Youth Speak Out About TYEF Camps!

"Twice a year, TYEF organizes transgender youth retreats. They are an opportunity to get away for a little while and enjoy activities like swimming, hiking, boating and arts and crafts. The difference between our camps and others, though, is that all of the youth who attend are transgender. All of the worries that you might have about going to a normal camp, like "Where do I change?" "Will the other kids accept me?" "What if someone discovers I am transgender?" don’t matter at the TYEF, because everyone understands how it feels to be different or to be uncomfortable with your body. If your parents are okay with you attending, we really hope that you will sign up! Many of the youth who attend say they feel more confident, happy, and free when they are around other transgender youth. It can be a life-changing experience."    -TYEF Youth

“I have been to the TYEF camp two times now, once in the fall and once in the summer. There are few times during the year that I feel as happy as I do when I am at a camp. It is a unique experience, to be surrounded by other transgender youth who completely understand the way you feel. At school, my classmates are usually polite to me, but it is hard for me to make friends because I am always worried about what people think of me. At the camp, I already know that I will not be judged for being transgender because everyone there is too. Even though we are all transgender, it feels like we aren’t, because when we are all together it is like we are just normal kids. I will miss all of my friends from the camp and all of the fun things we got to do together. I can’t wait to see them again in the fall!”   -TYEF Youth

See our Youth Retreats/Camps page for more information and to sign up!