Solidarity Statement and Community Agreements

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Safe, welcoming, and respectful to all. That’s our vision for this community!

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Below are some core values and guidelines that we’ve crafted to bring about that vision.

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Please read the guidelines carefully. By registering for NEUC, you agree to conduct yourself in accordance with these guidelines, and help young members of your family to do the same. 

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1. Anti-colonialism, from Turtle Island to Palestine and across the globe. This includes opposition to colonial settler movements around the world, including the Zionist occupation and oppression of Palestine. We stand with all oppressed peoples, including Indigenous peoples, and affirm their right to self-determination. We also reject antisemitism and islamophobia.

2. Trans rights. Unschooling is about autonomy and joyful self-expression. We support the autonomy and rights of trans people of all ages, including the right to access gender-affirming care.

3. Anti-racism. We reject all forms of racism. Bigotry or discrimination of any kind has no place at NEUC.

4. Anti-ableism. We strive to support and include the disability community in all of our work. We recognize that we are (unfortunately) currently unable to achieve full accessibility at Camp Winadu. While there can be conflicting accessibility needs, we do our best to provide creative solutions to our attendees, and hold anti-ableism as a core value.

5. Personal autonomy. We take a firm stand against physical abuse (including corporal punishment) and sexual harassment, violence, or any act that violates a person’s autonomy or dignity.

6. Community Health. We value everyone’s personal autonomy while recognizing that we are a community, and individual health decisions often impact others. For that reason, we ask that those who have a contagious illness not attend; we encourage (but don’t require) vaccines, suggest masking if you wish, and we ask that if there is an active outbreak of a contagious illness (i.e., measles, RSV, etc.) in your area that you refrain from attending.

7. Nonviolence. In our words and actions, we work to live out the principles of nonviolence, taking action for justice in ways that aim to foster reconciliation and restoration. Note: we do not consider fantasy gameplay (like foam swords!) violence, as no actual harm ensues.
   
   NEUC takes a strong stance on these issues, including not promoting unschooling resources that oppose these values, nor hosting conference presenters who support such resources.
   
   While we are all learning and don’t expect perfection, our goal is for everyone of all ages to follow these agreements, so please make sure they are communicated to every member of your family, and make sure every member of your family has the support they need to follow these agreements to make sure that NEUC is a safe, enjoyable, joyful conference for everyone! Thank you for joining us in our commitment to making our second home better and better every year!
   
   If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the conference board chair, Skyler, directly: skylertdupont@gmail.com.