Feature Project: Camp Out The camp aims to give campers an opportunity to meaningfully connect with others, and to share their experiences in a safe, supportive and fun environment. The aim is for the campers to leave camp with confidence, skills and resources and to feel strong in their identity and in navigating their worlds.
All about Camp Out
Camp Out is an annual camp for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ), and Sex &/or Gender Diverse teens, same sex attracted, curious & questioning teens and their allies aged 1 3-1 7.
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Most of all, it's the chance for teens to hang out in a place where they're not judged for who they are, or who they like. There's heaps of art, music, sports, games and other fun stuff happening during camp, as well as hangouts like movie nights, beach trips and bonfires! As well as your more typical camp activities, there's open workshops and informal discussions on things like identity & what it means to be LGBTIQ-identified or questioning your gender or sexual orientation, dealing with homophobia & transphobia, coming out in highschool,
proper names for body parts and we say them casually and matter of factly. We have had frank discussions about why kids at school refer to a penis as a “hot dog.” (“some people are uncomfortable with the real names of body parts and so they give them funny names, but it’s always important to know the actual names and there’s nothing wrong with the actual names.”)
only to touch, not other people, and if other people touch or ask to touch her personal body, then she should let me know. Again, that is shared casually and calmly. And I include other kids in that. I am aware some folks believe that mutual sex play between children is ok. I am of the opinion that it’s possible for it to be ok, but it’s as possible for it to be harmful, while it’s absence will do no harm. I also think that when it comes up, it should be 2) I prioritize bodily autonomy; as in, my dealt with casually and calmly. It came up kid’s body is HERS and if I am overruling in my kid’s preschool, and there was no her about something to do I think the most freaking out; it was used as a with her body, I better have a important thing teaching moment, as in, oh, good reason (such as, “I know might be getting did you guys know, it’s not you don’t want to wash out appropriate to be showing right with that cut because it hurts, but if ourselves as each other your penis, etc., we don’t wash it, it will get parents about this and here’s some books and infected, and this is how you information if you’re curious. stuff. take care of your body”). An No shaming. example of this is that she has never been forced to give hugs to anyone including 4) I provide good books, like “It’s So family, and when she says stop during Amazing” which covers body parts, how tickling or rough housing, we stop babies are made (and includes immediately. This creates a grounding in non- traditional means of conception and the idea that she is the one who decides a smattering of non-traditional what happens with her body, and her relationships), sexual function, body word on it should be respected. diversity, and all kinds of stuff, and “It’s Perfectly Normal,” which is about 3) Connected to that, and more specific to puberty. I think it’s good to provide the sex, is that she has been told repeatedly books before you feel like they’re needed. that her body is hers, and she can touch it however she wants, in private, but her 5) I think the most important thing might personal body and private areas, such as be getting right with ourselves as parents her vulva and her butt, etc, are for her about this stuff. As in, knowing what we
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