Conforming for the DEI Cult

Letter Causes Uproar in the Pines Parent Community

DEI started out in the corporations, came to burn down the institutions and now it has morphed into JEDI (Justice, Equity,  Diversity, and Inclusion) to fix your kid’s activities to become culturally appropriate.  Parents are sensitive to the political implications of DEI since it has been jammed down our throats by the public school system since 2020. So when parents in a mostly red area received the below letter from the YMCA of the Pines in Medford, they were instantly annoyed.

Letter from YMCA

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Dear YMCA of the Pines Community,

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the anticipation of the upcoming summer season! As we prepare for another enriching and exciting experience, we would like to share some important changes that have been carefully considered and discussed by our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee, which includes members of our Board, Staff, and Alum. 

Over the years, our camp has embraced and celebrated a variety of cultural traditions, including elements inspired by Indigenous Peoples and their many rich varied cultures. We understand and appreciate the passion and connection many campers and families have felt towards these traditions, and we are truly grateful for the community that has been built around these shared experiences.

As our camp program has evolved to incorporate the Hero’s Journey and a camper’s path to self-actualization into their truest and best self, the camps have gradually phased out the incorporation of Indigenous Peoples’ traditions and artifacts within our program. This decision was not made lightly, and we want to express our utmost respect for those who have cherished these aspects of our camp culture. It was done after great deliberation and education, including conversations with Elders from one of the largest local tribes, the Lenni Lenape. It is also not a wholesale erasing of our history or traditions. Certain elements will remain, others will be relegated to places on camp where we can explain their historical context. 

To complete this transition, the Blue and Green Feather Plaques in the Ockanickon and Matollionequay dining halls, respectively, have been taken down and safely stored. Banners will be hung in both dining halls to display the names of the campers who earned Blue and Green Feathers in the past. 

The plaques will be on display during the spring Family Camp Weekend over Memorial Day Weekend to allow our cherished alumni to return to camp and take photographs of or with any plaques to which they have a connection. More information will be forthcoming on how folks can take photos with the plaques in the months to come. 

These plaques will remain at the Pines’ facility in perpetuity, and will be available for alum to view. We hope to eventually construct a small museum onsite where they will be housed. 

Further, the camp names will not be changing, but the village names in our programs will be changed to better align with our current program operations and thematic framework. Our camp staff and JEDI committee have been working hard to develop new names, and have been workshopping options with current and former staff, campers, and alumni. 

The names will be posted in our blog on our website in the coming month. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and ideas for overnight camp with Charlotte Brown, our Executive Director of Overnight Camping, via email to Charlotte@ycamp.org, or with Lynn Passarella, our Senior Director of Lake Stockwell Day Camp, via email to Lynn@ycamp.org.  

The primary reason behind this decision is our commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment that is considerate of the diversity within our camp community. We recognize that the use of Indigenous Peoples’ traditions and artifacts, despite our best intentions, does perpetuate stereotypes and cultural appropriation. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to all, irrespective of background, and to ensure that everyone feels respected and valued.

We understand that this change may evoke strong emotions within our community. It's important to acknowledge the significance that these traditions have held for many of us, and we want to honor the memories and experiences associated with them. We want to assure you that this decision is not meant to diminish the value of those experiences but rather to ensure that our camp continues to evolve in a way that is respectful and inclusive.

As we move forward, we are committed to replacing these traditions with new, enriching, and culturally sensitive activities that align with our values. We are excited about the opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our diverse camp community.

We invite you to share your thoughts with us as we navigate through this transition. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are open to engaging in respectful conversations to address any questions you may have.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We are excited about the positive changes that lie ahead, and we look forward to creating memorable and inclusive experiences for all campers.

Warm regards,

Mark Dibble, CEO                          

 Joe Michiels, Chief Volunteer Officer

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Clearly the letter was not intended for the audience of families that have been going to this camp for generations handing down this unique Native American experience to their children. While parents have stated that some of the experiences have been diluted through the years, it was still an honor to share the tradition of this special overnight camp with their children.

Letter seems to indicate that they are eliminating some of the traditional elements that made the camp special and also accused the beloved traditions and artifacts as perpetuating “stereotypes and cultural appropriation,” “no matter how well intended it was.” Parents were concerned that they will be removing ceremonial practices and artifacts from the camp's tradition, citing offensiveness. By stating “As we move forward, we are committed to replacing these traditions with new, enriching, and culturally sensitive activities that align with our values”, this implies that the camp is heading towards becoming just like any other ordinary corporate camp, losing its uniqueness and charm.

It seems like the board decided to reach out to area Native Americans to have an excuse to make these obvious corporate changes. The Y Has actually been making many small changes for years in the name of DEI, so why did they feel the need to get permission this time?

Those who participate in this camp have consistently endorsed the notion of paying tribute to the Leni Lenape tribes and their traditions. Being accused of approaching this with negativity has stirred frustration and disappointment among many families. Medford Lakes is considered the epicenter of the Leni-Lenape tribe, it should be viewed as a positive endeavor to incorporate and honor their traditions of the people who lived on the land in an honorary manner.

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The History of Ockanickon of Matollionequay

To give some perspective, the Boy’s overnight camp, Ockanickon founded in 1906 and moved to Medford in 1922, was named after the Chief of the Mantas Lenape tribe and an early Native American friend to the settlers in Burlington County. In 1937, development of the property led to the opening of an overnight camp for girls – Camp Matollionequay, named for Princess Matollionequay, Chief Ockanickon’s wife. There is also a day camp named Stockwell for boys and girls.

In December 2018, there were concerns that the name change from "YMCA Camp Ockanickon" to "YMCA of the Pines in Medford." However, not much changed and individuals from the Pinelands area continue to refer to the camp by the name Ockanickon after the boy’s overnight camp.

The Ockanickon is well known for its outdoor adventures, sports, arts and crafts, swimming and team-building activities. Renowned for long-standing traditions passed down through generations, Camp Ockanickon also integrated Native American values. This infusion aimed to foster the development of robust character, instill leadership skills, and cultivate a strong sense of community among the participating children. Children were organized into tribes, engaging in re-enactments of the local customs practiced by the people who inhabited the land prior to the arrival of settlers. This parallels the way adults reenact aspects of colonial life, as well as events from the revolutionary and civil wars.

It all starts in the dining hall on their first day, children are captured in this photo wearing red shirts with the names of their respective "tribes" on the back. The atmosphere is filled with anticipation and excitement as they eagerly anticipate receiving their "tribe" shirts every Monday. The dining hall itself holds a rich history, adorned with Native American artifacts that contribute to its amazing and significant past.

The image below captures the Friday tradition known as Red Feather Day. During this ritual, counselors cast their votes for the camper in their group who exemplifies specific values, and the chosen camper is honored with a red feather as a recognition of their outstanding qualities.

Children have enjoyed the spirit of the camp and the incorporation of the native american culture for generations. The changes made are in the name of “inclusivity” however none of those children took offense to anything the camp organized. It's the adults who feel the need to make changes. Not a single child felt excluded; their experience was filled with nature, boating, songs, hand-clapping games, overnights in the woods, canoe trips, and a strong emphasis on native american tradition that made them feel close to the people who lived on the land before us.

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Managing Social Media Discontent

Since the letter was not specific on the exact traditional changes that would be made, people set out to facebook to state their displeasure of the situation, assuming that history was being erased. As speculation exploded on multiple social media pages, Mark Dibble, CEO of the Pines was kind enough to try to explain the upcoming changes since the letter did not make it clear exactly what changes were made.

It seems as if these minor changes didn’t actually need to be explained in a letter to the public that included a nasty side swipe at the camp members and locals who enjoyed these traditions for years. No one likes to be scolded for being offensive, especially when you are carrying on traditions for generations out of love for the Native Americans. This left too many questions and I needed him to spell it out for me and he kindly obliged.

Had the camp issued a statement indicating their intention to relocate the plaques to a more secure and fitting location to uphold their value, it would likely have gone unnoticed. Similarly, changing the village names could have been approached differently. Stating that the change in the “village names in our programs will be changed to better align with our current program operations and thematic framework” sounds very cold, vague and corporate. Mostly, the letter was ambiguous and carried an accusatory tone, shaming the people in the Pines for traditions that have been here for over a century.

Dibbles words seemed genuine, until I saw some other exchanges on social media.

Scolding people like they are an ignorant child seems to be the way the woke cult people communicate nowadays on the socials. I can think of at least 3 ways this lady could have written this response without accusing locals of “malevolence.” Yes, she feels uncomfortable wearing costumes from other cultures, I get it. But most of us are very excited to wear Lederhosen at Oktoberfest and similarly, wear Native American costumes at camp without feeling like bigots. I wonder if she goes to Medford’s Oktoberfest every fall and scolds the locals on their “malevolence” for their appropriation of German culture and perpetuating German stereotypes by drinking beer?

Doubtful.

Maybe she just feels uncomfortable wearing “non-white” costumes? Either way, this uppity finger wagging of the woke scolds should come with harsh feedback from normal people. I don’t need another adult to tell me how to appreciate other cultures. I don’t need this communist lady telling me how to be an American. And I certainly don’t need this chooch telling my second generation American ass how to “melting pot”. So I’d like to take this opportunity give a resounding “Fungool” to this lady, along with all the appropriate Italian hand gestures.

I don’t know where this lady gets off, but she needs to get off at the next exit to New York City with all the other high and mighty people that are too good for everyone else.

…And then here comes the CEO of the Y telling her what a GREAT JOB she did insulting everyone!

His response was disappointing, but not unexpected considering odd exchange that I had with Mark online. I asked him what was offensive about the items he was removing from the wall and he responded,

“One of the best ways I had it explained to me was to imagine people were using sacred Christian symbols in ways that were cartoonish and offensive. Our plaques in our dining halls do similar things with sacred Native American iconography. I’m not sure I can explain it better than that without us having a conversation, which I’d be happy to do.”

I thought about it, Christian symbols… cartoonish and offensive… YOU MEAN LIKE HOW CROSSES ARE USED IN MONSTER MOVIES TO WARD OFF IMAGINARY VAMPIRES? OR YOU MEAN THE STUX GALLERY IN NEW YORK DISPLAYED A PICTURE OF A TINY STATUE OF JESUS ON THE CROSS IN A BOTTLE OF URINE, TITLED PISS CHRIST? You mean the way most of America and EVERY CORPORATION has replaced Jesus with Santa on Christmas? You mean like that? However, I’m not sure anyone actually cares what any Christian finds offensive, including the woke scolds who are taking it upon themselves to take up causes where no one asked for their help.