Smile On Me is going camping!

Smile On Me, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN: 30-1242513

THE PROBLEM

Only 10% of American Campers are Black. 

Of the 40.5 million Americans who camped at least once, the majority are caucasian and skew slightly male.  Historically, there has been a gap in access and participation in camps among youth and young adults from racial/ethnic minority groups, low-income households, and under-resourced communities.

Over 60% of Smile On Me participants have never attended a sleep-away camp. 

One of the greatest disparities of who gets to experience camp is cost. According to the American Camp Association, the average camp fee in New York can be as high as $1,500 a week! With 78% of Smile On Me participants living in low-income households, these types of opportunities aren’t an option.

THE FIX

We are bridging the gap in camp access by hosting the FIRST and ONLY FREE Wellness Summer Camp for BIPOC girls! 

As an organization that primarily supports girls from minority groups in under-resourced communities, we believe it’s essential that they get to safely experience the outdoors.

WHY CAMP?

Research on the benefits of camp indicates that, unlike other youth programs, camp participation provides a unique opportunity for youth to gain and practice life skills. Most camp participants report increased self-esteem, independence, leadership, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills from their time in camp. 

For youth in low-income households with higher COVID-19 mental health risks and fewer opportunities to regulate their stress, access to the unique benefits of camp will be instrumental in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.

WHY BIPOC GIRLS?

In an overwhelmingly white and male-dominated industry, BIPOC girls are often burdened with overcoming feelings of not fitting in. With the near erasure of BIPOC girls’ childhood and the belief that they need less nurturing, protection, support, and comfort than white girls, we believe it’s now more important than ever to give them the opportunity to freely discover who they are and how they want to show up in the world.

Providing safe spaces for BIPOC girls that eliminate disparities perpetuated by racism and racial discrimination promotes an acute sense of self-awareness and creates room for girls to navigate unique challenges. 

Through this Wellness Summer Camp, BIPOC girls will be encouraged to embrace who they are and inspired to look at themselves in a positive light. 

WHY US?

Smile On Me leads the way in providing safe spaces that improve mental health, increase confidence, and strengthen our participant's social, emotional, and technical skills. Since 2017, we have distributed more than 3,000 hygiene products to girls in under-resourced communities and provided access to resources that foster a healthy foundation for sexual and reproductive health. 

Our mission is to adequately prepare girls for puberty and provide a space where they can be authentic and discover something new. Led by Black women and fueled by a diverse and inclusive group of volunteers, our goal is to create an equal playing field for BIPOC girls through evidence-based programming, and safe and inclusive spaces.

Your investment will help us:

• Secure campgrounds for Summer 2022
• Cover ALL the camping costs for girls including transportation, camp gear, duffle bags, sleeping bags, water bottles, and a whole lot more
• Hire camp staff to help plan an exceptional camp experience
• Scale-up our evidence-based program to reach even more girls

PREMIUM PROGRAMS

During the height of the pandemic, we launched two premium digital programs: 

1. Homeroom A members-only club where girls could connect with their peers, kick-off their shoes, and stay awhile
2. Tiny Talks A conversation series where girls tackle big topics in a tiny and intimate setting. 

Of the 300 participants from New York, New Jersey, Texas, DC, Maryland, Arizona, and Florida (2020-2021) 48% said their mental health has improved, 70% have learned something new through our programs, and 75% said they feel safe at Smile On Me.

Check out our fun Homeroom launch video that premiered in 2020 below. The idea for this video was created by our awe-inspiring participants!