OUR MISSION
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
OUR MISSION: BRIDGING GAPS
Our mission at Camp Hawkeye is to bring together a diverse community of individuals that include campers and staff from a variety of geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. In this way, we seek to bridge social, economic, and cultural gaps to build positive relationships and deep mutual understanding for our campers.
STRIVING TO DESTROY BARRIERS
Too much of the time in our lives is spent in the company of people who are, to a great extent, like ourselves. By living among, attending school alongside, and socializing with people like ourselves much of the world becomes foreign and different (the "other") and often in a negative or frightening way. At Hawkeye, we strive to destroy the barriers that are thrown up as a result, undermine the stereotypes that develop, and facilitate friendships that subvert this isolation. Only through these connections can true understanding be achieved.
A REFLECTION OF THE WIDER WORLD
Our campers come from a variety of backgrounds, places, and life experiences. What we aim for each year is to bring a balanced group together, one made up of campers from across the USA and many other countries, campers from underserved communities, and campers you may expect to find at overnight camp anyway. Our campers represent a wide variety of religious backgrounds, ethnic makeups, gender expressions, socio-economic status, and many other unique identities that reflects the richness of today's world.
A COMMUNITY OF SHARED VALUES
How do we bring together this amazing and diverse group of individuals to create a cohesive community? By providing a safe, caring environment where we focus on shared goals and developing a deep sense of belonging. By having campers and staff that are different from one another live, work, and play together every day. By nurturing the development of strong and lasting relationships with peers and counselors. Finally, by nurturing the natural epiphanies that kids come to on their own. In all these ways, the Hawkeye experience itself becomes the glue that binds us together in a greater community.
HAWKEYE VALUES
COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY, HUMANITY, LEADERSHIP
These four core values underlie all that we do at Hawkeye. They are the basis upon which we come together as a community, they inform how we solve problems that may arise, and they provide the building blocks of long-term connection and friendship.
