music 0:00 [Andy strumming guitar & Baylee's voice singing: "Oh let's build, let's build a place we can go”] Josh 0:08 Thank you for tuning into kin•dom campfire chats, a podcast of kin•dom community. This podcast features the voices of LGBTQIA+ youth who attended kin•dom camp at Zephyr Point in the summer of 2025. We asked the campers about their experience at camp and as a queer youth navigating the world around them. In these short interviews, the campers tell their stories of the highs and lows of everyday life as an LGBTQIA+ youth. We invite you to listen with an open mind and an open heart. music 0:50 [Andy strumming guitar & Baylee's voice singing: "This is the place”] DJ 0:53 Hi everyone, DJ here again, back with another kin•dom camp camper, and as I've been saying at the beginning of every one of these, we are overlooking beautiful Lake Tahoe, and so we're sitting outside this time. It might be a little loud. We're trying to get some natural environment sounds, but there's people around. We're hearing the sounds of nature, maybe the sound of a jackhammer or two from the maintenance crew. So don't mind that. But I am here with another camper. Camper, introduce yourself, please. speaker 1 1:20 Hello, Charlie is my name, and I use he/they pronouns. And yeah, what else do you want me to say? DJ 1:26 Thanks, Charlie. Would love to hear a little bit about what brought you to this kin•dom camp here at Zephyr Point. speaker 1 1:33 Well, my friend invited me, so that's how I got here. DJ 1:36 Is your friend someone who's already done an interview? speaker 1 1:39 Yeah, I think so. All the way. DJ 1:42 Okay, great. So fun. So you were invited by a friend, that's really cool. So what did you think the camp was going to be like before you decided to sign up, before you agreed to coming here? speaker 1 1:53 Well, honestly, I'm not like 100% sure. I guess I kind of thought it'd have like similar vibes to like the youth group I go to, which is like accepting. We're like we kinda just hang out there and like do an activity and dinner, so like similar energy to that. DJ 2:17 Do you find that it is similar so far? We've only been here for a couple of days, but how is your expectation versus the reality of your experience? speaker 1 2:28 I don't know, it's kind of like a mix of that with like summer camp, I guess? But there's also like a lot of gay people here. DJ 2:37 Summer camp with gay people. Have you been to a sleep away camp before, or is this your first time? speaker 1 2:43 I've been to a sleep away camp, um, a year ago I went to 4h camp, and I've also been to Camp Water Water Me/Villa Nueva, which I when you stay it's for the last day. DJ 2:56 How has this compared so far, even if it's just in like the preparation, the theme nights, any of the stuff you've had to prepare. How does this compare to your other sleep-away camp experiences? speaker 1 3:06 Um, well, I'm not as scared to talk to people, although I still kind of am. It's because everybody here is kind of similar to me. I've seen a lot of people who like Deltarune, which I am obsessed with that game, and a lot of gay people, of course, everyone's gay. DJ 3:25 I love that. And yes, I have already interviewed a camper who talked about Deltarune, a game I don't know anything about. Do you want to take a second and describe what the game is to me? speaker 1 3:34 Um, it's like a pixelated RPG that's very like character and lore based, and the fans are crazy with them, overanalyzing the lore. DJ 3:49 What's your favorite lore that you would want to share with an audience of listeners? speaker 1 3:55 Wait, what do you mean? DJ 3:56 Like, what's your favorite part of the game? Like, what are the characters that really draw you in? speaker 1 4:01 Rarlsei, he's.. I'm gonna dress up as him. DJ 4:04 Oh, awesome. Tell, describe for someone who doesn't know what that is. Describe what that.. So, I assume you're gonna dress up for one of the theme nights. So, describe what your costume is going to be. speaker 1 4:14 I'm gonna.. I have it in my backpack. It's like a green robe with a scarf and a green hat. DJ 4:21 Awesome, so is that what I've seen you wear earlier today already? speaker 1 4:24 Yeah. DJ 4:25 How has the reception been? What have people said to you? What kind of compliments have people given you? speaker 1 4:30 People say they like it, and I, I went to a, like, two days ago, I went to, like, a pride event near my home, wearing it, and someone offer me a pin? DJ 4:42 Did they recognize what you were dressing as? speaker 1 4:44 Yeah, that's why they gave it to me as a sacrifice. DJ 4:48 That's great. Oh, is that your first sacrifice? speaker 1 4:51 Yeah. DJ 4:52 But maybe not the last. Well, thanks. Yeah, that game sounds really popular. What else? It's like I think maybe like as you reflect on the week ahead, what are you most looking forward to, aside obviously from your cosplay night? speaker 1 5:09 Hanging out with people. And the cafe's been pretty fun, even though I've been here for only like 20 minutes. DJ 5:16 What's so fun about the cafe? speaker 1 5:18 It's chill. DJ 5:20 Describe what, where, so we know where we are, but describe what what we're talking about. speaker 1 5:26 There's a cafe here where you can buy stuff. Wow, that's crazy. And you get to see Lake Tahoe. DJ 5:34 Describe the view. speaker 1 5:37 It's blue. Also, I saw a squirrel. DJ 5:41 Blue, and squirrels. Yeah, I think that really sums it up. And yes, we were sitting outside of a coffee shop, which again might be why you hear some noise in the background, but we're trying to capture real life here at Zephyr Point. So, what else? Tell us a little bit more about, you know, I think about the activities like we've had ax throwing, swimming, arts and crafts. What are some of the activities that you're looking most forward to, or even an activity that you've experienced today that you would like to share a little bit about? speaker 1 6:12 Sure, like what activities? I heard maybe you were going to play Clue? But also I did archery, and that was pretty fun. DJ 6:20 Had you ever done archery before? speaker 1 6:22 Yeah, every year my family shoots cardboard turkeys. DJ 6:25 Wait, you have to describe that. What is that? speaker 1 6:28 It's like a Thanksgiving tradition. We shoot cardboard turkeys. DJ 6:32 Like in your backyard? Where? speaker 1 6:37 Usually in our backyard, but also maybe my grandparents' backyard. DJ 6:43 That is very funny. I don't think-I've never heard of this tradition. speaker 1 6:47 I think they just made it up. When Covid was happening, we shot a pumpkin that, like, we dressed up to look like coronavirus. DJ 6:56 Your family sounds very fun. speaker 1 6:58 Yeah, I guess so. DJ 7:01 Yeah, your family sounds very fun, and I've never heard of this activity. It might be something we take over at my house. Okay, so, so I guess maybe tell me a little bit about your home life. Do you participate in clubs at school? Do you have an active social life? You mentioned this, maybe a church group I think? Do you want to describe any of those things? speaker 1 7:24 So, I live-I live in California. I go to school, except for when it's summer, and then also every Wednesday I go to Lairable with my youth group. Usually, I have a friend who will come there, and we just eat dinner and yeah. DJ 7:47 You mentioned that it might be... you mentioned that it might be an inclusive place? Do you feel like you can be yourself there? And like describe that? Is that something that you feel that a lot of kids in your community have, like, they can be out in themselves? Maybe describe that a little bit more. I guess, maybe I'm thinking-let me explain. I'm thinking a little bit about, for maybe someone who's listening to this, who might not have the ability to be out in their home life. I would love to know more, a little, like, I guess, a little bit more about what being out means to you, and what an inclusive group like the one you have on Wednesdays, how that might help you. speaker 1 8:28 Well, being out is kind of like showing your true self, and like you're not just like forcing yourself to fit in with people, and you're like not lying to people to like seem more normal, that makes sense? DJ 8:49 It does that's a beautiful definition. And so you feel like you have affirming places, places you can be yourself at home? Yeah. And your family, how are they with you? speaker 1 9:01 Um, well, like, my close family is like chill with, like, my grandma, for example. It's kind of more challenging. But yeah Find out more about us by visiting our website, kindomcommunity.org. There you can find information about kin•dom camp and consider supporting our work with a one-time or recurring donation. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @kindomcommunity to keep up with all the important information.
