Consent and Conflict resolution

Dear C&P members, potential newbies, and Nowhere community,

Come & Play is currently dealing with consent issues. We’re working on a structured process to manage conflict and consent issues in the future. This year there will be a Consent Feedback Box at C&P for visitors to our camp. If you see or experience a consent breach, please drop us a note on site.

We’d like to hear from you: Have you ever had an issue with anyone at our camp? What actions would you like us to take in response? What do you need to feel safe and trust us again? Please send us a message via this form to share your experiences and feedback:

Our generalised conflict and consent management process

In the event of a serious unresolvable conflict or consent breach involving a C&P member, we aim to undergo the following steps to reconciliation with the camp:

Step 1: A group call or video conference will be held with involved members to share what they need to feel welcome and safe in the group once again. Members can then decide if they will consider the matter resolved if the following steps are taken. 

Step 2: The person whose behavior is in question should take a year off from camping with C&P or attending retreats. During that time, they should:

  • Not apply to or spend time at C&P camp.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to change and steps taken to work on their personal growth.
  • If attending Nowhere with another camp that year, receive and share feedback about their behavior from that camp.

Step 3: If these actions are taken, the following year that person may attend C&P retreats and rejoin the camp (pending the recruitment vote all members undergo). At the event, they should:

  • Hold no positions of power
  • Not run workshops
  • Be open to feedback
  • Uphold our mission statement
  • Use the “Buddy System”: Have a designated “Buddy” that will accompany them to first events, explain what the requirements are, offer help and feedback, and report after the event if their behavior has improved. Buddies should be jointly chosen as people who believe in restorative justice.

 

After undergoing this process, C&P camp should reinstate that person with the full rights and responsibilities of a camp member in future years. They will be subject to the same voting recruitment process each year, able to hold lead roles, and free to run workshops.