June 5, 2020
Though we know words are always important, we created the statement below as a commitment to continued action in the form of learning, training, policies, procedures, practices, and financial priorities. The first action we have taken is to donate to Know Your Rights Camp, a camp whose mission is to “advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities,” and to the Loveland Foundation, a therapy fund for Black women and girls. The second action we’ve taken is to begin a 30-day course with our director team called “Do The Work” by Rachel Cargle.
We acknowledge that this commitment is neither a checklist nor something to finish. It is a long-term promise to continue growing and changing in order to be a place of belonging and genuine connection for every camper in our community. We begin and end our statement below by addressing our staff because our culture and the environment of inclusion we wish to promote begins with our treatment of our staff and, in turn, the environments they create for the children at our camp.
Outpost’s Commitment to Anti-Racism
“At Outpost, we stand with our Black community and commit to be Anti-Racist and to learn and grow as we turn thoughts and feelings into training and policies.
As an employer, we commit to learn from and listen to our Black employees. We commit to provide a safe space and a positive culture for you. We commit to being non-defensive, seeking to understand, and working to change our actions accordingly and immediately when needed.
We commit to provide our employees of color with a workplace where it is safe to ask questions, safe to speak up, safe to be yourself and receive what you need.
As a child development organization, we commit to providing a safe, loving environment for all campers including our Black campers.
We commit to partner with parents to learn what your specific child needs most from us and to do our very best to provide them with that. We want your camper to have what every child deserves: fun and belonging without strings attached and without hidden judgment.
We do not pretend to do all of this perfectly already, and we know we have made and will make mistakes. We acknowledge that even if mistakes are well-intentioned, they still hurt people. We commit to own our mistakes, to learn from failures, and to be better each year than the year before.
To our campers and families, thank you for trusting us to care for your precious children. It is our goal to provide a place where they are accepted for who they are and grow into who they wish to be.
To our employees, thank you for trusting us and choosing to learn with us. Thank you for committing your time to serve children and to impact our community.
It is our sincere privilege to be in community with you, to know your children and witness their growth, and to learn alongside all of you as we seek to become better versions of ourselves together.”
