Best Practices for Inclusive Camps
by Gary N. Siperstein, Stuart J. Schleien, Martin E. Block, and Emily D. McDowell.
Sagamore-Venture Publishing is pleased to announce a new release: Best Practices for Inclusive Camps from editors Gary N. Siperstein, Stuart J. Schleien, Martin E. Block, and Emily D. McDowell. This comprehensive resource is designed to help camp leaders and staff create inclusive programs that welcome campers of all abilities, guided by the newly developed "Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs." Part I of the book addresses best practices in various aspects of camp, while Part II is a series of case studies about inclusive camps that represent both day and overnight programs across a range of organizational affiliations and geographical locations.
Over the past decade, there has been a heightened focus on the inclusion of children and adolescents with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities in recreation programs. Research shows that there are many benefits of inclusive camps, such as increased self-esteem and social connections for campers with disabilities, and greater patience and empathy among campers without disabilities.
This book is an essential resource for anyone involved in the administration, planning, or implementation of camp programming, with a focus on helping camp leaders and staff create environments that intentionally foster inclusion for all children. Co-authored chapters represent decades of combined experience in the camping field, with perspectives and examples from major recreation organizations like the American Camp Association (ACA) and the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America (JCCA).
The JCCA endorsed the book’s practicality and value as a resource for camp leaders and staff: “Best Practices for Inclusive Camps is an excellent resource for not only the camp community but for the field of inclusion as a whole. Offering a diverse breadth of personal perspectives and experiences, coupled with practical tools and applications, this book will serve as a guide for camps no matter what their current practices or however aspirational their goals. Any professional who truly wants to enhance inclusion at camp would be well-served by reading this book.”
Below is the full list of camps and organizations represented in Best Practices for Inclusive Camps, including several Jewish camps and organizations, indicated with an asterisk (*). In Part I of the book, Chapter 1 on Administration and Leadership is co-authored by the Camp Director at the Bender JCC of Greater Washington and the Director of Day Camp Initiatives at the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). In Part II, Chapter 7 describes the partnership and model of inclusion developed by Camp Chi and Keshet, and Chapter 10 highlights how B’nai B’rith Camp built a culture of inclusion around the Jewish value and philosophy of hachnasat orchim, “welcoming the stranger.”
*Jewish Community Centers Association of North America (JCCA)
University of Massachusetts Boston, Center for Social Development and Education
University of North Carolina Greensboro, Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation
To learn more, or to order Best Practices for Inclusive Camps, visit sagamorepub.com/collections/camp. For bulk orders (5+), please contact Sagamore-Venture Customer Service at 1-800-327-5557 or customerservice@sagamorepub.com. For all other marketing inquiries, please contact Misti Gilles, Director of Marketing, at 217-819-5985 or mgilles@sagamorepub.com. To reach the editors, please contact Emily McDowell at emily.mcdowell@umb.edu. There is a discount code BookLaunch15 that can be used online for 15% off orders of up to 5 print books or e-books (ends August 2nd).