Summer camp usually means campfires and canoeing, but for the teenagers attending Camp MetroTown, it means tackling some of today’s most pressing issues.
Camp MetroTown brings together a diverse group of young people, known as delegates, to develop leadership skills and build relationships across differences.
“Oftentimes, when students arrive, they’re very shy,” said Matthew Anderson. “They haven’t yet found their voices. And on the last day of camp, they’re crying because they don’t want to leave their friends.”
Delegates spent the week speaking with historian Marvin Dunn and organizing Culture Night, where they shared the traditions and experiences that shape who they are.
Some delegates have siblings who attended the camp before them, including Ray Morejon. Ray said both he and his brother, Oliver, are transgender, and that Oliver found a sense of belonging at Camp MetroTown.
“I can talk about my own identity freely,” said Morejon. “It feels like I’m talking to friends who fully support me. I hope every kid like me gets the opportunity to experience something like this. That’s why I love this camp.”
