Since 1996, Family Week has been a space where families can grow, play, and learn. During this week, hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) parented families spend a week in Provincetown, MA. For families, this time can foster friendships and strategies to provide support and inspiration for how to address the unique challenges that come up for LGBTQ families. For the youth who participate with COLAGE during this week, our program includes recreational activities, workshops, creative expression activities, leadership development, social justice trainings, and youth empowerment that allow participants to gain confidence and pride, make new friends, express themselves creatively, and have a lot of fun while connecting in enduring ways to a community of other COLAGErs.
Structured programming is split into three main grade-based groups; 3rd-5th graders, 6th-8th graders, and High School programming. There are also leadership development workshops for adult COLAGErs, chapter coordinators and folks who are interested in starting a chapter in their own area. In addition, there are activities in which the whole family can participate. Family Week is run by a fantastic team of volunteer adults who all share the experience of having one or more LGBTQ parent. In 2013, Family Week will take place August 3rd-10th. Information about registration and volunteering will be posted on our website, or email robin@colage.org with any questions.
To register for Family Week, click here http://action.
For a tentative schedule of COLAGE and Family Equality Council Events, click here: http://www.colage.org/featured/tentative-schedule-for-family-week-is-now-available/
Quotes from 2012 participants:
“[I learned] not to bully.”-Camp (ages 8-10)
“We all are working together to create a more accepting environment for the world.”-High School (ages 14-18)
“[I learned] how to stand up for people with LGBTQ parents.”- Crew (ages 11-13)
“[I learned] new skills to help friends understand my family.”-High School (ages 14-18)
“I’m not alone!”-Camp (ages 8-10)
COLAGE believes in making our programming and organization accessible to all folks regardless of income or financial status so we provide scholarships for Family Week. As an organization committed to economic justice, we acknowledge that assistance applications can be invasive and require proof and lots of paperwork. We hope to make the scholarship as easy and un-invasive as possible so we use a basic scholarship form that we ask all folks fill out. Please email robin@colage.org to request a scholarship form. We review all scholarships on May 1st at the end of Early Bird Registration.
