These kids were the first to participate in the four-day program designed to introduce youth from the Detroit and East Lansing, Michigan areas to the American Youth Foundation programming.

Ambrean Ford, Director of Community Life, Diversity, and Inclusion, said Dare to Adventure aimed to provide more equitable access to the outdoors and the AYF by offering a low-cost, mini-camp experience. To participate, campers must hold at least one historically marginalized identity (including but not limited to Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latinx, Indigenous, multi-ethnic, or LGBTQAI+) and have never experienced a summer camp before.

Ford worked closely with Teen Hype and Detroit Achievement Academy to spread the word about the new program. During Dare to Adventure, these campers experienced traditional camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, high ropes and rock climbing courses, outdoor cooking and camping skills, and lots of fun, active games. They also enjoyed quieter moments of reflection and discussion about their values and what the outdoors means to them.

“Over the four days of camp, we saw campers who had never slept outside, swam in a lake, or hiked a dune find comfort and joy in their unfamiliar surroundings,” Ford said. “Campers spoke of being less scared of the woods and more open to exploring around camp.”

Dare to Adventure was staffed with volunteers and Mulcahy Fellows, seasonal AYF staff who hold similar backgrounds and identities to the campers. The fellows also helped develop and plan the program starting in early 2023.

“Dare to Adventure really wouldn’t exist without Mulcahy Fellows. They worked in different roles and helped to bring the fun!” Ford said. “It helped the campers transition into the new experience to have staff that visibly represented them and their identities. Many fellows worked the eight previous weeks in our other summer camp programs and then found the energy to make another week happen for the Dare to Adventure campers. It was very inspiring to watch our vision become a real program just one year after thinking it up.”

Ford said her favorite moment of the program came during the final Evening Reflection, when campers were invited to share their individual experiences.

“So many campers stood up and said what being there had meant to them,” she said. “And though they were tired from the walking and annoyed with the bugs, each of them said they wanted to return to this place next year to feel that kind of happiness and community again. It was hard to not tear up over their unscripted reflections and how there was so much positive learning that came from them adventuring daringly.”

Ford sees the potential and promise of Dare to Adventure and hopes to watch it – and these campers – grow each year.

“There are so many future campers out there who would love summer camp and just need that first experience,” she said. “The need and want for the program are out there. The passion to staff the program is growing. I have faith that this camp has the potential to enkindle thousands of spirits and create new AYF communities.”

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The Dare to Adventure program, which will take place Aug. 8 to 11, will be a four-day outdoor educational experience for youth entering grades 7 and 8 from the Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan areas. Registration is now open.

Director of Community Life, Diversity, and Inclusion Ambrean Ford said Dare to Adventure aims to provide more equitable access to the outdoors and AYF programs by offering a low cost, mini-camp experience. Miniwanca staff and Mulcahy Fellows, seasonal AYF staff who hold similar backgrounds and identities to the campers, will lead traditional AYF activities designed to introduce youth to the outdoors and experience living joyfully in nature.

“The AYF is actively trying to find more ways to provide equitable access to the outdoors to more families each year,” Ford said. “Historically, systemic barriers in the U.S. such as discrimination, cost, and location have prevented people of color from accessing nature and nature-based education. Dare to Adventure programming is created with this in mind.”

To participate in Dare to Adventure, a camper must never have attended summer camp and must hold at least one historically marginalized identity (such as Black/African American, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, or others). Also, their primary caregiver’s household income must be at or below the living wage for Wayne County. Families will pay a one-time $10 registration fee.

“Offering this program for only a $10 fee allows us to bring first-time participants to our camps and show them what positive experiences in nature can do for their lives,” Ford said. “Not all families have the extra funds to send their kids to our summer camp programs, and it’s important we find new ways to make sure those kids still get these experiences.”

Campers will participate in traditional camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, high ropes and rock-climbing courses, outdoor cooking and camping skills, and lots of fun, active games. They will also enjoy quieter moments of reflection and discussion about their values and what access to the outdoors means to them.

Ford said the Mulcahy Fellows created the foundation for Dare to Adventure in spring 2022.

“The foundation for the program was created during the first Mulcahy Fellow summer retreat in 2022,” Ford said. “There we decided how we would provide a brave space for the participants to challenge themselves. During the program, they will be present as direct support for participants each day.”

Ford encouraged anyone curious to learn more about Dare to Adventure to email her directly at aford@ayf.com. “More than anything, we want Dare to Adventure participants to feel the joy that comes from spending time in the AYF community,” she said.

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Ford received the 2022 Walk the Walk Diversity, Equity & Leadership Award from Untapped, an online recruiting platform focused on helping employers build more representative workplaces. Ford is one of 100 individuals from across the country to receive this honor, which recognizes leaders in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging who “challenge the status quo” and push “DEIB forward in their organizations and communities.”

According to Untapped: “This year’s ‘Walk the Walk’ Diversity Equity & Inclusion Leadership Award winners are a shining example of what individuals can accomplish when they inspire others to prioritize facing uncomfortable truths and committing to meaningful, real-world change. From C-suite executives to grassroots organizers, our list showcases DEIB leaders across industries and their innovative strategies, groundbreaking programs, and impressive results.”

Ford said she was shocked and honored to be recognized for her work with the AYF to be acknowledged among the other award recipients.

“It was inspiring to read what the other 99 leaders were doing at their organizations. I was proud to be listed with them,” she said. “It just makes me happy to keep doing this work because it is important and necessary.”

Ford joined the AYF full-time team in fall 2021. Under her leadership, the AYF has created a 16-member DEI Committee to assess the AYF’s larger mission and values, revamped the Mulcahy Fellowship program, and created Community Care Teams to better support emotional and mental health during summer 2022 programming.

AYF Vice President Liz Marshall said Ford’s recognition for her work with the AYF is well-deserved. “She’s bringing new perspectives, asking great questions, and working to make our programs true places of belonging,” Marshall said. “I love working with Bre, and I’m glad others can see what a bright light she is. I’m thrilled with her contributions on every level of AYF.”

Ford said this list of awardees shows the power and importance of creating inclusive, equitable spaces that welcome everyone. “It’s really good to know I am doing something bigger than me, and that it is happening at so many other places, as well,” she said.

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The Mulcahy Fellowship is an initiative to intentionally honor, support, and uplift seasonal staff who identify as historically underrepresented members in AYF program communities. The goal is to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions within AYF programs and recognize that individuals with these identities provide more emotional labor than other camp staff.

The AYF launched the Fellowship in 2019 with an inaugural class of five individuals who worked as seasonal summer staff at Merrowvista, Miniwanca, and National Leadership Conference. Today, there are 25 fellows.

Director of Community Life, Diversity, and Inclusion Ambrean Ford said the retreat, which she hopes will take place annually before summer programs, give fellows a chance to acclimate to camp before staff training.

“The Mulcahy Fellowship retreat gives them an opportunity to bond meet each other and for older fellows to mentor the class of 2022,” she said. “We also did some long-term planning for the next five years, laying out our vision for the future of the fellowship.”

Ford said the fellows hope to offer a future program for youth from the Detroit area. “This mini-camp’s purpose is to allow kids to experience outdoors and nature in a positive way with leaders who look like them and who hold similar identities,” she explained.

Ford, who is also a 2019 Mulcahy Fellow, said the retreat helped her realize how important it is for this community to gather in person. “People need that in-person connection so we can realize we are more than folks on a screen. The retreat was a great reminder that it is important to hold affinity spaces where folks who have similar identities are connected and enjoying each other’s company. When you can actually be together and share those moments in person, you feel you know someone’s authentic self.”

The fellows built on the strength of their time together and left the retreat energized to step into their staff roles and share in the leadership of camp communities.

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“It’s so important to support our words with real, measurable action,” Ford said. “The most important step the AYF is taking right now is leaning into those difficult yet rewarding conversations. We are creating committees and attending trainings. I like to call this our forming year, and this first half is everyone getting on the same page.”

One key element of this work is the creation of the AYF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which had its inaugural meeting in February. Ford said this year, the 16-member committee will assess the AYF’s larger mission, goals, and values through a DEI lens and develop a strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap of actionable steps that will further the AYF’s DEI goals.

Ford and Vice President Liz Marshall conducted a thorough search for committee members who could add to the diversity of voices in the discussion.

“It is important the committee represent different demographics, identities, and experiences within the AYF, including the amount time spent with the organization,” Ford said. “The committee includes people who have experienced programs at Miniwanca, Merrowvista, and National Leadership Conference.”

The DEI committee also represents a mix of ages and personal affiliations with the AYF, including current and former AYF full-time and seasonal staff, camp and NLC alumni, and current members of the AYF Board of Directors.

“We need to have as many voices at the table as possible, so they can advocate for those who aren’t present,” Ford said.

The DEI committee and the Board of Directors will work closely with Strength Perspective founders Jen (Dusty) Clitheroe and Polly Williams, to help the organization pursue its DEI goals. Clitheroe recently met with the Board at its March meeting in St. Louis, where they discussed how to make the AYF a more inclusive community accessible to all.

“It was powerful to see the Board engaging in this work and truly assessing equity and inclusion in our organization,” said Marshall. “The Board is looking closely at the program communities and asking how we can be more aware, welcoming, and inclusive as we seek to inspire youth to live at their best.”

Another key element of the AYF’s DEI work is the Mulcahy Fellowship. This initiative intentionally honors, supports, and uplifts seasonal staff who identify as historically underrepresented members in AYF program communities. The goal is to address the lack of diversity in leadership positions within our programs and recognize that individuals with these identities provide more emotional labor than other camp staff.

The AYF will host a retreat for current Mulcahy Fellows at Miniwanca in early June. Ford, who is also a member of the 2019 class, said the retreat will allow the 17 members to reconnect after nearly three years apart.

“Because of the pandemic, we haven’t seen each other since 2019,” she said. “Some of the fellows have never actually met in person! This retreat will give us a chance to bond and to discuss what it means to be part of this group and the future of this fellowship in our lives and in within the AYF.”

The AYF is currently accepting applications for the 2022 Mulcahy Fellowship. Details are available online.

Finally, the AYF full-time team recently completed an online webinar hosted by Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do (LEAD). The webinar, Black Lives (Still) Matter: Using Microinterventions to Interrupt Race-Based Microaggressions at Camp, taught participants how to recognize and disarm race-based microaggressions during program.

“It’s important that everyone on our team knows how to be effective allies for our BIPOC participants and staff,” Ford said. “All these actions – those we’ve started and those still to come – are important as we continue to educate ourselves and put action behind our words.”

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After earning her master’s in social work, Ambrean returned to the AYF to serve as the Director of Community Life, Diversity, and Inclusion, a new position that helps the AYF make its communities welcoming, inclusive spaces for all people. Here, she shares her experience as a first-time seasonal staff member, her hopes for growth and change within the AYF, and the best gift she received as a cabin leader.

What was your first year as seasonal staff like?
The first summer was a whirlwind of feelings. I was not an outdoorsy type prior to that summer. Beyond learning the basics of existing with nature, there were many things about the AYF I was not prepared for: the excitement for Dishland, wearing bolos, walking into Community Circle, moments of gratitude, so many songs, and seeing Lake Michigan every day. I remember when I first learned we all had to be in a flash mob – I could not understand why. By the end of summer, I could not wait for the song of 2016 to play so I could dance with my campers and friends.

There was so much singing and dancing that sometimes it felt like “High School Musical: Camp Edition.” My favorite part was “challenge by choice” and how camp leaders encouraged me to start new things. Despite some not great moments, overall I felt comfortable existing at camp, and I learned so much about the impact of intentionality behind actions.

How did the Mulcahy Fellowship shape your relationship with the AYF?
Joining the Fellowship introduced me to a more intimate side of the AYF. I never thought the camps were perfect, and it allowed me to have a space to express that. The connections I made with the other Fellows were sincere, and we often took moments to validate each other’s experiences. I appreciated being recognized as a leader at camp.

What is one of your most meaningful experiences with the AYF?
My most meaningful experience is when I traveled to Merrowvista from Miniwanca to help with their Community and School Program in 2019. As a visibly Brown woman, I was scared to go to New Hampshire and be around people I didn’t know well. It was uncomfortable not seeing people who looked like me anywhere. I was afraid of encountering someone ignorant and not being around true allies. Thankfully, this was not my experience at all. The interns at Merrowvista were so helpful, understanding, and supportive. They heard my concerns, validated my feelings, and made sure I was not in a situation where I was alone in town. This was when I truly felt a part of the AYF family and knew this community had my back.

What was one of your greatest challenges with the AYF and how did you meet it?
One of my greatest challenges was learning about some former and current traditions that didn’t sit well with me. As a new staffer who did not attend as a camper, it was hard to feel comfortable speaking up. My first summer I felt I observed, and I was unsure how to address it. The next summer I was more confident, and I did speak up about cultural appropriation. I found out I was not the only one who felt this way, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work was happening to address it. Some changes were made that summer, and I have noticed improvements every year since. I am so happy I had the power to say something, and it helped me learn more about the AYF.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in social work?
Social work came to me randomly, as all good things in my life tend to do. I love the person this path has allowed me to grow into. I take what I do very seriously because people’s lives are nothing to play with. It is an honor to hold this title, and I highly respect everyone who does for their commitment to serving others.

Your role as Director of Community Life, Diversity, and Inclusion is new to the AYF. What do you hope to accomplish in your first year?
I’m so excited to really dive in and get started! My biggest goal is to have the AYF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan ready to share and implement in 2023. This is one major projects we’re working on with outside consulting agency, Strength Perspective. The facilitators are experts in implementing DEI initiatives at nonprofits and camps. We’ll begin creating this plan in the upcoming months, once the AYF’s new DEI Committee is fully formed.

The AYF works to make intentionally inclusive communities where all feel welcome. What are some of the next steps the organization can take in the next few years to improve that community?
This is the big question. I wish I could give a simple answer, but it’s more complex when it comes to creating spaces where very different humans all feel included. My hope is the formation of the DEI Committee will help wrestle the tough questions around a wide range of perspectives. The most important thing is that the next steps consider all groups involved with the AYF.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?
Recently I got a sweet puppy, and he keeps my hands full for sure. I try to spend a lot of time with my partner and my sister. I love being an auntie, so seeing her two kids gives me joy and fills my cup. Now that I am out of school and have time on my hands, I would like to try to let out my creative side in some way.

What is a little-known fact about yourself?
I am super in love with pink and rainbow silver glitter, so much so that in 2017, my cabin gave me a stick they painted hot pink and rolled in glitter. I cried laughing at how “me” that gift was.

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