How an Edmonton camp provides a safe space for transgender children

Nestled away in Southminster-Steinhauer United Church on the south side of Edmontonis a space used by Camp Dragonfly.

Inpartnership with the church, the camp offers a safe space for transgender and gender-diverse children to experience campingtwice a year during summer, and again in winter.

Camp Dragonfly started in 2018 to help children between the ages of six and 13 fully express themselves.

"Kiddos start to really get a grasp on gender and identity at around the age five or six, and that's a big world to navigate," camp co-facilitator Briggs told CBC in an interview.

"That's a lot of things to learn and understand, and kind of coming up with labels for themselves, how they identify, how they view the world around them, and to not have that support, it can be really difficult."

The most recent summer camp ran Aug. 23-25, with games, arts and crafts,outdoor activities and community meals.

"We had archery, we had boxing, we had ninja training, like ninja skills training, which was a really big hit," Briggs said.

"We had some people from YABS, the Young Alberta Book Society, come down and talk about what it's like to be an author, and introduce the worlds of writing and imagination to the kiddos. Really successful year."

When the camp first started it saw about 24 kids. Since then, it has gone on to serve more than 160 families across Alberta, with somecampers travelling from as far away as the N.W.T.and B.C.

"If money was no object, we would be so thrilled to be able to fly kids out and provide them accommodations," saidcamp co-facilitator KianaChouinard.

The camp is funded by grants, camper fees and donations. Camp facilitators have hopes of making the site more accessible for those with disabilities.

Chouinardsaid the camp doesn't turn away anyone who may face barriers in being able to afford camper fees. She said it's important for the camp to accommodate as many children as possible so they can all benefit.

"I've identified as a queer woman for a long time, but I do not identify as transgender. There are a lot of very special tiny humans in my life who do, and adults as well who do,"Chouinard said.

"But especially for me as a person who is cisgender, it's very important that I feel like I can take on the emotional labour of camp and provide that space for trans folks."

Camp Dragonfly was started after organizers saw a need for younger queer children to have access to supports and community.

The University of Alberta had offered Camp fYrefly,a leadership retreat for queer and trans youth ages 14 to 24.

ButChouinardsaid there were often families with younger children who asked to send their child to camp.

"We partnered up with [Southminster-Steinhauer United Church]and they were able to create Camp Dragonfly to give those younger kiddos the opportunity to experience that amazing safe space,"Chouinard said.

She said many counsellors and volunteers are also queer and and have experience working with gender-diverse children.

'Allowed to be themselves'

"A lot of these kiddos come from all different backgrounds, all different kinds of situations. Some identify with labels. Some don't, but the thing they all have in common is that they just want to come have a fun summer and be allowed to be themselves,"Chouinard said.

Campers and counsellors are able to learn from each other to understand how to create an environment that is safe.

"We're not going to force you into a box of any kind. We're going to askwhat makes you feel most comfortable," Briggs said.

The camp encourages those attending to askquestions and foster a curiosity about their peers. It's suggested they ask othersfor theirnames and pronouns,and not make assumptions.

"If the kiddo decides 'I want to go by a different name today,' sure, change it. Change it six times. We don't care. We want to show you exactly how much we care about you in the way that you want to be cared for,"Briggs said.

Growing anxiety

With the school year just beginning,Chouinard said she has heard growing anxiety from campers about their futures following recent announcements from the Alberta government that will impact transgender youth.

The government intends to move ahead this fall with legislation that would require parents to proactively sign up to have their children opt in for sex education, rather than the usual practice of opting out.

Premier Danielle Smith said she intends to bring legislation forward for a suite of policies she first announced in January.

They include restricting transgender youth access to gender-affirming health care, banning transgender participation in female sports, and requiring parental consent or notification on sex education and changes to pronouns and names in schools.

"I heard from more kids at camp than ever that they feel a bit nervous about the future, and they're not really sure what they're going to do,"Chouinard said.

"They don't know what options are going to be out there, just kind of that like hopelessness we're trying to combat and make sure that they have a space."

Briggs reflected on their own journey with gender identity.

"Just understanding how impactful it was for me, as someone who hadn't even understood where my gender journey had begun, that there is value in this, being seen [as] who you want to be seen as, and accepted in that way,"Briggs said.

"Igain a lot of hope by knowing that we're doing all that we can in our little corner of the world, making this safe space, giving them 2 days wherethe rest of the worldcan just melt away. They can come, they can be themselves. They can be loved and accepted."