Creating a bonded community at Centauri is as important to us as the arts programs we are known for. Young people flourish when they have a sense of belonging – the feeling that they matter to others, and their contribution is valued; the knowledge that they can be who they truly are, and that person will be celebrated by those around them. When campers are offered this, they thrive and grow as people and as artists. But how does community get built at a camp like ours?
It starts the moment our campers arrive. When the staff model small kindnesses, the campers do the same for each other. As new families set foot on camp, it’s not just staff members who greet them with smiles and words of welcome, it’s the stayover campers, too. Then, when we head into the dining hall, we take time to introduce our campers and their families to everyone who works at Centauri. It’s important to us that before parents leave, they feel secure in the knowledge that their children will be surrounded by people who genuinely care.
Centauri isn’t just one community, though, it’s many – and all of these have to be built in the first 24 hours. Campers start their time with us by spending 2 hours with their dorm group – playing games, chatting, unpacking and decorating their shared living space. This makes the transition to camp life much easier for campers with anxiety, because they form a core group of 8 friends, and discover a safe space for themselves at camp, before reaching out into the bigger community. Next, they spend two hours in their arts program, making plans for the session and doing the activity they love. Finally, in the evening, we hold a camp-wide evening program. This is non-competitive and fun: a chance for dorms to interact with one another, and get to know all of the staff, in a relaxed environment.
But community isn’t just built through the positive things that happen – a healthy community comes into existence because negative things DON’T happen. When counsellors are with their dorms all of the time participating actively in their camp experience, cliques, bullying and exclusion can be prevented before they even begin. A strong counsellor team, comprising caring, mature, wise and respectful people who sign up to give their campers the time of their lives… this is the most essential factor for the creation of a healthy community. Hire wonderful and skilled human beings, train them well and offer them all the support they need to give their campers the best possible experience… that’s our mantra.
As I write this, it’s day 2 of session 3 and our newest communities already have a solid foundation. New campers feel safe and secure. They have friends, and goals for the summer. They are part of a culture based on inclusion and respect – and they know this. They have laughed together. Learned to trust the staff. And at lunchtime today, camp will get just a little bit wilder as we share songs and cheers in the dining hall, building memories together.
Julie
Director
Centauri Arts Camp, Niagara Region, Canada