FAQ

I’m not anglican/christian, am i welcome to attend?

This camp is being organized by Christians, coming mainly from the Anglican Church, but also from the Lutheran Church. Many people of other christian denominations, of different faith backgrounds, and of no faith, are family, both biological and chosen, to LGBTQIA2s+ Christians, and they are very welcome to come to camp. Chapel will form a central part of camp, and will have a strong focus on queer and trans theologies and our lives as queer and trans Christians, and all campers will be expected to respect this.  Participating in the worship life of the community will be by choice. If people from other faith backgrounds wish to share traditions from their faiths with us at camp, we would welcome this!

Do I have to attend worship?

No. All camp activities (except orientation) are optional. Participating in the worship life of the community is an invitation, and open to all, regardless of background. There will be no pressure to take part in any spiritual practice which feels uncomfortable for you. If you have any needs, concerns or questions around worship, please contact us, we are happy to have a conversation with you.

I don’t identify as LGBTQIA2S+, can i still come to camp?

Queerest and Dearest is built for and centred on queer community. This is a place for intergenerational connection for these communities. Whoever LGBTQIA2S+ people consider family is invited to join us - birth, chosen, found, immediate, extended, church, or otherwise. If you are a cis-het ally that is not attending with queer family members, we ask that you support our camp by spreading the word and considering donating to our bursary fund!

IS CAMP PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE?  

Camp Artaban is a rustic camp with unpaved roads, rugged walking trails and steep hills. Those with mobility challenges, wheelchairs or walkers will likely find it difficult to navigate. If mobility is a concern for your family, please contact us and we can discuss the physical accessibility of camp in more detail and how we can work to accommodate you.

CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL DIETS?

Camp Artaban can provide vegetarian, vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free meals. If you have further dietary restrictions, we may be able to accommodate them. Please contact us when you apply so that we can coordinate with the staff at Camp Artaban. There is also space for you to store own food on site.

can i attend camp solo?

Yes! Note that solo campers may be asked to share accommodations with other people, (which can be a great opportunity to connect with new dear queers). If you have particular needs around cabin assignments, be sure to let us know!

How do bursaries work?

The fees for camp will be a sliding scale of $300-$400 for adults, and $200-$300 for children aged 2 and older, youth and dependents.

A sliding scale model is one where participants are asked to pay what they can within a range: this allows those who are lower income to attend, and those who are higher income to contribute more to the cost of camp. The cost of running camp per individual is more than $600, and we are able to offer a lower fee due to a grant generously provided by the Anglican Initiatives Fund of the Diocese of New Westminster and donations from donors.  

We recognize that even this sliding scale model does not make camp sufficiently affordable for many, and we encourage everyone to apply, no matter how much you can pay. We have some money set aside for bursaries, and will do our best to find the funds for you to attend camp. Last year we were able to provide for all bursary requests and we aim to achieve the same this year. There are no specific income-based or hardship-based criteria that you need to meet in order to be eligible for bursaries.

Should you wish to contribute to bursaries for campers, you can do so through the Diocese of New Westminster’s pushpay site by selecting “Queerest and Dearest Bursary Fund” from the drop down menu.

Can I use my electronic devices at camp?

Camp is a chance to unplug. Campers are encouraged to take a break from electronic devices at camp. Many campers may chose to bring devices in order to use their camera or to listen to music, but please know that Camp Artaban runs off a generator which is turned off at night and therefore there is no electricity during that time, and there is no electricity in the cabins. There is also no WIFI at camp, and cell service is intermittent. Campers and staff will find it difficult to charge their devices, so we would encourage you to save your battery for times when you need it, like taking photos!
 

What does it mean to be an intergenerational camp?

Queerest and Dearest is committed to supporting community building between different age groups of people. This means our activities are mostly designed with the needs of all ages in mind. Some common scenes at camp: kids studying the bible alongside a bishop, teenagers helping toddlers participate in worship, and trans adults bonding with younger trans children over dinner. We encourage applicants of all ages and in particular welcome queer and trans elders to apply. Invaluable connection, learning and growth can happen for people of all ages when they spend time in intergenerational community.

will there be childcare at camp?

We do not have full-time staff devoted to childcare. There will be some parts of programming where childcare is provided, however, outside these times, parents are responsible for their children. Children are welcome to participate in most programming, according to their interest and parent's comfort. We invite parents to ask the community for what you need to empower you and your children’s full participation and enjoyment of camp. We ask that all participants look for ways to help young people participate in camp activities and welcome them into deep community.

What does “LGBTQIA2S+” Stand for?

It stands for “lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer intersex asexual two-spirit and more”. This is a grouping of gender and sexual minority identities which represent the diversity of queer and trans people’s self-understandings. This acronym has changed and grown over the years which shows the new ways that people have come to identify as we come to new understandings of the ways humans experience gender and sexuality.

What do the words “queer”, “trans”, “two-spirit”, etc mean?

Check out this great resource developed by our friends at CampOUT!