Meet Our Core 22!

It feels incredible going into our 8th summer of programming being in the position of paying for a core staff to join us all summer long. Meet our core 22, a team who is about to embark on a mission of a lifetime, connecting 350 youth to this people, place, and passion this summer in California! We are blown away by the talent this team exudes and know our youth are in for a true treat this summer.

Isabel (they/them)

Racial Justice Lead + Unicorn Justice League Counselor

Artistic, Barista, Goofy, Listener, Sparkly 

Isabel is joining us for their 4th summer at camp. They started with us as a camper, where we very early on, fell IN love with their dedication to making campers feel seen and valued as a role model. Isabel has been a social justice warrior outside of the camp space as an organizer for the Black Lives Matter movement. They carried that mission with them to staff where they have dedicated themselves to teaching every single camper and staff about anti-racism practices they can implement into their community and carry with them outside of camp. They also use art as part of their teachings, Isabel will be graduating from Pacific Northwest College of Art next year. This year Isabel will be embarking on a new venture, becoming our Unicorn Justice Lead where they will help develop and train our older campers who have the potential to join our staff in the future!

lo story moon (THEY/THEM)

Inclusion Staff

Colorful, Country, Glitter, Libra, Empath

Lo is joining us for their 4th summer at camp. Lo has been heavily involved in our programming year-round since their first summer with us. They started as a cabin counselor where they truly gave our campers so much love and glitter through their gentleness and insightful personality. In their free time outside of camp, they volunteered with The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline, providing youth crisis support. They bridged the gap of their passions and now are a part of our Mental Health program, providing LGBTQ+ youth quality  mental health services year-round. Lo has also been a huge supporter of the implementation of our restorative justice practices, holding space for our Circle System conversations. In addition to having so much empathy for our programs, Lo has got some of the coolest lewks at camp. Get ready for lots of glitter and being reminded that “crying is cool” this summer with Lo!

Blake (them/them)

Drag Build On Lead + Cabin Counselor

Authentic, Kooky, Driven, Southern, Kind

Blake will be joining us for their 2nd summer at camp. Last summer they brought their sparkle and shine to camp with them. They are best known for their OUT OF THIS WORLD talents as a drag queen. Their drag name is Mary Lou Pearl and she knows how to put on a show and get everyone involved. This makes sense as they have several years of experience hosting drag shows outside of camp and sharing their authenticity online. In addition, Blake uses their talents to raise money for charity, recently hosting a show benefiting Brave Trails and embarking on the AIDS/LifeCycle right before camp. This summer we are stoked to have Blake teaching our campers the art of drag and how it can be used to make an impact. Blake will be deep diving into the world of drag with our campers. Get your glitter beards and high heels ready for a summer of glitter and glitz with our incredible resident drag queen!

Kofi (them/them)

Poetry Build On Lead + Cabin Counselor

Warm, Playful, Writer, Horror-lover, Super Queer Athlete 

Give a warm welcome to one of our new staff members, Kofi! Kofi is passionate about being a lighthouse for others… As an openly Black Trans individual, they know that by showing up as themself fully, they allow others to do the same. They truly live out this mission through their work as a teacher. One of Kofi’s favorite quotes is, “Whatever you touch, you change. Everything is change." They are ready to impact our campers this summer as they implement a 7-day intensive build on poetry program. They will be using their experience as a writer and teacher to provide our campers a safe space to explore their emotions and release it into their craft. In addition, Kofi will be facilitating play throughout the summer in their sports program. Kofi has lots of experience as a rugby player and is excited to show our campers what healthy competition looks like. We are ready to see Kofi bring their passions to life this summer at camp!

Juno (she/her)

Drag / Make-up Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Humble, Extroverted, Laid-back, Big Picture, Elder

Get ready to sparkle with our new staff member, Juno. Juno is joining us for her first-summer on the Brave Trails team as she leads a variety of drag and make-up free choice activities throughout the summer. Juno just moved back to the states after spending 5 years in Korea where she worked with youth to create shows from the ground up and tour them around Korea. In addition, Juno was involved in the Drag community and realized that some of the spaces she found herself in weren’t inclusive so she and a group of friends decided to create inclusive spaces for a variety of drag performers in Korea. She marketed, hosted, and helped develop new drag performers into their space. Juno clearly has the skills to build community and an ability to ensure spaces are inclusive for all. We can’t wait to see how she brings her background into our space and creates environments where everyone is seen and valued!

Cass (she/her)

Ukulele Build On Lead + Cabin Counselor

Teacher, Singer-songwriter, Gamer, Writer, Traveler

Our lovely returner Cass will be back with us for her second summer at camp.  Cass is a creative butterfly and we got to see her spread her wings last summer both in the cabin and through her innovative programming.  Cass created a cabin culture that was felt throughout camp as she supported our older campers and helped them grow as leaders.  Cass has amazing facilitation and leadership skills- helped along by the fact that she is a public middle school teacher throughout the year. In addition to her amazing teaching skills, Cass loves to travel and has been to a lot of really cool places! Cass will be leading a build on Ukulele course this summer which will result in an inspiring performance during our last night of camp. We are so excited to see the music and magic Cass creates this summer with our youth!

Forest (they/them)

Cooking Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Resourceful, Dependable, Genuine Funny, Outdoorsy

Forest is our cabin counselor role model this summer, as they join us for their 5th summer. Forest has been a huge asset to our team over the past 5 summers, they continue to shine as a role model to our youth and a solid support system to fellow staff. Forest has worn many different hats at camp… cabin counselor, program lead, workshop lead, UJL program lead, a-team etc. Throughout all of their experiences with us, they continue to find ways to grow and challenge themself to try new things with our campers. This all makes sense as they are largely involved in working with youth as part of their job year-round in education. This summer things will get spicy, as Forest leads our youth in some fun cooking free choice programs. Forest will be cooking up some delicious meals with our campers, as well as putting a focus on building them into future leaders outside of the kitchen.

Gina (she/her)

Medical Lead

Funny, Goofy, Reliable 

Gina is joining us for her 4th summer at camp. Since the very beginning of Gina’s time with us, she has been a joy to work with. Gina has a relaxed, yet bubbly personality and funny sense of humor. This combo is the perfect fit for a Brave Trails medical staff member as Gina always makes campers feel taken care of and relaxed in her care. Gina also is the life of the party outside of the medical shed, randomly belting out Natasha Beddingfeild lyrics or creating a full blown RENT musical routine to jam out to. Outside of camp Gina is an EMT professional, constantly caring for people and ensuring their needs are being met in what could be otherwise a very scary time. We can’t say enough good things about this human and look forward to seeing her shine as she leads the Medical team throughout the summer!

Mollee (they/them)

Super Queero Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Compassionate, Creative, Eclectic, Bubbly, Rock’n’roll 

We know our youth are in good hands with Mollee around, which is why we can’t even begin to invoke how overjoyed we are to welcome them back for their second summer at camp. Mollee joined us last summer and blew us away with their wisdom and humorous attitude. Mollee has a way of connecting with folks on an individual level and helping them to find joy. Mollee joined us after spending a few years as a Camp Director, supporting a variety of staff in youth development skills. In addition, they have a wealth of experience as a peer counselor and queer educator. They are excited to be leading a variety of free choice activities at camp including Super Queero, exploring leadership through the world of 'super-heroes.' Get ready to leave camp with your very own Super Queero name and super powers. 

Jaj (he/they)

Tie-Dye & Kinship Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Loyal, Adventurous, Empathetic, Thoughtful, Sincere

Gentle, empathetic, and friend to all is an easy way to describe our new staff member, Jaj. We know our campers are going to fall in love with Jaj’s ability to be visibly himself as well as his thoughtful and sincere approach and care for individuals. Jaj focuses on storytelling through his work as a brand marketing manager, where he creates marketing campaigns aimed to uplift the voices of underrepresented groups. Jaj is a true empath and when the pandemic was in full swing in 2020, they volunteered as a Digital Crisis Counselor for the Trevor Project where they helped support youth at a time when it was most needed. We know that Jaj will be bringing his heart with them this summer to camp and we can’t wait to see the connections he makes in the cabin and through his tie-dye and kinship programming!

Cam (they/them)

Nature Crafting Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Caring, Resourceful, Curious, Kind, Adventurous

Cam is joining us for their first-summer at Brave Trails where they will be connecting our youth to the magic of the outdoors. Joining us all the way from New York, Cam is going to bring their curious mind and adventurous soul with them as they embark on a full summer with us. Cam comes to us with a resume of outdoor education and LGBTQ+ youth experience. As a LGBTQ+ leader for the Northwest Youth Corps, Cam oversaw a crew of staff members as they provided two five week sessions of trail work projects in National Parks working directly with LGBTQ+ youth. During that time, they grew their skills in facilitation and now use those skills today as a mountain school instructor in upstate New York. They have a long-term goal of starting a non-profit organization that focuses on increasing access to gender inclusive spaces for trans and queer youth in rural areas. We know that having someone with the passion Cam exudes will allow us to reach new heights. 

Thursday (they/them)

Backpacking Program Lead + Programs Assistant

Curious, Thoughtful, Appreciative, Easygoing, Multifaceted

Thursday is joining us for their 4th summer at camp. They joined us back in 2017 as a cabin counselor and dance instructor. Very early on, Thursday became one of our campers favorite role models. They have an enormous heart and commitment to youth development which inturn creates such a safe space for our campers to thrive. Thursday has spent the last few years exploring the outdoors including thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. They are excited to be leading Brave Trails first-ever LGBTQ+ youth backpacking trip this summer. Thursday, alongside 4 staff and 9 campers, will be taking an adventure through parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, providing an affirmative and community-building experience that will be unforgettable. In addition, Thursday will be on our core staff all summer as our Programs Assistant. Thursday will be helping support our full team in creating memorable experiences for our youth throughout the summer.

Jenna (she/they)

Medical Staff

Loving, Adventurous, Kind, Excited, Outdoorsy

Jenna is joining us for her 2nd summer at camp. Jenna joined us last summer as our medical RN for the first session back from our break with covid19. We were so nervous about what to expect in the process of ensuring we were prepared to welcome back campers and Jenna stepped up to the plate and made us and our campers feel so well taken care of during their time with us. Jenna is very organized and brings a sense of serenity to our medical team. It makes sense that they love the outdoors so much because they very much bring the serenity and peacefulness of the outdoors into the work that they do. LGBTQ+ folks have a history of experiencing discrimination accessing quality healthcare but folks like Jenna give us all hope. We are very excited to have the opportunity to have Jenna with us all summer and see what adventures are ahead!

Serena (she/her)

Fashion Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Bubbly, Affectionate, Excitable, Ambitious, Playful

When you need a smile on your face, Serena is always there. We had the honor of having Serena join our team last summer and it was love at first glitter part. She has such a warm and bubbly personality and we are stoked to welcome her back to our team for her second summer as our fashion lead and cabin counselor. Outside of camp, Serena has become a trans model and fashion icon. She is truly breaking the mold and uses her visibility to help others become more comfortable in their own gender identity. She also creates very deep bonds with the youth she works with and will likely leave camp with lots of joyful tears. We are excited to see Serena become a mama bear throughout the summer working with all of the different campers she supports. Get ready to walk the runway with the fierce yet warm hearted Serena!

Angela (she/her)

Unicorn Justice League Counselor + Mindfulness Lead

Creative, Adventurous, Curious, Empathetic, Grounded

Angela will be joining us for her 2nd summer at camp. We fell in love with Angela very early on as she has such an infectious and loving personality. Angela is someone who uses her empathy to meet people where they are at and help ground them when they need a little extra attention. Her mindfulness free choice programming was a hit with our campers and staff because it gave them a space to zen out in an environment that can have a lot of high energy. Outside of camp, Angela is a creative who has some incredible graphic design skills. In addition Angela is a world traveler, campers and staff will be hearing all about her recent tour of europe! This summer we are excited to have Angela co-leading our Unicorn Justice League program, where she will help train our older campers how to be successful members of our staff one day. She is an incredible role model who is going to be an asset to campers and staff alike this summer!

Aze (them/them)

Arts N Crafts Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Artsy, Silly, Empathetic, Mischievous

You know you're in for a good time when Aze is around. Aze is joining us for their 6th summer at camp. Aze has been with our program since our very first summer when they were a camper. They have blossomed into an invaluable member of our team. They have worn a lot of different hats in our space: ateam, photographer, cabin counselor, and all around a friend. They are the true essence of what our camp is all about as they continue to grow and share their authenticity within our community. Their visibility allows for others to explore their own identity. This summer they will be leading our campers in some creative arts n craft activities, as well as, being a supportive cabin counselor. This aligns with their creative studies at Arizona University. Watch out for Aze because they also come up with some of the best camp pranks. Get ready to be silly and show up with pride this summer with Aze!

Jyler (them/them)

Team Initiatives Build On Lead + Cabin Counselor

Thoughtful, Dedicated, Extroverted, Musical, Outspoken 

Put your team building hats on and get ready for a summer of bonding with our new staff member, Jyler! Jyler is coming to us all the way from their home state of Kentucky. Jyler grew up with a passion for creating LGBTQ+ spaces, including establishing a GSA at their high school. After college, Jyler served with AmeriCorps, where they spent two years doing service projects and mentoring 18-24 year olds. Jyler lives their life doing a lot of different jobs, mostly in outdoor environments and working with youth. They have a lot of experience working with different communities making them a well-rounded human and an expert in team building. They will be leading our team initiatives build on program which will focus on teaching a small group of camper leadership skills and how to build tight knit bonds. 

Luke (he/him)

Nature Connection Build On Lead + Cabin Counselor

Resourceful, Compassionate, Nature-loving, Adventurous, Bookworm

We are THRILLED to welcome Luke as a new staff member on the unicorn crew this summer. Luke has a wealth of experience and knowledge in LGBTQ+ youth development and is also a certified nature therapy guide. As a proud trans man, Luke knows the importance of visibility and role models which is why in 2012, he became an adult role model for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s LifeWorks Mentorship Program. Ever since, he has been eager to find opportunities to give back to the community. After moving to the UK, Luke was involved in several LGBTQ+ organizations, including as a youth worker for a summer camp which supported over 150 trans and non-binary youth. In addition to his love for LGBTQ+ youth development, Luke facilitates nature connection and forest therapy sessions where LGBTQ+ folks can explore and experience the beauty of the more-than-human world. We are excited to have Luke lead our youth in a build on designed to encourage queer joy in the outdoors and connection to the nature around camp.

Jack (they/them)

Gayming Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Creative, Poetic, Friendly, Adventurous, Passionate

We are welcoming back a camp staff favorite, Jack! Jack is joining us for their first time back to in-person camp since pre-pandemic. Jack is going to be joining us for their 4th summer at Brave Trails and we are ready for all the magic that comes with having someone like Jack on our team. Jack truly is such an inspiring leader and through their own storytelling, they provide the opportunity for our campers to grow and expand the way they see and experience the world. They also bring a unique gayming program to our camp where they provide our campers scenarios where they can be creative and see what different paths might lead them to. Their imagination and poetic energy is infectious and we know all of the different campers who interact with Jack will leave with a lifetime of memories and a sense of belonging. Get ready to explore and expand your mind this summer with Jack!

Liv (they/them)

Astrology Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Friendly, Calm, Creative, Determined, Comforting

The stars have aligned and led us to one of our newest staff members, Liv. Liv will be joining us for their first time this summer leading our campers in a variety of Astrology centered free choice activities. They were the Theater arts director for their school growing up, where they worked with and taught children various theater and performance skills through individual and group work. Liv is currently in college studying Psychology & Theater Arts. In addition to their studies, they are heavily involved in community building at their college, specifically as the Crew Captain for the school’s orientation group. Outside of college, Liv helps to run and facilitate an LGBTQ+ activist group where they educate and provide community to and about the LGBTQ+ community. We are excited to have Liv bring their fresh skills with them to camp as they explore our first ever astrology free choice program!

Jamie (they/them)

Arts n Crafts / Free Writing Free Choice Lead + Cabin Counselor

Creative, Determined, Honest, Compassionate, Sagittarius

Jamie has truly grown with Brave Trails over the years going from Camper, to a leader in our Unicorn Justice League, and last summer an ALL STAR on our A-Team (support staff). As a camper, Jamie made a splash in our community as they brought their poetic soul with them to camp as they built connections with a wealth of campers. As they joined our staff last summer, we knew they would become a gentle and supportive member of our A-Team, what we didn’t know is how much of an impact they would make on each and every one of our staff members. They left last summer with the Golden Unicorn award, which is an award we give to the MVP of their session. Jamie is excited to step into a new role with us this summer as they support a cabin as a cabin counselor. We know with Jamie's growth over the years, they have set the groundwork to become a compassionate and reliable role model for our youth. Get ready to expand your creativity this summer with Jamie!

Priscilla (she/her)

Mental Health Workshop Lead + Cabin Counselor

Creative, Passionate, Funny, Supportive, Empathetic

Priscilla is bringing her mental health focused professional skills to our camp all summer as a new member of our team. Priscilla works as a School Psychologist throughout the year, ensuring students' needs are met and they are receiving the best education possible. In addition to being a psychologist, Priscilla has led many small and individual therapeutic sessions with youth. She is an extremely passionate leader and wants to see youth be able to reach their full potential. We know this work is going to come in handy as she helps create safe spaces for our youth throughout the summer. This summer she will be facilitating some unique and inspiring workshops like one she calls “Watercolors, Rainbows, and Who We Are.” We know Priscilla will create an environment for our youth seen and heard at camp.

In addition to these lovely folks we have 28 incredible volunteers joining us in California and 40 incredible volunteers joining us to create our Maryland remote session possible. We are so fortunate to have built a sustainable volunteer model and we have so much love and admiration for our volunteer team. Camp would not be possible without the dedication of our full team. We can’t wait for our summer ahead. Happy Pride!