A leader at a summer camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, questioning youth and their allies says the opportunity provides so much more than outdoor skills.
“As a transgender and mixed-race person I had never experienced, immediately, a place so welcoming of my identity,” says Kit. (CampOUT organizers asked that the last names of campers not be used due to their young age.) “CampOUT gave me a solid foundation to feel loved and supported.”
Kit was one of 50 fortunate campers who took part in CampOUT 2014, a summer camping experience supported by the University of B.C. for LGBTTQ youth from across the province aged 14 to 21.
“I was expecting a rugged outdoorsy LGBTQ camp. Instead it was more like a conference – and I made a best friend here,” Kit explains. “We had activities like learning our rights. And one of many magical things is a trans-sharing, disabled sharing and person-of-colour sharing space.”
“Sharing space” means campers can gather in a certain place at a specified time to share their experiences with others. For instance, while trans campers are bonding, crying and laughing together in their safe place, cisgender [someone who identifies exclusively with their sex assigned at birth] participants are in their sharing space discussing how they can best be allies to the marginalized group.
Research has shown CampOUT youth and cabin leaders are more likely to participate in community groups, seek different roles in youth organizations and university and high school-based groups, and are more likely to apply for positions of responsibility because of their time at camp. After a week of training and living on UBC campus, Kit returned to CampOUT as a cabin leader.
“During that week we were trained in consent culture – a way to keep campers feeling safe by asking them permission to talk about issues,” says Kit. “We learned to be hyper-aware of their boundaries, we learned conflict diffusion because some campers are at higher risk of mental health issues. We learned about the importance of communication, which I knew in theory...”
This year, 70 youth will attend CampOUT, but camp director Anna White had to turn down 100 applicants.
“It’s devastating to turn folks away,” says White. “But we prioritize folks in rural communities, First Nations youth and youth who are dealing with multiple, marginalized identities such as racism.”
On its website, CampOUT is described as offering campers “the opportunity to make friends, access resources, engage in imaginative and critical workshops, as well as participate in traditional camp activities like canoeing and arts and crafts.”
But the reality is, it offers so much more.
“When you experience something good, you seek it again,” explains White. “The 16-year-old goes home to Prince Rupert, knowing they are connected with an inter-generational community online and celebrated for who they are and know that belonging is possible. Now they create magic by bringing camp activities to their school and community.”
Campers like Kit and Vi agree.
“I attended CampOUT four years ago,” says Vi. “While some people chose swimming and other ‘normal’ camp activities, I chose more community-oriented activities, such as the Queer History Talking Circle, where youth and community leaders spoke about how the queer community has been shaped. Learning a rich history of being queer is empowering.”
For the first few years, CampOUT was able to meet the community’s needs, but now the word is out – that means supply can’t meet demand this year. The goal is to double fundraising efforts to accommodate twice the campers next year.
CampOUT, in its seventh year, receives support from UBC’s Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the public. REVERB: A queer reading series, is being held May 11, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to raise funds for the camp. Visit campout.ubc.ca for more information.
