Has your camp been talking about or been doing preliminary work around belonging, diversity, inclusion (and similar concepts that may go by a variety of terms)?

Are you ready to take this work to the next level? If so, join ACA, New England and OAAARS for a year-long exploration into how to more deeply operationalize DEIB at your camp. This Resource Community will be a cohort model with monthly meetings from October to May.

Simone Gamble and their colleagues from OAAARS will ask you to identify a specific project to work on and using accountable structure and intersectional lens, they will guide you through a year of reflection and action.

This series is designed to be an interactive, live, discussion-based opportunity for you to grow your camp’s skills in this area while being guided by strong facilitators. This is a 201, intermediate-level offering. 

The series will consist of two in-person sessions, 6 Zoom sessions, one informal in-person meet-up at the New England Camp Conference, and a presentation opportunity during an e-session hosted by ACANE in early May. Sessions will not be recorded.

Meeting Schedule

• October 21, 2025: Zoom session, 10 am – 11:30 am
• November 18, 2025: In-person session, 10 am – 2 pm – ACA, New England office, Lexington, MA
• December 16, 2025: Hybrid session, 10 am – 2 pm (In-Person preferred) – ACA, New England Office, Lexington, MA – OR – Zoom
• January 20, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• February 24, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• March 17, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• March 26 or 27, 2026: In person meet-up at the ACANE Conference, Manchester, NH – exact day & time TBD
• April 14, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• Week of May 5, dates/times TBD: Project e-presentation opportunity
• May 12, 2026: Zoom session, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Participants will receive 16 CECs for their participation in this program.

Series registration comes with one hour of complimentary one-on-one coaching with an OAAARS Consultant (a $200 value).

This series has a minimum of 12 and a maximum capacity of 24 participants.

Cost: $329 for ACA members/ $379 for non-members

REGISTER HERE!

Registration is for an individual, for the full series and is non-refundable. Registration may be transferred to another eligible individual from your camp/organization before the series begins.

About the Moderator:

Simone Gamble is a NYC-based community organizer, educator, and social impact entrepreneur with deep roots in the South Bronx. A graduate of Hunter College and the Silberman School of Social Work, Simone’s work centers on social justice, youth empowerment, and creating safer, more equitable spaces. They have led workshops and trainings across the country for nonprofits, schools, and after-school programs, focusing on intersectional, anti-oppressive practices.

With over a decade of experience in the camping world—from counselor to Assistant Camp Director —Simone now consults with camps nationwide on aligning their practices with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) values.

They are the founder of OAAARS, a growing network of 90+ BIPOC consultants who bring expertise in organizing, art, education, and advocacy to support transformative change in workplaces and communities.

About OAAARS:

OAAARS is a BIPOC consultancy that leads social justice centered trainings and education to support organizations looking to create safer and equitable workplaces while also cultivating agents of change in the workplace and beyond. 

Questions, reach out Gillian Gold, Events & Logistics Coordinator at gillian@acanewengland.org or 781-541-6080 ext. 106.

Use of Images and Audio by ACA, New England: Through my registration, I give American Camp Association, New England (ACANE) full rights and permissions with respect to any photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during the ACANE event. These images and recordings may be used by ACANE and its agents in any format or medium and for any lawful purpose.