At Kindred Matters, inclusion is one of our core values, and we strive to live that value every day. We believe that each young person and adult should have the opportunity to engage and connect freely and safely. To do that, it’s our responsibility to create a space where they can be their full authentic selves and be accepted for who they are.

Creating a welcoming and affirming environment requires intentionality and continuous learning, and un-learning. We won’t always get it right, but we are committed to showing-up with courage, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and taking action to create equitable and welcoming experiences.

As we invest in our programs and continue to expand, creating a welcoming and inclusive experience is a top priority. You can see this commitment in action in a variety of ways when you engage in Kindred Matters programs. We are developing an Inclusion Plan that will guide and hold us accountable along our journey.

Indigenous tribes and bands have been with the lands that we inhabit today throughout Oregon and the Northwest since time immemorial and continue to be a vibrant part of Oregon today. We would like to express our respect to the First Peoples of this land, the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon: Burns Paiute Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and The Klamath Tribes. It is important that we recognize and honor the ongoing legal and spiritual relationship between the land, plants, animals, and people indigenous to this place we now call Oregon. The interconnectedness of the people, the land, and the natural environment cannot be overstated; the health of one is necessary for the health of all. We recognize the pre-existing and continued sovereignty of the nine federally recognized tribes who have ties to this place and thank them for continuing to share their traditional ecological knowledge and perspective on how we might care for one another and the land, so it can take care of us. We commit to engaging in a respectful and successful partnership as stewards of these lands.

We believe every young person should have access to the outdoors and time with their siblings. Thanks to the support of generous community partners and other supporters, our Sibling Camp programs are accessible to all, even if camp poses a financial barrier. We are focused on the following:

*Full and partial scholarships are available through a short application process.

*All staff & Volunteers attend diversity, equity, and inclusion training that addresses income differences, equipping staff with strategies to create welcoming environments for campers from all backgrounds.

Racial Diversity

We recognize that outdoor spaces, including camps, are not always safe and welcoming places to Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC). You can read more about that history here. We believe and know that Black Lives Matter, and we work to create spaces where BIPOC communities feel safe and affirmed. Here are some ways we’re working towards racial diversity, inclusion, and equity:

*Staff and volunteers attend diversity, equity, and inclusion training that address race and ethnicity.

*We aim to have a diverse staff. We also know we have space to grow in this area and will continue to consult with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultants to make improvements to our hiring, outreach, and retention process.

We welcome and affirm Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual, Intersex, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) campers and staff. While our program is focused on sibling connection, our staff are trained to navigate age-appropriate conversations and questions as they arise. Here are some of the practical ways we support LGBTQIA2S+ campers:

*During summer overnight camps, we offer boy, girl, and all-gender housing options.

*We house trans and non-binary campers in accordance with their gender identity and preferred cabin option.

*Campers have the opportunity to share their pronouns in their introductions and during icebreakers. Pronouns are how we refer to each other when we don’t use a name – examples include: she/her, they/them, he/him, etc.

*Our staff/volunteers wear name tags with their pronouns displayed, and we encourage others to respect those pronouns.

We aim to provide support and eliminate barriers that may impact a camper’s ability to fully participate. We do require that campers are able to consistently stay with their group, follow our behavior guidelines, and use the restroom, shower, and dress themselves without help from our staff/volunteers. If you have questions about accommodations, please reach out to us at info@kindredmatters.org.

Here are some things we do to support campers of varying abilities and neurotypes:

*During the summer, we employ a Behavior Support Staff. These staff members have additional training in Youth Mental Health First Aid and have a background in supporting campers with Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) challenges, campers with ADHD, and autistic campers.

*Our team will reach out to providers as needed before camp to create support plans, as well as support any camper who encounters challenges during camp.

*Campers are welcome to come with a Personal Care Assistant on a case by case basis. We will help that person feel at home at camp as another staff person. Our staff cannot offer all-day 1:1 support to campers.

*We offer sensory-safe options at camp for seating during meals and activity accommodations as needed for campers.

*We offer campers the opportunity to take a break from their group and rest in a quiet environment, supervised by staff.

Our trained staff and camp partners aim to support each camper’s medical and dietary needs. Here are some things we offer:

*We can accommodate meals for campers with the following dietary restrictions: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, pork-free, nut free and dairy/lactose-free. We cannot guarantee cross-contamination for severe allergies such as lactose and celiac disease. Please reach out prior to camp to discuss options or other dietary needs.

*Our licensed nurses distribute medication to campers throughout their time at camp. We welcome campers with diabetes and are trained to safely administer injection medication.

*Camp staff are trained in assisting administering emergency medication, including Epi-Pens, Auvi-Qs, and inhalers.

We believe every family should have access to the outdoors and time with their families, other resource families and a community. Thanks to the support of generous community partners, and other supporters, we strive to make our Family Camp programs as accessible as possible. We are focused on the following:

*We subsidize our Family Camp programs as much as possible.

*Partial scholarships are available through a short application process.

*Our staff attend diversity, equity, and inclusion training that addresses income differences, equipping staff with strategies to create welcoming environments for folks from all backgrounds.

We recognize that outdoor spaces, including camps, are not always safe and welcoming places to Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC). You can read more about that history here. We believe and know that Black Lives Matter, and we work to create spaces where BIPOC communities feel safe and affirmed. Here are some ways we’re working towards racial diversity, inclusion, and equity:

*Staff attend diversity, equity, and inclusion training that address race and ethnicity.

*We aim to have a diverse staff. We also know we have space to grow in this area and will continue to consult with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultants to make improvements to our hiring, outreach, and retention process.

We welcome and affirm Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual, Intersex, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) campers, families and staff. Here are some of the practical ways we support LGBTQIA2S+ campers & families:

*Families all have their own private overnight accommodations.

*Everyone has the opportunity to share their pronouns in their introductions and during icebreakers. Pronouns are how we refer to each other when we don’t use a name – examples include: she/her, they/them, he/him, etc.

*Our staff/volunteers wear name tags with their pronouns displayed, and we encourage others to respect those pronouns.

We aim to provide support and eliminate barriers that may impact a camper’s ability to fully participate. If you have questions about accommodations, please reach out to us at info@kindredmatters.org.

Here are some things we do to support campers of varying abilities and neurotypes:

*Our team will reach out to families as needed before camp to create support plans.

*Campers are welcome to come with a Personal Care Assistant. We will help that person feel at home at camp as another staff person. Our staff cannot offer 1:1 support to campers at Family Camp.

*We offer sensory-safe options at camp for seating during meals and activity accommodations as needed.

*We offer campers the opportunity to take a break from their group and rest in a quiet environment.

Our trained staff and camp partners aim to support each camper’s medical and dietary needs. Here are some things we offer:

*We can accommodate meals for folks with the following dietary restrictions: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, pork-free, nut free, and dairy/lactose-free. We cannot guarantee cross-contamination for severe allergies such as lactose and celiac disease. Please reach out prior to camp to discuss options or other dietary needs.

*We will do our best to accommodate all medical needs of families to the best of our ability at each host site. Each camp is different but if you need accommodations we will do our very best to meet them.

*Kindred Matters staff are trained in assisting administering emergency medication, including Epi-Pens, Auvi-Qs, and inhalers.