By Henry
McKenna,
Environmental Studies '25.
Environmental
education
has
long
provided
spaces
for
personal
growth
and
identity
exploration, particularly in residential summer camps. On February 25, 2025, Alexandra Walls and Dr. Michael
Mikulewicz presented ‘Queering Camp’ during a combined Science Corps Workshop
and Women in Scientific and Environmental Professions Speaker Series event.
This presentation
explored
the
role
of
summer
camps
and
outdoor
learning
programs
in
supporting
queer youth and fostering inclusive environmental education spaces.
"I
prefer to be a realist," said Walls, in reference to the current
administration that is enforcing dangerous
policies
for
the
LGBTQ+
community.
A
former
camper
turned
camp
educator, Walls pointed out the lack of
understanding on queerness in environmental education overnight camps. Walls
gave an enlightening perspective on how to “queer
” your thinking, by changing
things
like
housing
in
order
to
provide
a
more
comforting
experience
for
students
and
campers.
Mikulewicz,
an assistant professor of Environmental Studies at the SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), uses queer theory and critical
geography to examine the inequalities embedded in climate impacts and
responses. Together, they challenged traditional frameworks in environmental
education and advocated for spaces where all
identities
are
affirmed.
Mikulewicz
defined
gender
and
queerness
brilliantly,
while
providing
a digestible definitions to complex ideas.
He explained that the term “Queering” started
“with heteronormism being questioned by theorists, scholars, activists,
etcetera” but has come to mean “decentering anything from the norm” or the
binaries upon which society is built.
The concept
of queer eco pedagogies involves questioning underlying assumptions in
environmental education, overcoming harmful binaries, and being attentive to
intersectionality. Walls and Mikulewicz
argue that these ideas and values are not at all limited to queer learners or
teachers, but rather are universally applicable.
For more
information on upcoming public ESF events, visit www.esf.edu.
As part of the requirements for FOR 797, Perspective on
Career and Gender students share responsibility of reporting on a subset of
class discussions, including those that are part of the Women in Scientific and
Environmental Professions Speaker Series (WiSE Professions).
