[Community Resource] Welcome Friend Association
The Welcome Friend Association aims to educate and spread awareness regarding gender, sexual identities and orientations. Their 3 main programs include
Rainbow Camp
Rainbow Online Connection
Various events and seminars
Physical Development
The Welcome Friend Association provides a summer camp that includes many physical outdoor activates. Note that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have switched their programming to virtual platforms, but still encourage the physical activity through staff-guided programming.
Some of their programming includes: swimming, gaga ball, canoeing, water games, fire building and survival skills, nature walks, basketball, fort building, field games, beach yoga, compass navigation, soccer, building sandcastles, and beach volleyball.
Physical activities encouraging youth to enjoy an active healthy lifestyle are quite standard to any summer camp, because first and foremost to these campers, they are adolescents in development. Added with their workshops regarding activism that include programs such as Coming Out: Tips/Tricks and Safety Plans and Trans 101 valuing their safety and body image, healthy physical development is supported.
Emotional Development
A volunteer clinical social worker of the Welcome Friend Association, Kelsey Dugas, provides free counselling for LGBTQ+ youth aged 12-17 and parents of LGBTQ+ youth. Each session is one on one through video conference or phone and the form of the therapy varies on the challenges being presented. You can make inquiries by phone calling Welcome Friend Association at 1-888-909-2234 Ext 101. Kelsey can also be contacted through her website.
Social Development
Youth that have attended on or more of the Welcome Friend Association programs have reported overwhelmingly positive experiences. Making friends, feeling validated, having a place to belong, connecting with others, were all valuable experiences in reviews and comments. Having a safe space where LGBTQ+ youth can ultimately be themselves and have fun ultimately give them the strength and confidence for the real world.



















