Helping Trans* Kids Be Successful at Summer Camp (For Caregivers & Parents)

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Sending your trans* child to camp can stir up excitement and anxiety. In this affirming, actionable session, we’ll explore how to emotionally and practically prepare your child for a summer experience rooted in joy, safety, and belonging. Learn about the minimum safety standards all camps should meet to be considered affirming spaces for trans* youth, and how to assess whether a camp is ready to support your child’s full self.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

This webinar includes:

• Scripts and tips for talking to your child about camp expectations, boundaries, and safety planning;

• Strategies for approaching conversations with camp staff in ways that invite accountability and clarity;

• Tools for tending to your own nervous system and boundaries as a caregiver;

• A trauma-informed, anti-oppressive framework for centering your child’s agency, joy, and identity in camp preparation.

Grounded in TQAMP’s core values of empathy, joy, presence & curiosity, and action, this session affirms that caregivers deserve support, too.

TQAMP is an industry-leading organization supporting camps to become spaces of belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ campers and staff. In doing work with camps across the country we have noticed that there is a need to prepare trans* campers to self-advocate, prepare emotionally, and be empowered to ask for safe accommodation.  Additionally- we have noticed that a lot of campers and parents have questions regarding how to address their unique medical needs with the camp’s healthcare team. 

This is a free event, open to the community. We offer a pay-as-you-can option that will help us underwrite the cost of this event. Feeling generous, and want to support more programs like this? Donations of any size are accepted at acail.org/donate 

FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHY

Chris Rehs-Dupin (he/him) is the Founder of Transplaining for Camps, and Co-Founder and Co-ED of TQAMP. In the past 4 years Chris has become one of the most established subject matter experts in the area of 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion at camp. He brings 21 years of camp experience, and has trained thousands of leaders to support campers of all genders and sexualities- with compassion and joy. Chris loves gardening, women’s basketball, and dance parties with his wife, Amy and their 2 children, Hayden and Milo.   

LOCATION & TYPE OF WORKSHOP 

This session is a live, virtual event and will utilize the Zoom Meeting platform. 

Please Note: ACA Illinois will not record this event.

THE FINE PRINT

Please Note: By registering and attending an ACA Illinois event or meeting, virtually or in person you are agreeing to all the event policies listed here. These policies include photo release, refund, link sharing, Code of Conduct, and other relative policies. 

HOW TO REGISTER

You must have a Member Profile in our registration system to register for this event. If this is your first event with us, please click here to create a profile. It's free!