In Loving Memory of a Dedicated Volunteer

We are heartbroken to share the tragic loss of Lucas Avery Amery Knapp, known to many as Luca, who served as Kitchen Lead at Camp Outright in 2015 and 2016. Luca was taken from us in an act of senseless violence on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The shock of his death carries heavy weight among our staff, Camp Outright alumni and volunteers. We are holding his family, friends, and all who loved him in our hearts.

Luca was a beloved member of our Camp Outright community, and someone who helped shape the feeling of camp in ways both seen and unseen. In the kitchen, he nourished hundreds of young people with care and intention. I guarantee it was through Luca that many campers tried fermented foods and new veggies over those summers! Outside of it, he was a mentor, a steady and kind presence, and someone who moved through the world with a rare combination of gentleness and conviction.

In addition to being a chef and kitchen witch, Luca was a poet, a musician, a martial artist, a traveler, a healer, and a student of the land. He was a homesteader with a deep passion for the outdoors, ways of living that reflected his respect for both the earth and the interconnectedness of life. 

He brought that same spirit to camp: thoughtful, grounded, and quietly joyful.

Those who knew Luca remember his sweetness, his generosity, and the way he showed up for others. He had a gift for making people feel seen and welcomed, and for creating spaces where young people could exhale and be fully themselves. He embodied queer and trans joy in a way that was both expansive and deeply human.

At Outright always and specifically at Camp, we believe in the power of community to create belonging, nurture identity, and remind young people that they are not alone. 

Our staff and volunteers help make it known that living a life as a queer and/or trans adult is possible. Luca was part of that magic, helping build the kind of space where LGBTQ+ youth experience safety, joy, and connection. We are humbled to be a small part of his legacy.

This loss is devastating. It is also a painful reminder of the violence that transgender people continue to face. We remain committed to a world where all young people, and the adults we grow into, can live fully, safely, and without fear.

We know this news may be especially hard for those who shared time with Luca over those summers. We encourage our community to reach out to one another, to hold each other close, and to seek support as needed. We will be planting a tree in Luca’s honor on our new land at Sunrise.

If you would like to support Luca’s loved ones, a fundraiser has been established to assist his family during this time.

We are holding Luca with deep gratitude for the care he gave, the joy he embodied, and the community he helped create that goes on well beyond the week of Camp. 

He will remain part of Camp Outright, always.