Leading national summer camp organizations have begun incorporating controversial theories such as gender identity theory, “trans inclusion,” and Critical Race Theory (CRT) into their policies and practices. This development has prompted conservative concerns about the potential for ideological indoctrination of youth under the guise of inclusivity and fairness.
The American Camp Association (ACA), comprising 10,000 summer camp professionals, has been instrumental in integrating these left-leaning ideologies into their practices. It oversees the accreditation of summer camps across the country and has hosted conference sessions addressing “trans inclusion” and the creation of racially exclusive “affinity groups”. The influence of such organizations as Transplaining for Camps, which provides training on “LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices”, and the Aloha Foundation, advocating for non-binary gender identities, is conspicuous in these sessions.
Other summer camp organizations following suit include Outward Bound USA and Camp Fire, both of which advocate the leftist interpretation of sex, race, and justice issues. Outward Bound USA, a major outdoor education provider, condemns “underlying structures of injustice” in the outdoor community and emphasizes intersectionality. Camp Fire recognizes the contributions of “Two Spirit and Indigenous people”, stating that every individual has the right to self-identify, and uses its platform to vocalize support for LGBT youth and racial minorities.
Several individual summer camps are also embracing these left-leaning theories on gender and race, leading to situations where adults of the opposite sex who identify as transgender could potentially share cabins with campers. This raises concerns about safeguarding children’s welfare and respecting parents’ rights and values. Colorado’s Camp Granite Lake, for instance, maintains that campers and staff can choose the cabin corresponding to their self-identified gender. Furthermore, they will respect a child’s preferred name and/or pronoun regardless of parental wishes. Similarly, Cheley Colorado Camps highlights the distinction between gender and sexuality and acknowledges operating on stolen Indigenous land.
The liberal ideology of “acceptance”, is being taken to its extreme and dangerous end, threatening the hearts and minds of America’s children. Summer camps are the latest battleground that conservatives must fight to protect from the LGBT agenda.
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