Hospitality Coordinator: Janine Lidell

I grew up on the beautiful Central Coast of California just south of Big Sur and then found my way north to Arcata where I’ve grown to feel more at home than anywhere else on the planet.

While studying at Humboldt State University, I found myself active with the HSU Women’s Center, where I learned a great deal about event planning and producing. My experiences with the Women's Center included helping to bring such musicians as Bonfire Madigan, the Dolly Ranchers, and Bitch and Animal as well as coordinating events such as Take Back the Night, Diversity Conferences and an all campus walk-out and teach-in protesting the invasion of Iraq. While at HSU I also had the opportunity to co-edit the Matrix magazine, a feminist voice on campus which led to the opportunities to interview some really fun folks like Margaret Cho, Sabrina Alcantara-Tan and my favorite, Dorothy Allison.

After graduating from HSU with a major in Women’s Studies and Ethnic Studies, I had the very cool opportunity to intern for a summer with the Third Wave Foundation in NYC. I loved the crazy energy of that city but found myself craving the redwoods of Humboldt County. And that’s where I’m at, working as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the local Volunteer Center.

Currently I’m planning a 4-week excursion to Oaxaca, Mexico. But mostly I’m preparing myself to leave the redwoods again to move to the fun and exciting Bay Area. Come fall, I’ll be in San Francisco working on a Graduate Degree at the New College of California in Humanities and Leadership Studies, Activism and Social Change and of course spending my “free time” seeking out music and other types of fun.

I’m thankful for the experience of helping to plan Camp Betty Campout 2005 and I can’t wait to help make this festival an experience of a lifetime, year after year.

You can reach me at hospitality@campbettycampout.com.

See you there!