13 Affirming Summer Camps For LGBTQ Youth
Exploring the ideal LGBTQ summer camp for your child? We're here to assist! At Camp Brave Trails, we believe in providing every LGBTQ young individual with the chance to enjoy a safe, inclusive, and affirming summer camp. Our team has curated a list of fantastic camps to aid you in selecting the perfect one for your future campers! Each camp below offers a unique experience, and they are presented in no particular order.
Please be aware that while we have diligently researched and provided the best LGBTQ+ camp options, we may not have personal connections with all of them. We recommend that prospective campers and caregivers conduct thorough research to ensure these camps align with your family's needs. For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to info@bravetrails.org!
Now let’s explore the best options for you and your family!
CAMP BRAVE TRAILS
CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK
AGES: 12-17
Camp Brave Trails stands as the largest residential summer camp catering to LGBTQ+ youth, providing five sessions of overnight summer camp in California and New York. Our camp's mission is to assist LGBTQ+ youth in finding their people, place, and passion. Within this nurturing environment, campers form connections with supportive LGBTQ+ adult mentors, forge lifelong friendships, and create unforgettable memories! Our leadership-focused camp delivers top-notch leadership training alongside classic camp activities infused with an LGBTQ+ flair, including archery, theater, hiking, drag classes, arts & crafts, dance, campfires, swimming, exciting evening activities, and much more! Notably, all cabins and bathrooms at the camp are genderless. Camp Brave Trails holds accreditation from the American Camp Association and extends financial assistance to those in need, last summer providing over $125k of financial aid. Our camp has welcomed campers from 50 different states and 17 countries. In addition to camp we have backpacking programs, meet-up groups, family camps, mental health services and we are working on building our forever home which will be a camp and community space fully dedicated to LGBTQ+ folks!
HARBOR CAMPS
NEW HAMPSHIRE
AGES: 8-18
Harbor Camps is a unique camp exclusively tailored for transgender and non-binary youth, providing a supportive environment for building confidence, resilience, and community through various camp experiences. Emphasizing the joy of being kids without formal discussions about gender or sexuality, the camp offers activities like swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts, campfire songs, archery, Gaga, drama, field games, and D&D. With a mission to foster confidence and community, each session accommodates up to 140 campers and 20 CITs from 42 states and 6 countries, ensuring inclusivity by never turning away campers or families for financial reasons.
CAMP HIGHLIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA
AGES: 8-18
Camp Highlight is a vibrant week-long camp welcoming all youth, with a focus on creating a safe space for children of LGBTQ families. Their mission is to foster connections, growth, and play, encouraging campers to mature, become more community-focused, and kinder. Rooted in Nine Virtues, including peace, honesty, generosity, respect, courage, acceptance, responsibility, cooperation, and unity, the camp aims to shape a generation of kind, responsible, and united children. With over 40 daily activities, including traditional sports, arts and crafts, dance, fishing, and nature adventures, Camp Highlight offers a diverse and enjoyable experience. Emphasizing the motto "Shine Brighter," the camp inspires campers to be their best selves and make positive impacts in their communities.
CAMP SEEN
COLORADO
AGES: 13-18
Camp Seen is a haven for LGBTQ kids, fostering a judgment-free and expectation-free environment. The camp promotes genuine interactions by excluding electronics like cell phones, encouraging campers to connect naturally. Committed counselors focus on areas of independence, friendship, and belonging to ensure that each child has a memorable experience. Beyond the camp, the organization Youth Seen, operating as a leader in the local Colorado area and beyond, forms partnerships with groups dedicated to tailoring resources, education, and outreach for LGBTQIA+ youth and young BIPoC communities. Striving to address intersections faced by communities of color, including gender non-conforming, non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer, and two-spirit individuals, Youth Seen brings attention to issues often overlooked in mainstream language around services.
CAMPOUT FlORIDA
FLORIDA
AGES: 10-17
CampOUT is more than a typical summer camp; it's a transformative nonprofit organization dedicated to traditional camp activities like canoeing, archery, swimming, sports, arts & crafts, and bonfires. They believe in a strong commitment to guiding campers on a courageous journey of embracing and loving their authentic selves. Empowering youth to be their truest selves is CampOUT’s mission, achieved through enriching workshops, thrilling adventures, meaningful experiences, peer connections, and positive role models. At CampOUT, everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or family background, is celebrated for who they are. Join CampOUT for a week-long overnight camp, and embark on an empowering journey of self-discovery and self-love.
CAMP OUTRIGHT
VERMONT
AGES: 13-17
Camp Outright is a six day/five night residential summer camp program for queer, trans, questioning, and allied youth. They welcome folks from throughout the US and beyond, with campers that range from age 13 to 17. You don’t need to identify as LGTBQ+ to come to camp; straight allies are also welcome. Their program is a traditional summer camp experience with queer elements! Campers enjoy activities based on their interests, from sports to visual and performing arts, to nature exposure activities, and workshops addressing social justice issues within the queer, trans, and questioning community. Come to Vermont and experience the beauty of Camp Outright!
CAMP TEN TREES
WASHINGTON
AGES: 8-17
Camp Ten Trees was one of the first camps for LGBTQ youth. This is the place for LGBTQ campers who love to play in lakes, meet people who share their values, and sing songs about having two moms! Camp Ten Trees is a place for diverse youth who share common experiences to come together and form a community that is truly their own. In addition to traditional camp activities like swimming, archery, and nature hikes, campers engage in age-appropriate workshops exploring identity, issues of oppression/privilege, youth coalition building, social justice, and more.
CAMP OUTDOORS
ARIZONA
AGES: 11-24
This colorful camp takes LGBTQ youth “out of the closet, and in to the woods” for 4 days of fun! While this camp welcomes campers from all over, they focus on serving Arizona LGBTQ youth and giving them the opportunity to build community. The OUTscouts are an adventure-based group of youth who help plan camp. They assist with the selection of workshops and volunteers for Camp OUTdoors. They also lead their own wilderness-based workshops at Camp OUTdoors. The OUTscouts meet throughout the year for outdoor trips such as backpacking, rock climbing and survival skills training to better their knowledge and build community. All gear is provided and no outdoor experience is required.
CAMP LIGHTBULB
MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, & NEW YORK
AGES: 15-18
Camp Lightbulb celebrates LGBTQ+ youth, aged 15 to 18, with magical summer camp experiences filled with fun, pride, community, friends, support, self-discovery, and memories to last a lifetime. Hang with new friends and frolic through world-renowned LGBT haven, Provincetown, MA! This urban camp puts a new spin on camp by hosting camp in a town instead of a forest! Each camp is unique and incorporates our core principles of Art, Community, Fun, Learning, Outdoors, Service, and Wellness. Campers can expect a whirlwind mix of inspiration and celebration – which may include discussions, drag, a pride runway, gender-neutral makeup sessions, inspiring speakers, gay icons, social media activism, themed parties, and fun trips and visits.
CAMP LILAC
OHIO
AGES: 12-17
The Camp Lilac mission is to provide a safe, welcoming space for transgender youth to be themselves in a positive, supportive, youth-focused environment. Trans youth often face stressful, unwelcoming, and even hostile environments in their day to day lives, and depression, anxiety, and suicide are much higher among them. Since 2017, Camp Lilac has been creating a safe, welcoming, and confidential space in which gender diversity is the norm. The program is designed so that campers emerge with an increased sense of confidence in their identities and a strong community of peers and supporters.
Odyssey Teen Camp
MASSACHUSETTS
AGES: 13-18
Over the past two decades, Odyssey Teen Camp (OTC) has proven to be more than just a conventional summer camp; it's a transformative experience. OTC embraces a diverse group, including gamers, goths, geeks, artists, activists, LGBTQ+, and teenagers without any label. At OTC, campers find safety in being their authentic selves. The camp facilitates the building of meaningful relationships among teenagers as they embark on unique journeys of self-discovery. Experiencing the pure exhilaration of being included, honored, and celebrated for exactly who they are, OTC campers leave with the confidence to reimagine their place in the world.
THE TEN OAKS PROJECT
ONTARIO, CANADA
AGES: 8-17
Camp Ten Oaks is a two-location, one-week each, sleep-away camp for children and youth ages 8-17 from 2SLGBTQ+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) identities, families, and communities. The program first opened its doors in August 2005. It doubled in capacity in 2018 with the addition of our second location, allowing for nearly 200 campers. In addition to swimming, campers are able to enjoy a variety of high and low ropes courses. With names like the Flying Squirrel and Vertical Playground, there are lots of great adventures to be had. A double-sided climbing wall and Frisbee golf course add to the fun. A natural setting for building community! Ten Oaks activities are designed to empower campers through play that enhances self-esteem, life skills, independence, and self-confidence.
CAMP FYREFLY
ALBERTA, CANADA
AGES: 14-20
Camp fYrefly is a fun, educational, social and personal leadership retreat for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 14-20 that takes place at YMCA Camp Chief Hector in Kananaskis, Alberta. Campers explore their identity, build resilience, enhance self-esteem and develop leadership skills that positively impact their lives, homes, schools and communities. Workshops, outdoor activities, mental health support, art programming and community building are just some examples of what to expect!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LIST!
Need helping picking the best LGBTQ camp for your future camper? We’re here to help!
Contact us at info@bravetrails.org
Our goal is help connect all LGBTQ youth to meaningful, welcoming camps.
Much love, Team Brave Trails