Summer Camp

There is a summer camp for trans kids, but other summer camps are opening their doors to trans children and some may surprise you.

This Jewish summer camp welcomed a 12-year-old transgender camper
Religious News Service
By Eliel Cruz
September 14, 2015

There were not any hurdles at home. The Gendler family was prepared to be a support system for Hannah as she transitioned socially to a girl. They wrote a letter to Hannah’s school, the synagogue, and Hannah’s summer camp – camp Eisner – to inform them about the transition.

“The synagogue switched her from the bar mitzvah list to the bat mitzvah with no problems,” Gendler said. The school did not have any issues with her transition either. The family’s worries were with Camp Eisner. It’s at camp that Hannah would have to stay overnight with other kids. Hannah had been going to Massachusetts, from her home state of Connecticut, to attend Camp Eisner since 2nd grade. However, that was as Jonah and the Gendler family was not sure if their child would be welcomed back for the summer of 2014 as Hannah.

So what did the camp do? They did research to learn the best way to help trans children and then sent out letters to the other parents with a list of resources for the parents to better understand the transition. A small percentage asked for more information, but

Not a single family had anything negative to say and not a single person pulled their child out of camp. 

What does the do they say about their success?

Hannah is just like other girls her age and Camp Eisner recognized that. The brouhaha over trans people, especially trans kids, comes out of ignorance. Those who educate themselves about the trans community, as the board at Camp Eisner did, are able to welcome trans persons with open arms.

And the camp was all set for when they received the next transgender child this year.