#camppride14

[qweerprincess]

Omg

I hit 200 followers ♡♡♡ I love you all so much. Hugs to everyone ♡

[writingrainbow]

[bbarnessrogers]

so I just got back to Etown, sat on my bed, and started crying because I miss Camp Pride so there's that

[megancamppride14]

I just want to take a moment to appreciate the purple shirts here at #CampPride14. The advisors, faculty, and staff could not be any more amazing, inspiring, and humble. I can't believe that my name is actually being learned and that everyone is so invested in my well being and the projected outcomes of all the action planning that we're doing. I'm truly floored.

[megancamppride14]

Puzzle Pieces

DAY 2:  "Each and every one of us, in whatever room we occupy, are all pieces in a larger part of humanity, so recognizing and validating what makes up our piece, while simultaneously not devaluing someone else's components is how we realize the beauty of the full puzzle. If one of us were missing, we wouldn't be able to complete that." - Jon Gibson Today was so incredibly quotable and poignant. We started off with breakfast and Den time, which were some great conversation and reflection spaces, and then moved into the Valuing Identity Educational Block.  I spent almost all of that time reflecting on myself and my own individual identity - opening up to the parts I've been keeping under wraps or 'reserved' and really trying to make connections with how the effect each other and how they are intersections within my being. Two of the most impacting prompts were the identity that "brought us the most joy/pain" and that "was the least visible to others." It came to me that the joy/pain were the same identity, and that my least visible identity also happened to be one that I tend to hide from others (turning the whole thing into a double entendre, while I walked across the room to reveal my most secret identity, which also provided some feelings to unpack.) There were some really deep thoughts going on this morning.  Then we got to hear from the wonderful Mandy Carter, who later I took a selfie with! Her keynote was truly a reflection of her passion, and the smile on her face throughout, as well as her honesty and connections with other students, are still washing over me as the night is winding down. She spoke about so many things, and I have so many quotes - get ready for some designs! 

Lunch was delicious, and I got to have a really great home-y (as in, home-like, not homie) conversation with Katie Simmons-Barth (Camp Photographer and all around "Chair Mover," as Katie would put it) which was really validating as an artist trying to make a change. 

Robyn Ochs came afterward, and man, did her keynote hit me HARD. Holy wowie. Robyn had us fill out an amazing worksheet of scales that pertained to our sexuality - long explanation - but in short, I was given a short time frame to (informally and anonymously, of course) write down on a sheet of paper where I thought I fit on scales that went everywhere from "same gender attraction - different gender attraction" to "vanilla - kinky." There were also some scales that I've never really given much thought to, but just in that time slot, I learned a LOT about myself. I also learned a lot about others, and I felt a lot of very good things about 'letting go' once someone else had my paper in their hands. I have to learn to trust sometime, right?!  Since I'm talking a lot, I'm going to end with my experience at Caucuses tonight, which I wouldn't trade for the world, even just on night number one. I chose to attend the Fluid or Middle Sexualities Caucus, facilitated by the one and only Robyn Ochs, and also Rebby Kern. Without divulging every detail, I connected with some people that I never would have otherwise, on a level I never thought possible, and it was just that quick. I've never opened up this fast! This environment is crazy awesome, and there is just an energy in the air that I know means that I'm in such a safe space. I can't even explain it.  Anyway, I'm off to bed, and I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW! And more caucuses! And things! 

[megancamppride14]

"We all know a lot, and yet we know nothing." - Shane Windemeyer

Day 1: So I know it’s already Wednesday, but I fell asleep last night before a whole recap could happen, so here it goes. I met the most amazing people! I can’t wait to meet more! My hallway is full of some really great individuals, and even a long lost friend I met at Creating Change 2014 that I thought I would never see again! I was kind of a mini - welcoming committee for check in, which pushed me out of my anxiety for meeting new smart campers and into a space where I was being helpful (and giving me a reason to introduce myself.) Kickoff was awesome, and there’s a picture of the faculty floating around here somewhere. Met my Den and my Den Leaders, which is super sweet, and I can’t wait to get to know everyone a little better. We did a really neat identities sculpture activity, which allowed me to very succinctly explain some of my identity while being really creative - how cool! Also, there are some really important people here, like Robyn Ochs and Mandy Carter, and everyone is so down to earth and willing to have loving conversations with students, which is so mind blowing.

More later!