Medical Services Staff

Provides comprehensive care to LGBTQ+ campers and staff by addressing both emotional and physical well-being. This includes offering emotional support, guidance, and resources to promote mental health, self-acceptance, and personal growth in a safe and nurturing environment. Additionally, Health Services oversees physical health and safety by providing on-site medical care, managing medications, and addressing any health concerns that arise during camp.

About the Medical Services Team:

Camp Beacon takes a holistic approach to ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth have a safe, affirming, and fun summer camp experience. This holistic approach includes the provision of clinical support, consultation, and technical assistance to support the mental and physical health and wellbeing of campers and staff.

From planning and design to the actual summer camp experience, theHealth Services Team fulfills a variety of critical functions:

Creating a psychologically safe and brave space for campers and staff
Designing camp activities that promote social and emotional competencies, such as emotional regulation techniques, coping strategies, and conflict resolution skills
Supporting youth empowerment through opportunities for skill development in leadership, self advocacy, and community building
Providing on-site crisis and therapeutic support
Conducting initial health evaluations for campers and staff, including reviewing medical histories and assessing current health conditions.
Managing and administering medications as prescribed, ensuring that campers receive their medications on schedule and monitoring for side effects.
Providing first aid and emergency care for injuries or illnesses that may occur during camp activities, including coordinating evacuation if necessary.
Increasing access to community resources

Tena Robbins, PhD (she/her)

Hometown: Berea

About Me:

I have worked for over 30 years as a behavioral health services researcher, program evaluator, program administrator, policy advisor and executive advisor, specializing in services and supports to children, youth and young adults. I am a proud Appalachian native and currently live in Berea with my teen daughter, Saylour. I enjoy volunteering, reading, hiking, weightlifting and riding ATVs through the beautiful mountains of KY.

Fun Fact: I collect Pulitzer Prize fiction novels and writings by Appalachian authors.

Whitni Hartsell RN, Camp Nurse (she/her)

Bio Coming Soon!

Kyle May, M.Ed, LPCC-S, (he/him)

Home Town: Lexington

About Me: I am originally from Eastern Kentucky but I moved to Lexington in 2019. I am the owner of Open Doors Counseling Center. I am a counselor who specializes in working with people who identify as LGBTQ+ and allies. I love helping people.

Fun Fact: I love Zumba and music!

Casey Lyons (it/it)

Hometown: Erlanger, KY

Bio: I'm an agender person originally from Northern Kentucky. I moved with my family to Greenup County in high school to be near my father's side of the family. I lived there for 3 years, then when I graduated high school in 2005, I moved to Lexington to attend UK. I got my Bachelor of Arts in English with a Spanish minor in 2009 and my Master of Social Work in 2021, also from UK. I live with my partner of 10 years, Nat, and a 17 year old cat named Jezebel.

Fun fact: I participated in the nightly racial justice protests in Lexington in 2020.

Nat Wilder (they, themme)

Hometown: Oak Ridge

I'm a trans femme nonbinary person with experience in education and mental health work. I'm here to make sure the campers have someone during the night to lean on for support and help. I'm a cat parent with my partner, Casey, to a wonderfully naughty Jezebel.

Fun Fact: I'm the one grading your Youtube captions and demanding they be better.

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