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 Youth Summer camp
Welcome to Camp Brave Trails, where we blend all the traditional elements of a summer camp with an LGBTQ+ twist! Our camp is thoughtfully designed to serve as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth, offering them a unique opportunity to forge lasting connections within their community, meet caring adult mentors, and develop invaluable leadership skills.
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!
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.
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.
Consulting & Speaking
Our Directors promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity by sharing expertise at conferences and consulting with camps nationwide. Through these engagements, they provide guidance and strategies on creating environments that are not only more welcoming but also safer for LGBTQ+ folks, noting the importance of protecting marginalized communities.
& 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 2023, We’VE dONE some amazing things.
Here are the highlights:
We provided 7 weeks of overnight leadership camp – four 10-day sessions in California and one 9-day session in Maryland!
We proudly served over 400 campers from 50 states and 17 countries.
Through your donations, we were able to make camp more accessible by awarding over $123,572 in financial assistance to campers in need.
We hired 2 associate directors, 50 paid staff, and 90 volunteers to join our unicorn team as role models to the LGBTQ+ youth we serve.
We hosted our forth annual LGBTQ family camp, where 123 campers had a quintessential camp experience with other awesome families.
We took 13 campers and 5 staff on 2 queer-focused backpacking trips exploring the Pacific Crest Trail and Sierra Nevada Mountains!
We provided 700 hours of queer-affirming mental health services to youth in California. Our mental health team will be expanding to 11 therapists in the fall of 2023.
We broke ground on our forever home, 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.