PEOPLE, PLACE, & PASSION!

Brave Trails is a national non-profit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership. We offer accredited summer camps, backpacking trips, family camps, mental health services, meet-up groups, and year-round leadership programming. All of our programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion. Nothing makes us more proud than seeing our youth take the skills they gain in our programs and use them to create meaningful change in their communities.

WHAT WE DO

LGBTQ+ family camp

Our Family Camp weekends at Brave Trails were developed to address the critical need for spaces where LGBTQ+ families can unite and construct a strong, supportive community. During our family camp weekends, families are provided with the chance to connect with others who share similar experiences, immersing themselves in the magic of a camp retreat setting!

Mental Health Program

Our Mental Health program is meticulously crafted to cater to the unique emotional needs of LGBTQ+ youth and their caregivers. We offer comprehensive one-on-one therapy and group therapy sessions, connecting LGBTQ+ youth and families with dedicated pre-licensed clinicians who are actively participating in our LGBTQ+ clinical training programs. 

LGBTQ+ BACKPACKING

Our seven-day LGBTQ+ backpacking program is tailored to empower youth ages 14-19. Discover the art of backpacking, connect with the serenity of nature, and nurture a profound sense of community within a secure and supportive environment. Join us for an unforgettable journey that fosters both personal growth and lasting connections.

Year-Round Programs

At Brave Trails, we believe in maintaining connections and fostering growth throughout the year with our free to low-cost year-round programs. We provide a secure, enjoyable environment for meet-up groups, online activities, leadership workshops, and a variety of other engaging experiences to keep our campers connected and thriving beyond the campfire.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Our staff, lovingly known as the Unicorn Crew, are a group of LGBTQ+ role models who support our mission.  Every summer, our dedicated staff unite with one goal: nurturing the future LGBTQ+ leaders. We offer paid and volunteer positions for a 12-day commitment at camp. Come be the person you needed when you were younger.

& SO MUCH MORE!

Since we started in 2014, we’ve grown in so many ways. We don’t plan on stopping now. More impactful programs to come!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

One of the most important parts of our mission is making sure our camps and program are accessible to all LGBTQ+ youth. We proudly offer at least $100,000 in financial assistance funds every year.

OUR IMPACT

in 2024, We’VE dONE some amazing things.

Here are the highlights:

• We provided 7 weeks of overnight leadership camp – five 9-day sessions in California and New York!

• We proudly served over 350 campers from 38 states and 6 countries.

• Through your donations, we were able to make camp more accessible by awarding over $130K in financial assistance to campers in need.

• We hired 50 paid staff and 90 volunteers to join our unicorn team as role models to the LGBTQ+ youth we serve.

• We hosted our fifth annual LGBTQ family camp, where 139 campers had a quintessential camp experience with other awesome families. We also ran a family camp in Georgia for the first time this year.

• We took 9 campers and 4 staff on a queer-focused backpacking trips exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains!

• We provided 1,600 hours of queer-affirming mental health services to youth in California.

• We finished our first building on our forever home property, which will be the first-ever summer camp & community space solely dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth!

• All of this and more! Join our newsletter to stay connected.