Half-Day Camp with All-Day Responsibilities
At S’MORE, campers learn that social responsibility extends outside the classroom and into their communities. Rather than a summer camp where attendees retreat from the world, our location in the heart of Minneapolis helps campers extend their learning outside of the bounds of our 6 in-person sessions.
S’MORE is peer education program, which means that we ask campers to share what they are learning with the people in their lives. Conversations with peers, family, and community members all count whether in-person or online. These responsibilities extend the effort needed to complete this half-day camp into an all-week affair. Becoming a peer educator is real work, and so Planned Parenthood will compensate any camper who completes 10 peer education conversations over the course of the camp with a $100 Visa gift card.
If this peer education model sounds familiar, it’s because S’MORE is a part of Planned Parenthood’s established program Reach One Teach One. We’ve run successful peer education programs for many communities, and are excited to bring the model to middle school students specifically.
To make time for campers to have peer education conversations with peers, family, and community members there is an extra, unprogrammed week at the end of the camp before graduation. We intend to help campers make 5 of their 10 conversations during the 2 weeks of camp itself, and let them have 5 more on their own before graduation on the third week. For all the details of the schedule, see below.
We have chosen to limit this camp to 10-12 campers this year. To ensure an equitable opportunity for learners to attend this program, we have an application process that will close on May 26. Applicants will be notified whether or not they are attending camp by June 2.
We operate on a half-day model. Camp is held 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for 2 weeks, followed by one unprogrammed week to focus on peer education conversations.
We meet 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. each of the following days:
The camp’s half-day model means teens can sleep in and that grown-ups have an easy pick up time.
Lunch and afternoon snack provided each day. You’ll have an opportunity to share any dietary needs or concerns when you apply. We will be able accommodate many, but not all dietary needs. Unfortunately, accommodation for people with severe nut allergies will not be possible due to our cooking space. Please reach out if you have any questions.
The week of July 31-August 4 is intentionally unprogrammed except for a graduation celebration on Friday, August 4 5:30-6:30 p.m. During that week campers will focus on conversations with peers, family, and community members to share what they’ve learned at camp. Planned Parenthood educators will meet with campers individually online during this week to offer support. On graduation day, parents/guardians can drop by at 5:30 p.m. for an informal graduation celebration.
There is a mandatory orientation session for prospective campers and their parents/guardians on Monday, June 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Planned Parenthood – Uptown Minneapolis Health Center
1200 Lagoon Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Nearby transit lines: 21, 23, 612
We’ll be in the community education room on the third floor, lit by natural light from its big window. Decorated by teens for teens, this space is an inviting hub for much of Planned Parenthood’s sex education programming.
Security
Planned Parenthood takes the safety of its patients, staff, and guests very seriously. The newly redesigned building was built with physical security in mind. The main way that this security culture should affect campers is checking in with building security staff each day when they arrive. Each day campers will need to bring a photo id (even something as simple as a school id) for security to use to check them in.
Accessibility
Our venue is ADA compliant and climate controlled. Most of our time will be spent in the community education room on the third floor, which has plenty of seating. There is a locking one stall bathroom. Please reach out if you have questions about disability accommodation.
Transportation
Drop-off begins at 11:45 a.m. and wraps up at 12:00 noon. Pick-up begins at 5:30 p.m. and wraps up at 5:45 p.m. We can help to arrange public transportation or other ride services for your camper but are unable to provide rides to/from camp.
Our curriculum meets the National Sex Education Standards for middle school students. These standards were created by SEICUS, Advocates for Youth and are endorsed by organizations such as GLSEN and SisterSong. This means that campers will get age-appropriate learning that’s grounded in relationships with trusted adults. After attending ROTO learners say that they are more likely to come to a parent with questions when something is wrong.
As a healthcare provider, Planned Parenthood takes covid precautions seriously. The precautions we will require at this camp will change based on the rate of covid in the community.
If this camp happened in February 2023, masks would be recommended but not required. We anticipate a similar level precautions in summer, and we can’t predict the future either.
Our staff are required to be vaccinated, and we recommend vaccination for all participants.
Please reach out to us at [email protected].
Or call 1-800-230-7526
