community guidelines

Welcome to TransCamp! We’re excited to build this beautiful community with you, where you and other trans folks feel welcome, safe, and refreshed. To help facilitate that, we’ve outlined a few community guidelines below. This is a work in progress–We are all growing together–we view this as a living document. We invite you to send us feedback if you think something else could be added. Please take time to read through these guidelines to understand what is expected when attending a TransCamp event.

Our vision is to create a positive and affirming outdoor camp space for trans folks. We honor all gender identities, races, sexualities, body types, economic backgrounds, abilities, and religious beliefs. We encourage all campers to be co-creators in making a safe and welcoming environment. 

Be Respectful:

Respect each other’s identity, name, and pronouns.

• If  you misgender someone, please correct yourself and respond in a way that brings little attention to yourself
• If you are unsure of someone’s pronouns, ask them (One way to do this is by starting the conversation “I am [name], and my pronouns are [pronouns], what are yours” or “by the way, my pronouns are [pronouns], can you remind me what yours are?”

Be respectful of other peoples’ way of existing, by being open minded.

• Use “I” statements, speaking from your own experience, and invite the possibility the others have had different experiences.
• The trans experience is different for everyone and we celebrate the many ways that gender is defined. 

Avoid negative comments, assumptions and stereotyping of others on the basis of their gender identity, gender expression, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, disability, religion, beliefs, age, accent or culture.

• Transphobia and transmisogyny can exist even within our own community. Please check your biases and privilege, and hold each other accountable. 

In this space we protect trans women and trans femmes. Assume others have the best intentions, and ask for clarification if you would like reassurance. 

Ask for Consent:

People who attend TransCamp tend to have deep conversations about personal topics related to transitioning. Some of these topics can be deeply personal and traumatic in nature. We expect that campers will consider their needs first and be mindful of the emotional vulnerability of others. 

• Unless someone has consented, please keep personal information about others private.
• Make sure you have permission from everyone with their face visible in shot before taking a photograph. If you plan on sharing on social media, make sure folks know.
• Make sure  you have permission from everyone who might be recorded before starting any audio or video recording.
• The organizers will not publish information, photographs or recordings which may identify participants without their permission
• The organizers  will not share any information about participants without permission unless necessary due to safety concerns.

Respect Nature and Wildlife: Leave No Trace! (source: nps.gov)

Camping outdoors is fun, exciting and rejuvenating. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the beauty and the nature that we stop thinking about what is appropriate for the living beings in these complex ecosystems. Behaviors of animals and ecosystems are affected by us humans. At TransCamp, we encourage you to enjoy them, treasure them, and leave them be. This is their home, we are the visitors.

Wildlife

• Don’t approach – Keep a safe distance from ALL wildlife
• Don’t feed – Feeding is bad for the wildlife and you risk a bite!
• Don’t leave trash – Animals can hurt themselves with trash left behind. Not only does it make a beautiful place look bad, it’s dangerous for those that live there.
• Don’t leave food unattended and clean up after your meal within the campsite.
• If pets are allowed, always keep them on a leash. Also, be sure to pick up after your pets and leave no trace.

Nature

• Avoid pulling, scratching, breaking, or otherwise damaging the trunk, roots, or branches of any trees in the area. 
• Hanging things from branches should be avoided. Even if it does seem like a strong branch, you could still cause strain and damage it from growing further.
• Do not use any wood attached to a tree as firewood. There are plenty of fallen branches and twigs that can be used for fire start. 

Safety First: 

• Liability: To the best of our ability, we will ensure the safety and wellbeing of all campers. Neither TransCamp nor the organizers can accept responsibility for you as a camper. You agree to not hold TransCamp or the organizers personally responsible for your actions and waive all liability. Please camp at your own risk and use your best judgment by prioritizing your safety and the safety of the group. 

• Substance Use: If you are 21+, you are welcome to bring marijuana or alcohol for personal consumption. However, please keep in mind that this is an 18+ space and confirm age before you share any substance with other campers. Also, many 21+ trans folks may choose to not to drink or use marijuana. Please be respectful of others’ choices or sobriety when partaking and do not pressure other people to join in. If you are smoking, please maintain sufficient distance so that other campers are not affected by second-hand smoke. There is a zero tolerance for inviting underaged substance use, or heavy drinking as it negatively affects other campers and the community that we would like to build. 

• COVID Guidelines: We require that all campers have a negative covid test within 24 hours before attending TransCamp.