Top 10 Reasons to Join the Brave Trails Team!

The beauty of working for a LGBTQ+ camp is that you never have to explain your identity or worry about being excluded because of who you are. At Camp Brave Trails, we celebrate each and every one of our community members just the way they are! All campers and staff wear a nametag with their name and pronouns displayed throughout camp. Our campers and staff are free to change or even try out new names or pronouns while at camp. Our space is built to affirm and ignite a deeper connection within ourselves. The more our staff members understand and explore their own identity, the more our campers have the ability to do so as well. Come model what self-growth and exploration looks like!

One of the hardest things about navigating traditional summer camps as a LGBTQ+ person is that so many facets of camp are gendered. Thinking about one’s safety when it comes to gendered restrooms, activities, and/or sleeping arrangements can be a very overwhelming experience for many trans and gender non-conforming folk. Our communities mental health and safety is our top priority which is why all of our cabins, single stall restrooms, and programs are gender neutral and affirming. Our staff members create spaces that are comfortable and celebrate self-exploration for our youth and community at large!

Unfortunately, access to quality LGBTQ+ education is limited in many spaces. Although a lot of progress has been made, it’s so important for queer and trans individuals to have the opportunity to learn the history, terminology, and experiences of others like us. This is why we infuse LGBTQ+ education into our programs. Our community gets the opportunity to learn about LGBTQ+ history, different identities, their rights as an LGBTQ+ person, modern queer heroes, coming out support, safe relationships and consent, body positivity, intersectionality, and so much more. Learning about our community gives us a deeper understanding of who we are and a deeper sense of pride. Join the Brave Trails team where you'll not only gain a deeper insight into LGBTQ+ history, you'll have the opportunity to educate our future trailblazers!

Imagine waking up each morning and walking out to your cabin deck to the sounds of birds chirping and trees blowing in the wind. The outdoors is a natural healing space that allows folks to discover themselves on a deeper level. Historically in the US, LGBTQ+ folks and People Of Color have been taught time and time again that outdoor spaces aren’t made for us, but we are helping re-write that narrative because everyone deserves to experience the magic of the outdoors. In addition, we know the importance of acknowledging we are on stolen land by honoring the indigenous land we occupy through land acknowledgements and a continued commitment to bring awareness to native issues. There is no better time than now to reconnect with mother nature and the beauty that comes with sharing outdoor spaces with other LGBTQ+ identifying and affirming folks.

**#5 Be the Person you Needed Growing Up**

Many of us grew up in a time where we didn’t see individuals like us in the media or know an LGBTQ+ adult who could guide us and answer questions related to our identity. Being a role model at Camp Brave Trails gives adults the opportunity to be the person they wished they had growing up and affirm young LGBTQ+ individuals in their process of discovering their authentic self. Being a role model is a lot of responsibility, but the reward is priceless and the impact you make in this space will stick with you and our campers for decades to come. Through your mentorship, guidance, and innovative programming, our campers will gain the skills and knowledge needed to go out into the world ready to advocate for themselves and others! Come be the person you needed growing up.

Camp Brave Trails has many elements and activities of a typical summer camp… archery, hiking, music, swimming, etc! In addition, we love creating super queer activities like drag, gayming, craftivism and wizarding. Our program leads get the opportunity to create fun, innovative, and memorable experiences for our campers to enjoy throughout the session. Have any special skills you’ve always wanted to share with others? This is your opportunity to do just that! As a program lead, you’ll be given a budget and resources to make your dream program a reality. Come share your magic and talents with our youth this summer as we create memorable experiences each and every day together!

No one does camp spirit like we do! When campers walk into camp, they are engulfed in a sea of rainbows, pride flags, and unicorns. Our festive spirit is what makes camp feel magical! As adults, we aren’t given many opportunities to let ourselves fully dive deep into a costume closet and explore our gender expression. We love to go BIG for theme days, which is a fun way to get silly, creative, or theatrical. At Brave Trails, we encourage our staff members to get involved in our amazing dress up days throughout the session. For some people it's rocking their favorite band t-shirt and for others it's fully rocking an iconic head to toe look. Whatever your dress up style may be, we celebrate it here at Brave Trails!

#8 **Facilitate Meaningful Conversations**

At Brave Trails, we believe the most important form of growing your knowledge about someone else's experience is through storytelling and meaningful conversations. A huge focus of our programming is intentionally built on storytelling and community building. Our new program called Kindred Hour allows our community to build deeper connections with folks of similar backgrounds and experiences through intentional story telling and deep dive conversations. Our staff members have told us time and time again that the stories shared by our youth and each other have both healed and inspired them to make the world a better place. Come find your people, place, and passion this summer on our unicorn crew!

Many of our staff members work for Brave Trails because they have a desire to make an impact. Through this work, our staff members are able to be in a space that allows them to grow both personally and professionally. Many of our staff members find themselves at Brave Trails because they are looking to build their resume and experiences around working with LGBTQ+ youth. Some staff members leave ready to implement new policies and practices in their work or school culture that will help support a more inclusive environment. Others build connections that lead them to new career opportunities that better align with their passions and interests. Whatever the case, we promise that you will find a new network of folks to help you grow into a fuller version of your authentic self.

There’s nothing quite like the experience of being surrounded by so many people who get you and identify similarly to the way that you do. LGBTQ+ folks thrive in communal spaces where they can bond with other individuals that have a similar background and life experience. One of the things that our staff and volunteers leave camp with is a new community. Many of our past staff members have stayed in close contact with each other and still make time to grow their relationships outside of camp. Working at our camp is not only about giving LGBTQ+ youth a new community, it’s about giving yourself one as well. Come join the BT community this summer!