Bloom at the Y at Watson Woods
Session 1: July 7-12 (Ages 15-18) Session 2: July 14-19 (Ages 13-16)
Join the PAQ this Summer
The Bloom PAQ.
Bloom at The Y at Watson Woods is an overnight summer camp created for LGBTQIA+ teens, ages 13-18 in NY and PA. Our goal is to offer a safe space for belonging and support and queer joy for young LGBTQIA+ youth in rural communities. The Bloom PAQ is a queer community where we connect through celebrating and embracing our own queerness, and each other.
BE YOU, GET OUTSIDE, BECOME PART OF THE PAQ.
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The Y at Watson Woods Painted Post, NY.
Session 1: Ages 15-18 - July 7 -12
Session 2: Ages 13-16 - July 14-19
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A celebratory LGBTQIA+ inclusive space that welcomes all identities.
Classic camp experiences like crafts and campfires. What better way to end the day than with s’mores and tarot?
Identity Exploration: Learning more about what it means to celebrate and embrace being LGBTQIA+!
Community Building & Competitions: What can we say, we love a teambuilder.
Nature! We will be hiking, and spending lots of time outside. Bring your swimsuit for Slip & Slide Day!
New experiences and getting out of your comfort zone! Camp is a place to bloom safely. We will be intentional about having low stimulus spaces, and care for our introverted and extroverted friends!
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We want to make this process and experience as accessible as possible.
Our team is passionate about camp and highly experienced in youth work ranging from school counseling to theatre to sexual violence prevention.
We offer a sliding based on income but the cost of camp will not exceed $400 for the week.
FAQs
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Camp admission is based on a sliding scale based on guardian/caregiver income. Do not let financial burdens keep you from camp! If you want to be at camp we will make sure you’re there!
Less than $59K: $0 per week.
$60K - $79K: $95 per week.
$80K - $99K: $150 per week.
$100K - $149K: $200 per week.
$150K - $199K: $300 per week.
Over $200k: $400 per week.
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This year we will be staying the Main Cabin hotel-style rooms. Rooms will have full linens, and their own bathrooms. Doors to the rooms will be kept open while campers are inside.
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At this time we are not able to offer transportation.
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On Wednesdays the staff will send an update email home with stories and group photos! Guardians will have access to our emergency line number.
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We urge all camp attendees and staff for the 2024 season to ensure they are fully vaccinated, including having received their COVID vaccination and up-to-date boosters. We also advise taking a rapid test 2 days before your arrival at camp. In the event that a camper exhibits COVID symptoms during their stay, they will be subjected to testing. If a camper tests positive for COVID, they will be asked to leave camp to protect the well-being of fellow campers, as our cabins are shared accommodations.
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Service is limited at The Y at Watson Woods. Campers will get access to their phone on the final day fo camp.
PLEASE READ* While SoFLX Pride’s Bloom Camp will offer a nurturing and healing experience, it's important to note that we are not a therapy camp. It is expected that campers arrive in a stable emotional and mental state. Though our camp environment, will be positive and empowering, campers will experience both physically and emotionally demanding experiences.
We are committed to fostering a mental health-positive atmosphere. Campers dealing with mild to moderate anxiety, depression, or dysphoria will need to utilize positive coping strategies learned before attending camp. We encourage campers to bring prescribed medications and non-electronic coping tools such as journals, sketchpads, fidget toys, or favorite books to support their well-being during their time here.
Campers who have been hospitalized for mental health concerns should wait for a full year before applying to ensure they are adequately prepared for the camp experience. SoFLX Pride Bloom Camp is not a replacement for professional mental health care, and it should never be viewed as such.
Meet the Team
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Counselor Sage (They/Them)
“The Sage”
Sage is a dance & theater teacher, and works for several non-for-profit organizations in Corning, NY including Southern Finger Lakes Pride. Sage has a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Queer Studies and Dance from Sarah Lawrence College, and is elated to be able to put their degree to good use at Queer Camp.
As the Youth Programming Coordinator for SOFLX Pride, Sage takes great joy in facilitating spaces where queer youth feel safe to be themselves. Sage hopes that all of their campers will get a chance to feel that they can be unabashedly them, in a non judgemental space, with others who share their lived experience.
In their spare time Sage enjoys doing their makeup, anything pink and sparkly, dancing, their cat Mabel, fried rice, and old kids cartoons such as Avatar the Last Airbender, Adventure Time, and Gravity Falls.
Sage’s greatest aspiration is to live up to their namesake, and dispense sage wisdom. They wish to be a figure of serenity for your camp going experience.
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Counselor Lindy (She/Her)
“The Human Spirit Award”
Identity: Bisexual
I work in the anti-violence field as a trainer and facilitator and I'm a singer and performer!
I hope campers feel like they BELONG in the space we create at camp and then are able to carry that sense of belonging beyond the camp boundaries. I hope they understand they are valued and WORTHY. I hope to help campers identify pride in themselves and who they are!
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Counselor Aiden (He/They)
“The Capybara”
Outside of camp, I work at Camp Cory in Rochester and at the local Palace Theatre in Corning! I am a full-time student, soon going on to college in the fall. Other than that though, I enjoy playing video games, watching shows or movies, going on hikes, and spending time with my friends! My favorite animal is stuck between dogs and gorillas.
My hope for you all is that you can have fun, connect with others and find friends in your time here. Most of all though I hope that you feel comfortable. I will try my best to be a great support to you in my time here, I'm pretty easy to talk to, so if you ever have something you need help with I'll be happy to help out.
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Program Director Tina (She/They)
“The Softie”
Outside of camp, I am a small-town forest witch, garden fairy, and dog mom. I love being outside, baking bread, and binge-watching reality TV.
I am a former GSA (Gender and Sexuality Advisor) and School Counselor. I am the founder of The PAQ and the marketing and social media lead for SOFLX Pride.
My hope for camp is that we connect to our queer magic by being silly and curious. Lean on me when you need someone to work through big feelings, talk about your pet(s) or need to feel seen.
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Camp Director Hannah (She/They)
“The Rebel with a Cause”
Professor Jones is the ace ventura of the group when they aren’t teaching they are taking care of their many plants and animals. Hannah wants to create a space where each of the campers can be their authentic selves. Feel as safe as possible and meet others that support them, while also having light fun in moments. I’ll do this by facilitating spaces that curate this for the campers.
We believe in summer camp magic.
That’s why Bloom Summer Camp is *FREE* for anyone who needs it. Help us make summer camp dreams possible for LGBTQIA+ youth in SOFLX.
