Camping.OUT provides opportunities for youth to learn about activism

This weekend, Affirmations and the Triangle Foundation will team up to present the first-ever Camping.OUT Conference. Held at Affirmations, the two-day event will invite Michigan youth in grades 8-12 to gather to talk about issues that affect them, as well as give them a chance to talk, have fun and learn about themselves and each other.
The conference begins with a day of seminars, broken up into three categories: OUT. For me, OUT. For us and OUT. For fun. OUT. For me will have seminars regarding the individual's role in social justice, and will focus on issues like understanding one's identity, healthy relationships, safe sex and being true to one's self.
OUR. For us will have seminars about group actions in the LGBT community, such as starting a GSA, getting involved with politics and non-violent protests and transgender issues.
A departure from the rest, OUT. For fun will be a combination of art and activism. There, kids will do mural painting, magazine making and other activities that show the creative side of social justice.
The day will end with a talk with a Michigan legislator, who will speak about why activism and politics are important. Then, a documentary on Harvey Milk will be shown.
The event, more than just a conference to help kids learn about important issues, is a chance for two large Michigan LGBT organizations – Affirmations and Triangle – to work together to give something back to the community. "So often its stigmatized that we're working against each other," Brett Beckerson, Triangle's youth initiatives coordinator, said. "This is the first event we're really doing together."
The event will go overnight into a slumber party and end with breakfast, talks and evaluations in the morning.
The cost of the event is $30, but is negotiable in cases of need. To register, visit http://www.generationout.org and visit the Campint.OUT page.