The Better All Together, Altogether Better fall policy cohort is designed specifically to support camps in a collaborative environment as they build best practice guidelines that support 2SLGBTQIA+ campers and staff.  To support a small group learning environment space will be very limited.

Registration Closes on September 30th

Please register under the tier you choose.

Policy Cohort- Tier 1
$3,500.00
One time

Suggested for Orgs who consider themselves any of the following: 5 or fewer Full-time staff, annual budget under $400k, non-profits and camps in specific or particular values and mission-alignment with TQAMP, camps in hostile political climates or facing barriers advocating for inclusive policy.

Policy Cohort: Tier 2
$4,250.00
One time

Suggested for Orgs who consider themselves any of the following: Orgs with 5 or more full-time staff, annual budget $400k-$900k, fewer barriers to accessing and integrating DEI or inclusion trainings and content, somewhat supportive BOD and/or leadership

Policy Cohort: Tier 3
$5,000.00
One time

Suggested for agency or association- supported orgs, orgs with 5 or more full-time staff, annual operating budget $900k + or with ample training and DEI support budgets & supportive leadership

What You Get:

  • The cohort will meet frequently throughout the fall. Meetings will be on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST unless noted otherwise. Participants will have access to a Slack channel where the TQAMP team will answer questions and supply weekly discussion topics.

    • Week 1: October 3rd–Policy Cohort Kick-Off and Orientation (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 2:  Self-audits and 1:1 meetings available with TQAMP team (No group meeting this week)

    • Week 3:  October 17th–Writing policy intro, language, defining program eligibility (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 4:  1:1 meetings available with TQAMP team, Slack channel discussion (No group meeting this week)

    • Week 5: October 31st–Caregiver & Registrant communications, external communications and crisis comms/response planning (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 6:  1:1 meetings available with TQAMP team, Slack channel discussion (No group meeting this week)

    • Week 7: November 14th–Housing and facilities: Lodging assignments, supervision, changing, bathrooms (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 8: November 21st– Dress code, Names and pronouns (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 9: December 5th–Addressing and preventing bullying and harassment, Staff training needs (Group meeting via Zoom)

    • Week 10: December 12th–Peer Review and Mini- Scenario Workshop (Group meeting via Zoom)

  • These courses will be available on our asynchronous learning platform for you to view at your own pace! We will make space in our discussion groups to ask questions and reflect with the rest of the group.

    • Foundations for Trans* Inclusion in Camp Environments (Available 10/3)

    • Introduction to Gender Inclusive Housing (Available 10/31)

    • Preparing for Parent and Caregiver Pushback  (Available 11/22)

  • Each participant will have (2) 1 hour blocks to schedule with the cohort instructors.

    • 1:1 Review of Policy Self Audit

    • 1:1 Consulting hour to be used at any time between October 2rd and December 5th.

  • When the group is not in session, participants will have still have access to discuss their questions with other participants. Additionally- a member of the TQAMP team will support the online community with discussion prompts and weekly input on questions.

    • TQAMP Individual Camp Policy Template

    • TQAMP Suggested FAQs for Parent/Caregiver Communications

    • Safety Self-Audit checklist and guide

    • TQAMP phone script starter

  • Perks?!? We love perks! Participation in the Fall Policy Cohort will also give you the following continuing support opportuntiies:

    • Early Bird Access and Discount on Summer Staff Training

    • Early Bird sign-up and Discount on Policy Implementation Workshop for Camp Leadership (virtual or in-person)

    • TQAMP T-shirt (in time for conference season!)

TQAMP Client Testimonials

  • Thank you so much for the wonderful training and Q&A session that you provided to our staff. I have never heard so many positive comments on council-sponsored trainings than what I heard on this one – in fact, a few people said it was the BEST training they had ever received!

    Sara S., Girl Scouts of Central Iowa

  • Working with the Chris and team has been an amazing experience. He delivered a presentation that allowed our leaders to enter the conversation about trans* inclusion without assuming a base level of knowledge or making folks feel judged. He created a space to learn and foster empathy, and in doing so, paved a way for more meaningful engagement between the YMCA and our trans* staff and community members.

    Elli G., Duluth YMCA

  • The workshops I attended, and the ‘private’ session we had with a couple of other YMCA Camps help us develop policies and confidence in preparing for the summer. Did we have a few harder conversations with some families? of course – but in reality, it came down to educating them on topics they just hadn’t thought about before. I know for a fact that we had kids attend Hazen this summer that never thought that an overnight camp experience was accessible to them, and others that felt comfortable in our community to not hide in plain sight.

    Kath D., YMCA Camp Hazen

Pre-Requisites

TQAMP Truths

We base our recommendations and conceptual framings on the following foundational truths:

  1. No one is more (or less) deserving of safety than anyone else.

  2. Community members (campers, staff, stakeholders) can believe anything they want, but in *this space* their actions must follow shared community guidelines.

  3. No one’s identity permits them to break rules/agreements or cause harm. Someone’s identity also does not permit anyone to harm them.

  4. The safety of all people (especially marginalized folks) should be prioritized over the comfort or discomfort of others.

  5. It is not possible to design a space that includes everyone. You can design a space that successfully meets the needs of the people for whom it is intended