Camp DREAM Achieves Accreditation Milestone: A 2-Year Journey with the American Camp Association

In a significant leap forward, Camp DREAM is excited to announce that after a dedicated two-year self-directed journey, we have achieved accreditation from the prestigious American Camp Association (ACA). This milestone is a testament to our commitment to excellence in providing a safe, enriching, and unforgettable experience for all our campers. In this blog post, we are thrilled to share the exciting news with our donors, families, and community partners who have been an integral part of this remarkable journey. 

Over the past two years, our dedicated team at Camp DREAM has worked tirelessly to meet the rigorous standards set by the American Camp Association, a leading organization focused on building quality experiences at camps grounded in belonging and growth. The process involved a comprehensive evaluation of our policies, procedures, and overall camp operations. It required a thorough examination of our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of every DREAM camper entrusted to our care. 

The ACA accreditation process has been instrumental in helping Camp DREAM establish a robust framework for policies and procedures. Through a meticulous review of our programs, staff training, emergency protocols, and facility management, we have not only met but exceeded the stringent standards set by the ACA. This achievement underscores our unwavering dedication to creating an environment where every child can thrive, learn, and create lasting memories. 

The accreditation process has provided us with invaluable insights and best practices from the industry, enabling us to enhance the overall camp experience for our participants. By aligning our operations with the ACA's high standards, we have not only strengthened the foundation of Camp DREAM but also raised the bar for the quality of services we provide. 

Camp DREAM is more than just a physical space; it is a community that comes together to create something truly special. We are immensely proud of the hard work, dedication, and passion that our staff, volunteers, and partners have invested in making this accreditation a reality. This achievement is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our camp, the DREAM program, and the shared commitment to our mission.

With ACA accreditation, Camp DREAM is poised for a bright future. We remain committed to providing a safe and enriching environment for every camper, fostering personal growth, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. This accomplishment is not the end of our journey but a stepping stone to continued excellence and innovation. 

We are thrilled to share this amazing news with our extended Camp DREAM family. The achievement of ACA accreditation is a testament to our collective efforts and unwavering commitment to the well-being and happiness of every child who walks through our camp gates. As we reflect on the past two years, we look forward to the countless adventures and discoveries that lie ahead at Camp DREAM, where dreams come to life. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey!

Providing support in a Boston Village Mentoring Program

BOSTON - Search Institute’s Developmental Relationship Framework is instrumental in our mentoring models. It is introduced to mentors during their orientation to whichever DREAM program they are participating in and is our most common reference point when offering mentors (and ourselves) support within their mentoring relationship. We are exploring the framework by telling stories from each of our programs and locations.

The Developmental Relationships Framework identifies Providing Support as a key element of its framework for building strong relationships that help kids thrive. The framework consists of five elements: Express Care, Challenge Growth, Provide Support, Share Power, and Expand Possibilities. Each element offers actionable, relationship-building steps that contribute to meaningful, positive interactions between kids and the adults that support them. This time we will inspect Providing Support through the lens of a mentoring pair in Boston. The mentor, Mohamad, and the mentee, Zee, participate in the Village Mentoring program.

Mohamad provided support to Zee during a challenging moment at a DREAM activity. According to Search Institute, a Zee would understand that Mohamad was providing him with support when:

• They are helped with completing tasks or achieving goals.

• They are guided through hard citations or systems.

• They are offered words of confidence that they are able to take charge of their life.

• They feel they have someone in their life who will stand up for them when they need it.

• They are offered boundaries or limits to assist in keeping them on track toward their own aspirations.

Our story begins at a flag football game organized by our DREAM chapter at Boston University. Zee was excited to play and Mohamad was ready to cheer for and support his mentee. The game began and mentors and mentees played side-by-side. The action was back and forth - it was fast and fun. As most playground games go, the intensity of the competition grew as the game continued, which ramped up the pressure each mentee felt to play well. During one particular play, Zee made a mistake and it led to the other team scoring a touchdown. It was clear that Zee felt down and was a bit embarrassed by his error, and he expressed he wanted to sit out the rest of the game.

This was the point where Mohamad intervened to provide support to his mentee. Mohamad pointed out to Zee that it was just a game and while his mistake felt heavy and big at the moment, it was not something on which he should dwell. Mohamad did his best to make it a teachable moment. He shared with Zee the importance of resilience and teamwork, letting him know that failing at something is normal. He expressed that everyone fails and viewing failure as a stepping stone to growth and success is really important. Mohamad’s encouraging support moved Zee to rejoin the game and the fun, turning a tough moment into an exciting and impactful memory.

By the end of the game, Zee had made a pivotal play to help his team win. He also comprehended the value of persistence and the significance of the support he received from Mohamad. It was a transformational experience for both Zee and Mohamad that illustrates the power of providing support, and its impact goes far beyond the football game.

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Sharing power and building relationships in Bennington

BENNINGTON, VT - DREAM’s Village Mentoring program is special for many reasons. One of the fundamental pieces of the model is the manner in which a mentor is guided to empower their mentee through the relationship they build. This sharing of power embedded in the dynamic of the mentor-mentee relationship is one of the features that makes Village Mentoring so special and sets it apart from other mentoring programs. The Developmental Relationships Framework, established by Search Institute and utilized by DREAM mentors, identifies Sharing Power as a key element of its framework for building strong relationships that help kids thrive. The framework consists of five elements: Express Care, Challenge Growth, Provide Support, Share Power, and Expand Possibilities. Each element offers actionable, relationship-building steps that contribute to meaningful, positive interactions between kids and the adults that support them. We’re exploring one element at a time through the lens of a DREAMer and their experience.

Our story this time takes us to Bennington, Vermont to take a peek at a group of mentors and mentees who Share Power. According to Search Institute, a youth would understand that their adult was sharing power with them when:

• They are treated with respect.

• They are taken seriously and treated fairly.

• They are involved in decisions that impact them.

• They are included in goal-setting, problem-solving, and goal-attainment activities.

• They are offered opportunities to take the lead in the relationship.

Kaylyn, a DREAM mentor in the summer, assists Channing with the repair of a garden box.

Starting in the summer, Bennington mentees who live in the Willowbrook and Applegate communities participate in our Summer Enrichment program. As part of the program, they join forces with mentors to cultivate a garden. The past two summers both communities received financial support from the Bennington Garden Club and DREAM and the sharing of power and planning began. In consultation with summer mentors, the kids planned their garden to grow vegetables they were curious to try or already enjoyed eating. Not only did they plan the contents of the garden, but they worked with community members and mentors to decide on the location of the garden, secure materials to build the garden boxes, and construct the raised beds they designed. All summer long, DREAM mentees and their mentors tend to their veggies while engaging in conversation and formulating recipes for snacks and meals that would include their harvest. Healthy concoctions were encouraged and deeper talks took place about what makes a food choice good for a body to grow and how to create and sustain positive habits in a daily diet.

The result of the activities surrounding the garden project in the summer was immense. DREAM mentees gained knowledge and perspective about their food choices and received autonomy to put their new understanding to use. The project as a whole is a tremendous example of Sharing Power and each individual element of the project generated mini-moments with multiple benefits. Mentees and mentors strengthened their relationship and trust in each other through the shared experience of setting a goal and working together to achieve that goal. Mentees were included in decisions regarding the project and received additional responsibility to care for their garden and solve problems when weather, pesky animals, and other environmental factors inevitably intervened.

Alex, a mentor coordinator during the school year with DREAM and Bennington College, collaborates with mentees Peyton and Jaylynne as they prepare their afterschool snack.

While the experience over the summer is rich, the volume of power shared with mentees continues to grow during the school year. DREAM’s Village Mentoring program, supported by students at Bennington College, reconvened in September. Each Friday, the mentors from Bennington College travel to Willowbrook and Applegate and meet with their mentees. A key component of their afterschool time together is snacks. The mentees shared their garden experience with their mentors and their newfound excitement for fruits and vegetables. While the mentors learned about the summer activities, they also worked together to clean up the gardens for the change of seasons. Additionally, mentors presented mentees with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of healthy snacking when they needed to supplement the garden with items from the store. Making snacks has become an activity each mentor does with their mentee (instead of mentors preparing snacks ahead of time). This activity has sparked deep connections and storytelling about each mentor's childhood snacks and afterschool time and the mentee’s current afterschool experiences. Now that most of the garden is dormant due to colder weather, the mentors shop for food supplies based on their understanding of what the mentees like to eat. Mentees appreciate the mentors when they arrive to make snacks and there are choices they prefer. The activities have allowed mentors and mentees to illustrate the strength of Sharing Power, as the characteristics and results are observed by DREAM staff at DREAM Fridays.

The result: the impact of Village Mentoring and Sharing Power is on display each Friday during snack time! Mentees feel valued and respected and understand they have a say in the direction of their relationship with their mentor. Mentors understand the significance of truly sharing their relationship with their mentee and are building lifelong skills and a support system for everyone.

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