Photo courtesy CampOUT.
CampOUT welcomed more than 120 LGBTQ+ and ally youth ages 10-17 for their inaugural event in 2022, delivering on the nonprofit’s promise to be “more than your average summer camp.”
Scheduled as a week-long experience at a Florida campsite, it offered everything one might expect — arts and crafts, archery, canoeing, camp games, sports, swimming and more — but with an inclusive twist. It was designed to help campers “do the most courageous thing possible by being and loving their authentic self.”
“Utilizing workshops, adventures, experiences, peer connections and positive role models we can create an environment our youth can thrive,” CampOUT’s website explains. “Where they can take the knowledge learned from camp to build their confidence and have the bravery to express themselves and be true to their brightest colors.”
CampOUT Founder Rachel Sobiech, a licensed clinical social worker who serves as the camp’s main director, says creating a safe space for youth was important to her. It was conceptualized with her partner Grizzly Mann, who utilized their experience working at an LGBTQ+ summer camp elsewhere in the U.S.
“We got together and created the camp,” she recalls. “It has typical summer camp aspects and then more, so we have workshops that are affirming and provide resources; stuff youth don’t get at regular summer camps.”
“CampOUT was a wild dream we would have on the couch in late night convos, but with dreams come a lot of hard work and passion to get it going,” Mann adds. They’re particularly proud of having created and cultivated the camp here in Florida.
Sobiech says her major takeaway from CampOUT’s first year was how fun the experience was — and also, of course, how meaningful.
“It was really powerful watching the campers be their authentic selves and seeing them have a support system that some didn’t even know was out there,” she says. “Some didn’t even know that there were other kids just like them. It felt amazing.”
In addition to Sobiech and Mann, LGBTQ+ youth are guided by staff members. Camp Counselor and Lifeguard Lindsey Spero was among the first to participate.
“CampOUT provides an experience for youth unlike any other that is pivotal to their healthy development as queer people,” they explain. “As a transgender young adult and staff member, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of a queer community-focused experience and how many lives were changed because of our visibility.
“Trauma-informed care and queer adults who were able to demonstrate the health and happiness of life gave our campers the knowledge that they too could be successful, thriving queer people,” Spero continues. “Campers were also given tools, resources and supplies that they didn’t previously have to further assist their growth as queer youth … we’re noticing a direct benefit in the health of our campers and staff.”
CampOUT scheduled its 2023 return July 16-23 in Ocala with a max capacity of 120 youth and 54 staffers, or roughly one guardian for every three participants.
“It feels great to be in our second year, but it’s also very overwhelming because of the political environment,” Sobiech says. Florida has passed a growing number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies in recent years.
“Safety is our number one concern right now,” she says. “For our kids and our staff. But to be able to provide this opportunity in a heated political environment is powerful on its own. We’re able to give space to kids who aren’t feeling the love and acceptance that they should be receiving in the state of Florida. I’m thankful that we have the opportunity to give this to them.”
Each attendee’s $1,000 fee — some of which are paid by scholarships the camp offers funded by local fundraisers — is all encompassing. It covers their board, meals, supplies and other required items. If enough funds are raised, the all-volunteer staff members may also be compensated.
“It’s really cool to see people come in knowing that they potentially won’t get paid,” Sobeich says. “Everyone wants to do it out of the goodness of their heart versus a paycheck.”
To protect participants, the location of the camp was exclusively given to registered guardians and staff members, and only as the event neared. All counselors are required to attend training as well as pass background and fingerprint checks within 60 days, and medical staff must be certified in medication administration and Basic Life Support.
CampOUT also maintains a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, all participant bags are checked and each cabin is chaperoned by a staff member. They’re arranged by age group rather a camper’s assigned sex at birth.
“That way everyone feels affirmed in their gender and however they identify,” Sobeich explains. The campground’s 10 cabins are arranged into six age brackets utilizing the colors of the traditional Pride flag: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.
“Our youngest group is red, the 10-11 year olds, and then our oldest is 16-17 year olds who are purple,” Sobeich notes. “Ideally if they come back each year, they’ll be the next color of the rainbow.”
Looking toward the future is exactly what CampOUT’s organizers are doing. They’ll once again welcome youth from throughout the state and outside of it, something they hope to continue growing with multi-week camps and multiple sessions throughout the summer.
“I would also like to be able to securely pay our staff members because they’re doing so much for those kids,” Sobiech adds. “It’s very important to me. I’d also like us to have our own facility.”
In the interim, CampOUT will continue to welcome LGBTQ+ and ally youth to Florida the only way they know how — with open arms.
“We won’t stop,” Mann promises. “Everyone deserves to be their authentic self.
A version of this feature was originally published in Watermark’s 2023 Rainbow Family Guide. View the digital edition here. CampOUT 2024’s dates will be released in September. Learn more at CampOUTFlorida.com.
