
All are welcome in this place
From the "Safe and Welcome" statement by Calumet's Board of Directors:
"God creates people with great diversity including race, ability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class. God takes on a body in Jesus Christ, and in so doing deems all bodies holy. Calumet celebrates our God-given diversity and affirms that every body is made in God’s image -- beautifully and wonderfully made. We honor, respect, celebrate, and foster diversity: valuing the gifts of each member of our community. We continually seek to build and expand our community through programs of outreach and partnership; and, we continually seek to build and expand our awareness of and knowledge about our siblings in Christ through continuing education and training."
Here at Calumet, we have always worked to create a welcoming and affirming community for all of our campers at Calumet's Resident Camp for Kids.
Partnership
Calumet is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) ministry. RIC is a designation Lutheran congregations and institutions receive after going through a thorough self-evaluation and self-examination. Though Calumet has been a welcoming landing spot for young adults for decades, it was important for Calumet to go through "The RIC Process." Calumet is one of the first camps in the ELCA to become an RIC camp/retreat center.
Education and Training
Every year, our Staff participates in training related to LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is a matter of identity. It is no different than saying you are Lutheran or you are from New Hampshire. However, we understand that talking about what you do sexually is inappropriate regardless of sexual orientation. While we encourage everyone to be their authentic self, we also make sure our staff are educated on boundaries when it comes to certain areas of anyone’s personal life.
Language
We believe pronouns and inclusive language are an important way to ensure everyone feels welcome and respected. Campers and staff share their pronouns during registration and the hiring process, and staff uniforms now include pronoun ID tags. Gender-neutral language is used across camp, including in cheers, songs, and updated signage, while living quarters and bathrooms have been renamed to exclude gender references. While we are flexible with living assignments and bathroom choices, safety, privacy, and inclusivity remain central to all decisions.