February Celebrates Inclusiveness: Core Values in Action

02/01/2017

Happy Core Values in Action Wednesday!

I am happy to announce that Inclusiveness is the Core Value of the month of February. All month we will be celebrating this core value, which is needed now more than ever before. Frost Valley’s mission statement is, Frost Valley YMCA is a values-driven organization that fosters youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility through outdoor educational and recreational programs for all.

In order to explain Inclusiveness, YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) highlights the last two words in the mission statement: For All. They Say:

“For all is a simple but powerful phrase. But without it, the Y mission is incomplete. At the Y, we strive to understand and value each person’s unique dimensions of diversity and help them overcome barriers to inclusion so they can fully participate in society and reach their potential. As part of a global Movement of inclusion champions working in 119 countries, each of us, through our everyday actions, has the power to contribute to a more connected, cohesive world for all.”

directors

To give everyone a chance to explore inclusiveness this month, I have included the “Inclusion Resolution Template” to this post! Print it out, draw, write, or add art to the template to describe your personal “Inclusion Resolution.” How can you, every day, at home or school or in the community, put inclusiveness into practice? Your resolution can pertain to any action – in your personal life or your connection to the Y – that helps people representing all Dimensions of Diversity to feel that they belong. Share your resolutions with me, Lindsay, at lhutchinson@frostvalley.org. Send me a photo, email, video, or letter with your resolution! I will be sharing all of the resolutions at the end of the month! Here is a photo of the Year Round directors, with our Inclusion Resolutions!

InclusionResolution

Dimensions of Diversity is explained here, through a Y-USA blog about creating a safe space of LGBT Campers. The diagram of the Diversity Wheel, explains all of the dimensions of diversity that are part of humanity.

Often we have conversations with campers, staff, alumni, and parents of our summer camp program involving the sense of belonging and inclusion that our campers feel while they spend the summer at Frost Valley. We work every single day to ensure that all of our campers are provided with a space to celebrate their differences and be included in the community.

We would love to hear from you about how you are putting Inclusiveness into Action!

Peace, Love, Bibbley,

Lindsay

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Lomauro

Nick Lomauro is a lifetime lover of camp (overnight and day), outdoor recreation, and value-based programs. Nick grew up in the YMCA and discovered his passion for working in youth development as a summer camp counselor. Full of curiosity, Nick graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in General Humanities. Immediately following graduation Nick set off to Spain to hike the 500 mile ancient pilgrimage trail, El Camino de Santiago. Nick then returned to his childhood YMCA in NJ, of over 20 thousand members, as the Director of Youth Development. In this role he designed, developed, and implemented day camp and teen programs. In 2015, Nick returned to Frost Valley and he is now the Director of Camp Wawayanda. This is Nick's 16th summer at Frost Valley.