Outright Vermont (“Outright”), a statewide nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth, acquired Camp Sunrise, a 146-acre lakefront property in Vermont, from the Green Mountain Council of the Scouting America. This property in southern Vermont had operated as a summer camp for Scouting America for more or less a century. The property will be the new home of Camp Outright and will allow Outright to expand their overnight summer camp to more LBGTQ+ youth from Vermont and beyond. In partnership with the Vermont Land Trust (“VLT”) and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (“VHCB”), Outright has permanently conserved nearly 120 acres of forest and wetlands consisting of many vital habitats and natural resources. The realization of this important milestone by Outright was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Scouting America, VLT, and VHCB.
Outright Vermont Executive Director, Dana Kaplan stated “As summer approaches, many LBGTQ+ youth in Vermont and across the nation lack access to summer camp experiences where they can feel safe, seen, and truly celebrated. This acquisition brings to life the power of radical hope for LGBTQ+ youth, telling them they are worthy of an experience designed for them where they are safe and celebrated.”
Attorneys Drew Kervick and Megan Noonan assisted Outright Vermont in the acquisition of Camp Sunrise, along with the conservation of the protected portions of the property.