown Vermonters is built through community
We practiced community care by celebrating our talents, recognizing our connections, learning about our differences, cooking for each other, and practicing love. We practiced self-care by connecting with nature, making art, writing poetry, practicing yoga, and eating well. Campers also played jeopardy, swam in the pond, learned archery, went hiking, made tie-dye, and roasted s’mores by a campfire.
All campers received copies of “Revolution in our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People” by Kekla Magoon and “The Most Costly Journey: Stories of Migrant Farmworkers in Vermont”. They had the opportunity to read and discuss the books. We talked about how people of color coming together to rest and experience joy is a revolution and a political statement.
By the end of camp, campers were already talking about next year asking if it could be longer, saying they’d encourage their friends to come, and requesting more activities! Here are some notes from campers:
“Best summer camp I’ve ever been to!”
“Everyone was really fun to be around.”
“I love being here and I love the food.”
“This was a fun and positive camp. I enjoyed staying up late.”
“I had so much fun meeting everyone. Hope to see you next year!”
The following quote came from The Revolution in Our Time. It is what our camp became grounded in: “The revolution has always been in the hands of the young.” -Huey P. Newton
Thank you so much to our generous donors, Vermont Humanities, Haymarket People’s Fund, Alchemist Foundation, and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation! Many of our campers wouldn’t have been able to attend if they had to pay for camp. Your donations are making a difference in the lives of these incredibly resilient young people.
