Security for a LGBTQ Youth Summer Camp

CampOUT is a Florida summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth ages 10-17. We focus on helping our campers do the most courageous thing possible: being and loving their authentic selves. The camp is a week-long experience that provides a place for the kids to build their confidence through workshops, mentorship, and outdoor activities.

CampOUT is queer founded and queer lead. Rachel (aka Riot, she/her) and her partner Shannon (aka Grizzly, they/them) concocted the idea of CampOUT after many talks about their own experiences in summer camps growing up as queer people. Riot is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who saw the need for CampOUT through her quest to provide a safe space for her clients. Though Riot has been able to help people as a social worker, she and Grizzly knew that they had to create CampOUT where they will have the opportunity to help improve the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth on a larger scale.

As you may know, the LGBTQ+ community has been target by recent legislation, and our safe spaces are dwindling. More specifically, spaces for queer youth are becoming non-existent. CampOUT is a week long experience that allows kids to just be kids.

Our next camp is in July, and with so much going on we are desperate to raise some last minute funds to pay for a security detail during the week of camp. Security was not something we worried about last year because our camp location was unknown, but we have received an influx of online trolls, and even had neonazis show up to one of our fundraising events. Our board of directors has decided that security is necessary to ensure the saftey of our campers and staff.

Your support and donations are deeply appreciated.

If you would like to learn more about CampOUT or get involved with our organization, visit our website . You can also follow us on instagram and Twitter.