The CSO Blue Print: 5 Essentials

Color Splash Out creates an intentional safe and brave space where everyone is welcome to be their authentic self. All identities and pronouns are respected.

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Houses – Sleeping Arrangements & Bathrooms

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Teens stay in cabin-style housing with 6 - 8  campers in the same age group, supported by two adult House Leaders (camp counselors).

Bathrooms, showers, and changing areas are gender-neutral and designed for maximum privacy.

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House Leaders help set the tone for a comfortable, safe, and brave community. On the first day, teens connect with their housemates, create PGP (preferred gender pronoun) name tags, and choose a name for their house.

At every Color Splash Out event, we celebrate all teens and create a welcoming space where everyone—introverts and extroverts alike—can explore performance in a safe, supportive, and brave environment.

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On our final night together, teens are invited to dress up and join in a festive celebration!

They can choose to participate in our Variety Extravaganza in whatever way feels comfortable—whether that means taking the spotlight or supporting from the sidelines.

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Our show is open to all kinds of acts: a one-act play, magic, spoken word or poetry, a short skit, singing, dancing, or playing an instrument—solo or with recorded music.

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To keep the event fun and respectful for everyone, all music and material must be approved in advance by our camp directors, and performances should be PG-13, uplifting, empowering, and enjoyable for all.

The Color Splash Out camp model delivers a full, well-rounded camping experience in partnership with the host camp facilities. Teens can enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities, including swimming, and team games.

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We also recognize that swimming can feel stressful for some transgender and non-binary teens. At Color Splash Out, all teens are welcomed and affirmed, with the freedom to swim in whatever feels most comfortable—whether that’s a bathing suit, swim trunks, or shorts. 

For those who prefer not to swim, we provide a dedicated option where they can relax, play games, and enjoy the sunshine.

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In addition, campers take part in a high-energy team game series that builds to our signature finale: “Color Splash Capture the Flag—with powder,” held on the last day of camp.

Color Splash Out™ is built on bold, forward-thinking programs and advocacy that respond to the real needs of our community.

That’s why we created The Fellowship of the Unicorns—a volunteer internship opportunity for teens who have participated in at least one year of CSO summer camp.

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The Fellowship is a leadership and mentorship program designed to guide and empower young people as they grow into confident, capable leaders. Fellows build practical skills through hands-on experience, including supporting board meetings, helping draft agendas, co-creating game ideas, assisting behind the scenes for summer camp events, and contributing to document creation and organization.

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Participants also gain experience using professional tools such as Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, while strengthening communication and teamwork. The program emphasizes building a positive communication strategy using platforms like social media, Discord, and other tools that best support our community.

Interactive, hands-on, empowering workshops: The Color Splash Out program is rooted in the belief that young people thrive when they’re given the tools, encouragement, and resources to succeed—while still having fun.

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Our workshops are led by accomplished artists, dedicated activists, and trusted community leaders. Workshop topics, scheduling, and delivery are tailored to the specific camp experience and the setting where our team is engaged.

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We offer three different core workshop tracks:

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• Social justice and racial equity sessions that build awareness, confidence, and advocacy skills

• Arts-based workshops that connect young people to visual and performing arts

• Science and eco-justice learning that explores our planet’s resources, sustainability, and community care—while helping youth build a supportive network that extends beyond camp

We can provide: mentorship program design, leadership pathways,

role descriptions, and

 digital art work support.

​Want to explore the CSO Playbook?
Review the five core components —and if you’d like to bring this model to your organization, we can support you through an overview session, deep-dive consulting, trainings, speaking engagements, or ready-to-use materials

Ways to partner  with us (fee-based -A donation to invest in our cause.)

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