Partnering to promote diversity - University of North Iowa's Camp Adventure Youth Services program

Children and youth in the United States are an increasingly diverse population. By the year 2000, nearly one in every three United States citizens is projected to be an individual of color. Current and future youth-serving organizations will be increasingly challenged to provide culturally relevant activities, events, and program services. The University of Northern Iowa and two of America's historic and predominantly black colleges - Ft. Valley State University, in Georgia, and Florida A&M University - were successful in creating a partnership to promote diversity at camp.

For the past decade, the University of North Iowa's Camp Adventure Youth Services program has provided a full range of youth services to children and young family members of the United States military, United States embassies, and corporate clubs. Children and youth participating in these programs constitute a highly diverse population. By establishing a partnership with Ft. Valley State University and Florida A&M University, Camp Adventure has created an organization and a program that respond to this diversity with a staff that reflects the constituency.

Creating a Successful Partnership

The idea of a partnership first emerged in 1993 in discussions between Camp Adventure and the Department of Defense. The Department of Defense encouraged Camp Adventure to explore the idea of developing a relationship with historic and predominantly black colleges to establish a team to provide day camp and other youth services to family members of the U.S. Army.

The 1993 pilot program involved twenty students from Ft. Valley State University. Today, nearly 100 students from Ft. Valley State University and Florida A&M are staff members in the program. The students have served as counselors and instructors in England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Panama, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, The Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The partnership has made the Camp Adventure Youth Services program more vibrant and more relevant to the needs of the child and youth populations served.

Benefits of the Partnership

Staff and campers have received many benefits from the partnership. The most important has been increased diversity in program design. Once the mix of college students was enriched, the result was not only new songs, games, and skits but a transformation in the way that activities were lead. The synergy between students resulted in an explosion of ideas, creativity, and innovations.

Diverse role models

The children and youth participating in the program viewed the counselors, swim instructors, and other staff members as real-life heroes. The team arrangement allowed Camp Adventure a greater opportunity to provide children and youth with many types of role models that reflect the constituency served.

A laboratory of diversity

The partnership has resulted in the creation of a virtual laboratory of diversity to test assumptions, values, and ways of thinking and doing daily. The laboratory is action-oriented, carrying with it meaningful real-life opportunities for change. For example, the Camp Adventure program encouraged student counselors to accept and value the customs, commitments, history, and languages of campers and fellow students from different cultural groups.

Emergence of a new management model

By seeking diversity and building a partnership, a new management model emerged in the Camp Adventure program. Today, the program seeks diversity in recruitment, staff development, and program design, and questions how to pursue a greater level of excellence in endeavors. Directors and staff ask how they can make the program more sensitive and relevant to the cultural needs of the youth they serve.

Promotion of nonlinear thinking

The relationship between Ft. Valley State University, Florida A&M University, and the University of Northern Iowa has encouraged student counselors to widen their frame of reference and to broaden their perspective of life. When students from the University of Northern Iowa set the stage for a 1970s "Saturday Night Live" disco event, students from Ft. Valley provided a creative twist and changed the program to "A Night at the Apollo." Same generation - different perspective. These innovative program ideas can be applied to the basic program, providing benefits to campers and staff.

Combating myths and stereotypes

The partnership has provided an opportunity to eradicate many of the myths and stereotypes that students hold of others. Students from Ft. Valley, Florida A&M, and Northern Iowa have enjoyed the opportunity to interact with one another. In fact, they eagerly pursue the opportunity to travel to each others' institutions.

The students' commitments to children, excellence, and adventure bind them together in the endeavor. Their belief and caring produce a spirit that transcends preconceived ideas, values, and notions,

Promotion of mutual trust and understanding

The establishment of trust and understanding was essential in the development of the relationship. The program is committed to a simple, yet powerful and compelling vision: to create magic moments for children that last a lifetime. Magic for children occurs when the reality exceeds the expectations. This ideal has provided a basis for trust and understanding and a program that is mutually beneficial to all.

The partnership between the University of Northern Iowa, Ft. Valley State University, and Florida A&M University has been exciting, energizing, and extremely profitable. The experience has resulted in the provision of services that are more culturally relevant for the children and youth served by the program. At the same time, the partnership has enabled students and instructors from the universities to become more culturally sensitive and aware of the value, worth, and merit of others.

Designing new and innovative strategies to promote diversity is especially important in programs for children and youth. Here, we have the opportunity to provide the foundation for future, positive behaviors that are inclusive, celebrate diversity, and value others.

Reducing Barriers Between People

Certain criteria for reducing prejudice exist. In the book Toward the Elimination of Racism, Y. Amit identifies contact conditions that may reduce the barriers that interfere with meaningful communication. These conditions promote positive interaction and may be easily and consistently applied within any recreation setting. Youth programs and services offer an effective vehicle for promoting values related to diversity.

Equal status

Creating conditions that make all people feel equal may reduce prejudice. For example, have campers wear similar clothing, T-shirts, or uniforms.

Positive perceptions

Positive, successful images of all types of people should be evident.

Value diversity

Staff and counselors offer support and indicate through their behavior and actions that valuing diversity is the right thing to do.

Intergroup cooperation

To achieve goals, individuals must cooperate during organizational projects, games, or trips.

Interdependence and common goals

Individuals have a common goal or purpose, for example, a community service project, a military goal, or sports team.

Meaningful interaction

Contact is more than just saying, "Hello, how are you?" Individuals experience meaningful interaction that may involve sharing goals, developing new strengths, and clarifying values.

A social climate of diversity

Those in authority create a social climate that promotes diversity as an asset to enriching the overall effort.

Pleasant or rewarding contact

Contact that is fun, exciting, stimulating, and meaningful contributes to the reduction of prejudice.

Trend

Camps employing more international staff

According to ACA's 1996 Summer Camp Survey, more camps are using foreign counselors. In 1996, 12.7 percent of camp staff were from foreign countries, up from 11.6 percent in 1995 and 9.6 percent in 1994.

References

Amit, Y. (1976). "The Role Intergroup Contact in Change of Prejudice and Ethnic Relations." Phyllis A. Katz (ed.) Towards the Elimination of Racism. New York: Pergamon Press, Inc. pp. 245-308.

Edginton. C.R. and Martin, C.E. (1995). "Camp Adventure[TM]: Promoting Cultural Diversity." Journal of Physical Education. Recreation and Dance-Leisure Today. 66(4), p. 31.

Christopher R. Edginton, Ph.D., is a professor and director in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services at the University of Northern Iowa.

Curtis E. Martin, Ph.D., is dean of the College of Education at Fort Valley State University.

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