GSA Network News: Mourning Del Martin, Activist Camp Highlights, Youth in Motion and More...

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2008 Summer Camps -- GSA Activist Style!

GSA Network Activist Camp isn't your regular sleepover summer camp. It's an intensive 3 day training program that gets youth ready to fight against homophobia and transphobia in school! Every summer, GSA Network organizes GSA Activist Camps throughout California to empower youth and educate them on everything from what their legal rights are, to how to run a good GSA meeting, as well as how to build coalitions in your schools, and how homophobia and transphobia are connected to other forms of oppression such as racism and sexism. Educational workshops ranged from Race, Power, and Privilege to Fight For your Rights (how many of YOU know about AB 537 and SB 71?) and How to Have a Kick-Ass GSA.

This year we had two camps - one in Northern California and another in Southern California, in which we trained almost 60 GSA Activists! Here are some highlights from this summer's camps:

NorCal Camp

From August 15th-17th, twenty-two students and five youth trainers from all over Northern California arrived at the Headlands Institute in Marin County to gain knowledge and insight on how to improve as GSA activists.

Campers came from as far as Grass Valley (where the heck is that?), Sacramento, and Modesto and as close as San Francisco, the East Bay, and San Jose to participate in a weekend full of education, fun, and bonding.

But wait, there's more! Campers had a bonfire, went to the beach, and even had their very own drag show and talent show. Who knew that there were so many talented and gender bending youth right here in our very own backyard!

And one of the coolest things about this camp is that all of the workshops were led by youth members of the Northern California Youth Council. So if you think leading a three day camp chock full of workshops to facilitate is something you've been dying to do, then join a Youth Council near you.

But don't take our word for it-- here are some quotes from camp participants and trainers:

Anibal Hurtado, one of the trainers who just graduated from Modesto High School states that, "It was a great learning experience and it teaches people to open up."

Geo Moore, a student at Silver Creek High School in San Jose writes: "Attending GSA Network's youth activist camp was a wonderful experience. It not only taught me how to run a kick-ass GSA, but also to expand your horizons and think outside the box. All in all, it was an amazing experience, and because of it, I'm going to apply for Youth Council so that i can be a youth trainer at camp next year.

SoCal/Central Valley Camp

This year SoCal and Central Valley held their camp together at Cal State Northridge from Friday June 20th to Sunday June 22nd and it "hella" kicked butt! GSA Activists from Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, Kernville, Los Angeles, Newberry Park, Garden Grove, San Diego, Pomona, Glendale, and Culver City to just name a few cities represented, gathered together for three days in the SoCal sun and learned what it takes to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.

SoCal youth got to go swimming, play basketball and volleyball, as well as learn how to speak out against hate and organize activist GSAs. Like all GSA Network programs, SoCal Activist Camp was led by awesome youth trainers.

SoCal youth closed out GSA Activist Camp with a fierce drag/talent show where folks danced and also crunked to Lil' Wayne's "A Millie." Youth also read poems and had a Project Runway-style walk off!!

But hear it from the youth themselves:

Nik Castillo, a student at Kernville High School in Kernville wrote:

"GSA Network Activist camp hit a lot of issues, and brought attention to all the discrimination that our community faces, but it also gave me the tools to do something about it. I learned a lot, and it was fun because it was not like your usual boring camp that you do the same things over and over. My favorite workshop was the Race, Power, and Privilege workshop."

Dora Craig, a student from Granada Hills High School in Los Angeles wrote:

"I thought Camp was amazing, and I really liked it and felt like I belonged. Camp has been the only place that I felt important because people were honest. Before I did not think I belonged anywhere, but now I found my niche. At school I was never taught any LGBTQ history and knew nothing of LGBTQ history, I was finally able to learn something about the history of my community. I thought the role play was fun and exciting because I learned some tools as to how to approach some of my teachers who are not very supportive of the GSA."

Nicole Carothers, a trainer and recent grad from Burroughs High School in Burbank wrote:

"Southern California GSA Network Activist Camp was an experience of a lifetime. As a Youth Trainer I was able to make one on one connections with youth as their facilitator, peer and friend. Every activist camp I walk away with more knowledge that I arrive with. SoCal's explosive amount of youth definitely gave me more than what I bargained for. Each youth offered a wealth of knowledge in many different areas. I was able to relate to some youth, hold discussions with others and share with most in their excitement for their future careers as activists. I made many friends in that short but very long weekend;
friends that I hope to keep and knowledge that I hope to share for as long as I live."

Want to go to GSA Activist Camp 2009 or Join a Youth Council?

Look for information from GSA Network and contact your regional coordinator:

NorCal
Kiely Hosmon, MA
[email protected]
415-552-4229

Central Valley
Robin McGehee
[email protected]
559-268-2780

SoCal
Daniel Solis
[email protected]
213-482-4021