Circle Camps provides free summer camp for girls
​who have experienced the death of a parent.
Through multi-year programming, Circle Camps prepares campers for adulthood.

Diversity Statement

The Circle Camps Board of Directors respects and values the diversity of all of its campers, volunteers, and Board members.

The Board of Directors defines diversity as individuality, which includes a wide spectrum of attributes such as personal style, age, race, gender, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation/identity, language, physical ability, religious affiliation, family, citizenship status, socio-economic circumstances, education, political affiliation, and life experience.

A diverse Board of Directors creates an inclusive environment in which a full range of ideas and information are exchanged, leading to fuller and richer Board decisions that best serve the needs of Circle’s campers.

Land Acknowledgement 

Non-Discrimination Policy

Circle Camps shall not discriminate in any of its programs or services on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, except that:

  • Campers have experienced the death of a parent
  • Campers are female, between the ages of 9 and 16
  • Campers are mature enough to be away from home for one week
  • Campers have no medical or emotional needs that prevent participation in all camp activities
  • Volunteers meet requirements set by the Board of Directors

​Circle Camps’ Land Acknowledgment

Background: 
What is a Land Acknowledgment Statement? 
  • A land acknowledgment is a formal statement recognizing, honoring, and respecting the Indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land.  

Why do we recognize the land? 
  • “Acknowledgment by itself is a small gesture. It becomes meaningful when coupled with authentic relationships and informed action. But this beginning can be an opening to greater public consciousness of Native sovereignty and cultural rights, a step toward equitable relationship and reconciliation.”…  USDA
  • Circle Camps recognize the importance and value of establishing a land acknowledgment statement as a way to expand inclusivity. Recognizing the land fosters open dialogue and community building. It is a way to acknowledge, honor, and respect the land we reside on while also recognizing the Indigenous Peoples, both past and present, who live and work the land. 
  • A land acknowledgment is usually verbally given before the start of a large gathering or special event such as the start of camp. 

Circle Camps Land Acknowledgement:
It is important that we understand both the context that has brought our camp community to reside on this land, and our place within this long history. We recognize that colonialism is a current ongoing process, and as we continue seeking truth and understanding, we need to be mindful of our present participation in this process.

Therefore, this Land Acknowledgement recognizes and appreciates those Indigenous nations whose territories we are living on and working in. Indigenous peoples have been in the land currently known as MAINE / WEST VIRGINIA / GEORGIA

We dedicate this acknowledgment in remembrance of the Indigenous people, and their people’s continued fight for sovereignty and human rights today. We honor the Indigenous people for their respect for the land and all living things. As we incorporate their ways and symbols into our culture, we do it with full respect to the Indigenous people. 

Centuries before the terms Native American or Indian were necessary, the tribes were spread throughout the Americas. Before any white man set foot on this territory, it was settled by the forefathers of bands we now call:
  • EKC – Shawnee, Lenape (Delaware), Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, Tuscarora), and the Cherokee peoples.
  • TAPAWINGO - Sioux, or Cherokee, or Iroquois.
  • TWIN LAKES - Cherokee, Eastern Cherokee, and Muscogee

As we begin Camp, we acknowledge the original inhabitants.  Please take a moment to honor these ancestral grounds and celebrate the resilience and strength that all Indigenous people have shown worldwide.