CNY Community Foundation Blog, February 2025

Beyond Program Testimonials 2025

From Parents/Caregivers

“Our child has had an excellent experience two years in a row, and they plan to come back!”

“She’s been attending a more established camp … for 4 years and absolutely loved yours even more. The other camp is entirely LGBT+ folx but they want to run a ‘typical camp’ so have never held an affinity group. While I understand wanting to create a ‘kids can just be kids’ environment, I think it’s great Beyond Binary draws from the lived experiences of adults and other campers and taps into that openly. She loved being able to ‘ask any questions’ of (her counselor) in a judgment free zone.”

“We are so glad we found this camp.”

“This was my son’s fourth year and my 12 yr old’s 1st. They both had an amazing experience. I feel very lucky we have such a great resource such as this locally.”

“Very grateful this camp exists and normalizes the trans experience – it’s nice to feel NOT alone. She believes she’s the only trans kid in her school (or one of a handful…) so having the opportunity to have youth groups is very important for her mental health. Also love the meet-up opportunities throughout the year. Last year we started to attend them as a 12 year/old without having been to camp. Looking forward to seeing what she gets out of them now that she had that community experience over the summer. Hopefully the relationships keep growing over the full year. We are leaning into geographical/regional support. We got a bunch of friends she’s known through the Q Center to attend camp. Hoping they will want to repeat next year. Her other camp has kids from all over the country and it’s hard to stay connected all year round…I think developing these connections as tweens is laying a really important groundwork for the even more awkward teen years to come…”

“It has been amazing for my kiddo ❤️”

“Just want to say that I appreciate the very welcoming and supportive atmosphere for the events we’ve been to. The fact that we’ve only been to a couple events is more a reflection on distance and time, not on anything else. The winter camp was really good for our daughter to interact with other youth and to develop some confidence and independence. All that you do is very much appreciated.”  – Anonymous

“Beyond is the only place I feel like my child is truly seen and supported completely. I feel confident that his safety will be protected and all of his self will be accepted. He has yet to really reach out and explore friendships made at the winter camp, but I am hopeful that he will create even deeper bonds with peers at the longer summer camp.” – Anonymous

“It has been wonderful to see my child so comfortable with a group of friends. I think the activities have been great, especially the leather making. It has also been wonderful to check in with other parents who are navigating the same path trying to provide support, love and guidance to their child.”  – Julie

“Beyond has helped (child’s name) find community, which has been invaluable to him.” – Sarah

“(Child’s name) has attended CBB now for 2 years and it has been one of the things that I personally feel has saved his life.  It was a place that let him realize that there are others like him and it is OK.  CBB helped him to find his voice to speak up for himself and what it was he wanted.” – Cristin

From LGBTQ+ Youth

Question: What did you learn about yourself at camp?

“I make friends easier than I thought.”
“I can be myself and people will like me. I also learned that butch might be a term for me that’s comfortable and helpful.”
“I learned that i am a proud trans guy and that I can stand up for myself”
“I can overcome bullies even though they don’t stop.”
“I have a lot more confidence than I thought.”
“That I can go fine without my phone for a week.”
“There are good peers in my community.”
“That I can make it in the world, though I am a LGBTQ person.”
“I enjoy boating.”
“I can participate to a capacity without becoming overwhelmed and shutting down.”
“I learned that I like archery.”
“I’m really cool!! I can be a leader and a really good listener. I can be there for others when they need a friend!”
“There is a place for me to be who I am, no matter what, even if it isn’t here. I will always find people like me, kind and determined to do the right thing to create a place we all belong.”
“I can talk to people easier.”
“I learned that a lot more people similar to me are out there.”
“I learned that even if I am feeling down about something, there is always someone I’m able to talk to about it.”
“Not just this year, but every year I’ve learned how to better accept myself and feel safe, secure, and accepted in my community and in my identity. This camp has helped me learn and grow a lot as a person and I’m glad I got the opportunity to come here.”

Question: What did you learn from others at camp?

“Be more confident.”
“How to sew, where the Big Dipper was, I like going on long hikes, and how to make frog hotels.”
“Socializing can be very rewarding and laughing feels really good.”
“All kinds of art are a HUGE part of the community.”
“How to deal with others that aren’t as kind to me.”
“How to fish.”
“I learned and listened to others stories and how they feel about their situation.”
“Being myself isn’t a bad thing.”
“Lots of wisdom about life.”
“I need to believe in myself.”
“Be yourself.”
“People can be nice.”
“That there’s people like me in the world.”
“I was shown how to play a new instrument by a camp mate.”
“It’s okay to be open about your identity.”
“Everyone has their own experience, but people can still relate to one another.”
“How to communicate and cope with louder people.”
“How to come out at school.”
“That everyone (for a lack of better words) is pretty cool regardless of who they are.”
“I am likable exactly as I am without filling silences or hiding. Also, I’m not alone in my experiences.”
“How to connect with others easier.”
“I learned about trans stuff during affiliate groups.”
|“People make mistakes and it’s okay. Sometimes good people do bad things or have ugly feelings, and they deserve help and love.”
“More about lgbt terms and more was to express myself.”
“How to be more open and social .”
“It’s ok it not entirely pass ??? (in terms of gender/sex) I guess.”
“I learned that others are capable of connecting with me.”
“The people you meet at your most genuine experiences are the people you will keep for a long time, and the truest friends you will ever know.”
“There are a lot more people who share my same experiences being trans than I originally thought.”
“I learned that there are a lot of people there to support me when I need it.”
“There are more people around me that share similar experiences with me than I thought.”
“Everybody is different and that’s okay, and it’s okay to have interests that don’t align with others and that can help you and others learn together.”