Support Queer & Trans Youth: Tips for Camp Directors/Counselors

Summer camp can be a transformative experience for queer and trans young people (as well as their straight and cis peers). It can also be a traumatic one. The difference is in how each camp approaches sexual orientation and gender identity.

To see how you're doing, by far the two best options are these:

TQAMP
Personalized coaching from River Hunter Vooris, whom you can reach at J.River.Vooris@gmail.com or riverhuntervooris.com (click on "Consulting" along the top of their website).

Adults can support me by "showing that they see me as my gender, including me correctly in gendered activities, and using correct gender specific language. Talking about trans people as if i'm not trans (i.e 'those people'), and using terms that don't fit my gender is something that hurts me."

Think not just about campers here but about your counselors in training and the younger counselors.

If so, how would they like your support?
- Be sure to ask, whether that's by talking to campers whom you know, speaking with (other) camp counselors about what they observe and hear, or any other way you can think of.
- Listen closely to what they say.
- Compensate them for their time and expertise by offering a meal, snacks, gift cards, cash, or something similar.
- Once you have their guidance, follow up on their suggestions.
Can you support them openly? Or will you need to provide them behind-the-scenes support? Your camp and community climate will help determine that.

American Camp Association
- (If that link doesn't work, go here and check "LGBTQ+" in the "Filter by topic" menu on the left.)
- Also, check out Summer Camp for All: Serving the Need of Trans Campers.
Creating a Place of Belonging for Trans Youth at Summer Camp - The Camp Owners Podcast #47 (video).
For how not to do things, check out this analysis: Investigation: How Jewish Summer Camps Are Damaging LGBTQ+ Youth.
For a look at how things have changed since the aughts, see S'mores & Gender Norms: The Evolution Of Queerness At Summer Camp.
And for more academic sources than i'm usually including in this site, check out the articles below:
- Queer at Camp: The Impact of Summer Camps on LGBTQ Campers in the United States (PDF)
- When Bunks Become Closets and How to Open Them: Making Room for Queer and Trans Safe Space in Residential Summer Camps

These camps are designed to give queer and trans children, tweens, and teens a break from hostile environments and to offer them an affirming space that helps them grow into their identity.

You can find a partial list of those camps here: LGBTQ Summer Camps and Retreats 2023. You can find others on Google.

Summer camps that aren't queer- or trans-specific may benefit from looking at how these camps celebrate their campers.

What other ideas do you have? Please drop me a line to let me know!