'Place where you can be yourself': LGBTQ+-focused summer camp returns to Central Mass.

ATHOL - After a 10-year break, a week-long summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth and youth from LGBTQ+ families is back in Central Massachusetts.

Emmy Howe, a longtime educator, social justice leader and queer mother, started CampOUT after she realized not many programs catered to kids who came from LGBTQ+ families.

"In 2000, it seemed like a lot of the kids from gay and lesbian families were isolated in their schools," Emmy said. "Or kids, even from other school systems, maybe the only kid from an LGBTQ family in their school."

Puja Kranz-Howe, Emmy's trans son, and his older sisters went to CampOUT for years. Now, as an adult, Puja wants to bring it back. Puja leads afterschool and summer programming for trans and nonbinary youth in Cambridge.

CampOUT not only provides children and their families with a safe space but also takes place at the Farm School where staff teach campers everything they need to know about farming and animals.

"It's how I fell in love with farming. We actually moved to a farm, I think, partly because of the farm school," Puja said. "When the farm reached out to me, it kind of worked perfectly with the programs I lead at the YWCA Cambridge."

Although the kids he teaches at the YWCA Cambridge have outlets such as social media and the Discord social platform to stay connected with other LGBTQ+ youth online, he noticed they wanted more exposure in person.

"They just want to meet more kids, specifically," Puja said. "I think a lot of kids are coming out as nonbinary and trans earlier than other generations because there has been more exposure."

Emmy said another reason for the camp's resurgence is because of the uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country.

"The whole tenor of the schools is not celebratory, or even always respectful, of LGBTQ people," Emmy said. "It felt like it was the right time (to bring the camp back)."

Recent legislation across the country, along with social media and smartphones, causes Emmy and Puja to look at the camp a little differently.

"I don't want kids to feel like they can't be on their phones, but also, the hope is that we are not on our phones all day since we're going to be in nature and on a farm," Puja said.

Puja also said more kids identify as nonbinary, trans or queer now than they had in the early 2000s.

The Farm School, located in Athol, covers 130 acres of open land and woods with gardens and farm animals. The staff is diverse in gender and race and includes several nonbinary staffers.

"We're really lucky because since it's in August, it's when everything's being harvested," Emmy said. "So almost all the food that we eat and cook there is grown there."

Although the camp does offer hands-on farming skills, Emmy and Puja said the main goal is to create a safe, welcoming place kids from LGBTQ+ families and kids who identify with the LGBTQ+ community can enjoy.

"I hope that people really gain lifelong relationships and friendships," Puja said. "I still have so many wonderful memories from CampOUT. It's about being in a place where you can be yourself and be with others that feel free to be themselves."

The program runs from Aug. 19 to Aug. 23. Campers must be ages 9 to 14 as of Aug. 19. Youth ages 15 to 19 may apply to be counselors in training.

Tuition is $1,000 for the session, but Howe said they have "ample" scholarship opportunities with a minimum fee of $100. For more information, visit farmschool.org.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: LGBTQ+-focused summer camp returns to Central Massachusetts