October 2022: This list, first published in 2015 and then updated annually since 2018, continues to be the main reason that folks land on my blog. (You can find the 2022 list here). Looking at my blog statistics and seeing that folks have searched “LGBTQ camps near me” or “gay camps for teens like me” brings me so much joy! I am glad that people have found this resource and I hope that you are able to find something that works for you or your family.
The list includes traditional week-long summer camps, 3-4 Day Retreats, themed camps (music, art, sports, spiritual), and camps for college students, families, and adults. For each camp, I have provided a synopsis, cost info, and dates when available.
As camps update their information about registration, dates, and prices over the next few months/next year, I will continue to edit the list. As always, I welcome comments and emails letting me know about new camps or camps that I have somehow missed!
As some of my long-time readers know, I hope to add my own camp to this list one day. My dream has been to organize a camp for LGBTQ youth on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but that is on hold for now.
Thank-you everyone who has emailed me about your camp over the years, it is exciting to watch this list continue to grow!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
3. Art, Music and Theatre Camps
6. Camps Outside of North America
8. Camps for children with LGBTQ Parents
9. Family Camps (For Parents and Children to Attend Together)
1.
WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMPS (both day and overnight).
Camp Brave Trails. CA and MD. The first leadership camp for LGBTQ youth and allies (aged 12-20) in California, Camp Brave Trails had their first camp in 2015. They have sessions in California (where they just bought their own property!), and also host a session in western Maryland. Activities include a low ropes course, swimming, archery, culinary arts etc, along with workshops on activist storytelling, gender identity and expression, body image and self-esteem, Lgbtq history, and drag make-up. This camp highlights the importance of leadership skills and learning about social justice. Select campers aged 18-20 will have the opportunity to participate in the Unicorn Justice League, building leadership skills and leading a few workshops. Brave Trails also hosts year-long programming for their campers, including Brave Space–once a month get togethers–and a mentoring program where youth are paired with an adult counselor/mentor for a year. Cost: $2150 per session. Fundraising/Financial Support available. There is an $20 app fee.
2023 Dates:
- Session 1: California, June 17-26
- Session 2: California, July 1-10
- Session 3: California, July 15-24
- Session 4: California, July 29-August 7
- Session 5: Maryland, August 18-26
Épanouie: Pasadena, California. A day-camp (10am-2 pm) for trans-feminine youth ages 10-12. Épanouie is 5 days, and youth will connect with others who have a similar gender journey to them, having a ton of fun playing indoor and outdoor games, making art, and engaging in team-building activities. Activities focus on increasing resilience, while also “providing youth with skills and information for body positivity and puberty awareness.” Organized through a collaboration between the Los Angeles Gender Center, the Institute for Girls’ Development, and the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Cost: early bird–$595 then $625. Bring a friend discount of $50. Some partial scholarships available.
2023: Monday, July 10-Friday, July 14th
Camp FIERCE: California. Day camp. Camp FIERCE stands for Freedom of Identity and Expression Through Rainbow Community Empowerment. This is a “Day Camp for Rising 3rd-9th graders led by Rainbow Community Center Youth Program Staff and LGBTQI+ High School and Young Adult Counselors. Participants can expect to enter an affirming space and participate in a wide range of self expression, arts, and empowerment activities. Additionally, youth will engage with LGBTQI+ Queer Teaching Artists who will join our camp for specialized programming each week.” Cost: $450.
2023 Dates: July 17th-July 21st (3rd-6th grade), July 24th-28th (rising 7th-9th grade)
Camp Fire/Camp Waluhili. Tulsa, OK. Alongside other programming, Camp Waluhili hosts an LGBTQ+ specific camp. “This camp is for youth of all genders, gender expressions, sexual and romantic orientations, and to the youth allies who support them.” Like many camps, youth engage in a variety of fun activities (which they decide on daily), and build strong friendships. Camp Fire has a strong commitment to diversity, especially around disability, and LGBTQ identities, as they want to make sure that every camper is able to come to camp! Cost: $385 per week. Limited camperships are available, but due to high demand, no full scholarships are available.
2023: June 18-23rd
Harbor Camps, (Formerly known as Camp Aranu’tiq). NH for Trans and Non-Binary Kids aged 8-15 years. New campers can enroll from ages 8-13. Fourteen and 15 year olds must be returners–note that family camp counts as “returning.” Hosted on a beautiful 116 acres property on a lake, camp activities include swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts, campfire songs, archery, Gaga (a form of dodgeball), drama, D & D, storytelling workshops, and more. They emphasize kids just being kids and having fun at a “traditional” camp, there are no formal conversations about gender/sexuality. Full Camp Cost for folks who can afford it: $1280 per week. Subsidized rate (no questions asked): $875 per week. Full scholarships available for folks who can’t afford the subsidized rate . Returning graduates (age 15 and older) can apply for the CIT (counselor-in-training) program, which last 2 summers. Harbor Camps also hosts Family Camps, which run over 4 days during the last weekend in August and Labor Day Weekend each summer.
2 WEEK SESSIONS 2023:
- Option 1: June 25 – July 7
- Option 2: July 9 – 21
1 WEEK SESSIONS 2023:
- Option 1: July 23 – 29
- Option 2: July 30 – August 5
Indiana Youth Group Queer Camp: Hosted at Jameson Camp for queer youth ages 12-17. “In partnership with Indiana Youth Group and sponsored in part by Indy Pride, Queer Camp provides a safe, accepting space for campers who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. At Jameson Camp, we believe gender affirming is care critical to the well-being of queer youth and the community as a whole. There is a full camp option ($675), mini camp ($300), financial aid available.
2023 dates:
- Queer Camp (5 days, 5 nights): July 17-21st
- Mini Camps (2 days, 2 nights): July 23-25th, July 26-28th
Camp Indigo: Oakland, CA, and Boulder, Colorado. (Two locations!) This day camp (9:00 am to 3 pm) for trans and non-binary kids is organized by three different age groups, 4-12 year olds, 12-13 year olds, and 14-17 year olds. There are scholarships/financial aid available. “Camp Indigo was founded on the belief that trans and gender diverse kids deserve a ‘normal’ summer day camp experience. When so much of a child’s life is based on educating others and trying to find their place in the world, Camp Indigo is what childhood is meant to be: fun, friend-centered, and full of wonder.” This year will be their 9th year of operation!
2023:
Boulder, Colorado (Ages 4-17)
- June 5th-9th
- June 12-16th
Oakland, California (Ages 4-17)
- June 26th-30th
- July 3rd – 7th
- July 10th – 14th
Laurel Foundation’s Camp Mulberry: Bear Lake CA. FREE. One of the only free LGBTQ camps out there, sponsored by the Laurel Foundation which has been supporting and running free camps for youth with HIV/AIDS for the last 25 years, and in 2017 started a camp to support trans and gender nonconforming youth. Open for youth aged 10-17; provides a safe space for youth to be themselves and to be mentored by adult trans role models. See an article about the camp here. Again, it is FREE. (Funded through several big corporations including Wells Fargo, which I understand could be a sticking point for some folks). This year with covid, campers will be organized in small cabin groups with two counselors.
2023 Dates: June 25-July 1ST
Camp Lightbulb. Provincetown. This camp “celebrates LGBTQ youth 14-17, and 18-20 with magical, overnight experiences.” They began in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 2011, and have also held camps in Los Angeles and NYC. Camp is always organized around six elements: “camp fun & art & the outdoors & community & well-being & service.” Camp Lightbulb also connects campers to the rich LGBTQ history and LGBTQ communities in each of the sites where their camps are held. Unlike many camps Camp Lightbulb is not completely cell-phone free, campers are allowed to use them at specific hours of the day, which may be considered a bonus for many campers and families. They also host virtual camps throughout the year, and weekend retreats. Cost for summer camp week: $1375. Cost for virtual camp: donation based, $20-50 suggested donation.
Wow, Camp Lightbulb Provincetown is already sold out for 2023 as of October! Visit their website to get on their waitlist. And check out their NYC and LA camps.
2023 dates:
- Los Angeles: June 25th-July 1st
- Provincetown Week 1: July 2 – 8, 2023
- Provincetown Week 2: July 9 – 15, 2023
- Provincetown Week 3: July 16 – 22, 2023
- New York City: July 23 – July 29, 2023
- Los Angeles: July 30 – August 5
Camp Lilac. Ohio. A week-long camp for transgender and gender-diverse youth aged 12-17, organized through TransAction. The purpose of the camp is to provide a safe, nurturing, youth-led environment and participants can do a variety of traditional camp activities, including arts and crafts, high-ropes course, and archery, as well as trans-specific workshops. (As of Nov 2022, website was listed as under construction).
2023 dates: July 23rd-July 29th, July 30th-August 5th
CampOUT: Ocala, Florida. A week-long camp for youth ages 10-17 from all aspects of the rainbow and LGBTQ+ community (including children of LGBTQ families, and allies). Camp “holds many components of your typical camp including canoes, archery, camp games, swimming, sports, arts & crafts, bonfires and more! What sets us apart from the rest is we focus on helping our campers do the most courageous thing possible, of being and loving their authentic self. Utilizing workshops, adventures, experiences, peer connections, and positive role models we can create an environment our youth can thrive.” Includes both gender-specific and gender-neutral cabins. COST: unsure, but limited scholarships available.
2023 Dates: July 16-23, 2023
Camp OutRight. Vermont. This is a week-long residential summer camp in Starksboro, Vermont for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, queer, questioning, and allied youth aged 13-17. Youth aged 18-19 are encouraged to join the counselor in training program. Camp activities include traditional camp fun like archery, swimming, boating, tennis, as well as arts and theatre, and social justice related workshops. Cost: $625. There are a limited number of partial scholarships available for VT youth who are in financial need.
2023 Dates: June 30th-July 6th, July 8th-July 14th
Primitive Pursuits: Gender-Creative Camp: Ithaca, NY. Tuesday-Friday, 8:45-4:30 pm. AGES 11-15. “his camp specifically centers youth identifying as transgender, gender-nonconforming, questioning, or non-binary (TGQN) and will be led, in part, by adult mentors who also identify as LGBTQIA+. In a supportive and fun environment, we will express our creativity as well as exploring our deep connection to nature. Singing, theater games, and artistic endeavors merge with naturalist, outdoor living and ancestral Earth skills in this creativity-focused week. Weaving our stories together, we will create the basket that will carry us through this week and beyond.” Cost: $385-485 (some financial aid available.)
Dates: Tuesday 7/4-Friday 7/7
Rainbow Camp: Arkansas. Diverse Youth for Social Change Camp for LGBTQ and Allied youth aged 13-22. This summer camp is a chance for young people to develop their leadership skills and build community. For more info email: CARLGBTQ@gmail.com.
Camp Rainbow Phoenix: PFLAG Durham, Ontario, Canada. For LGBTQ youth aged 13-17. “Youth Leadership Camp focuses on building and nurturing the leadership potential and personal resiliency of youth in an effort to help them become agents of positive social change in their schools, families, and communities. ” This camp is FREE, and is funded through donations from the community.
2023: July 24th-July 27th
Camp Speers YMCA LGBTQ Week: Outside Philly, PA in the Poconos Mountains. This camp is “for LGBTQ youth, allies, and children with LGBTQ parents, grades 7-12. This will be a safe space for all campers to have fun and participate in traditional camp activities while building confidence and focusing on the four YMCA values.”
NOTE: “**We apologize that in our initial registration form there are only two gender options. We are working with our registration system developers to have more gender-inclusive options. Please bear with us as we work to make our system as inclusive as we are.**”
Cost: $965, contact them for financial aid.
2023: June 25 – June 30
Camp Talahi, with Transcending the Binary. Michigan, about 30 mins from Ann Arbor. Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth Camp. Ages 13-17. Spend a week in a supportive, relaxing environment while partaking in traditional camp activities such as lake front, camp fires, arts and crafts, hiking, boating, and more. Cost: $425-525 (3 tiered options).
2023:
– middle school, Fri., 6/30 – Mon., 7/3
– high school, Mon., 7/3 – Fri., 7/7
Camp Ten Trees. Pacific Northwest. This camp is one of the oldest LGBTQ camps in the US. They are currently restructuring their organization, and in 2023 will be offering a virtual camp. There isn’t a lot of info up on the website yet, but I will keep updating as I know more.
Camp Ten Oaks: Canada. Two locations, one near Ottawa, and one closer to Toronto. This is a “sleep-away camp for children and youth ages 8-17 from LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer) identities, families and communities.” It is the first of its kind in Canada, and opened its doors in 2005. Activities at Camp Ten Oaks include sports, waterfront activities, hiking and nature exploration, as well as social justice discussions, and they believe in empowerment through play.
2023: CTO East: July 30 – August 5, 2023, and CTO West: August 25 – August 31, 2023.
Transcending Adolescent Camp: Central Florida. “Transcending Adolescence has created a summer camp program for transgender youth to have a safe space to connect with each other and receive support from a staff of trained camp counselors.” Ages 13-17. They also have a mentorship program that helps youth stay connected throughout the year. Cost is $1200.
2023: August 6th-11th, Family Camp: TBD
Camp True Colors. Willow River, Minnestoa. This camp is organized by One Heartland which serves youth of different social identities who may be navigating isolation/stigma in their lives. True Colors is their camp for LGBTQ youth and in 2022 they will host 4 separate sessions which they are very excited about! Camp activities include canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and talent shows, as well as educational sessions on matters pertaining to the LGBT community. Cost: Sliding Scale: The lowest cost is $50.00 and the highest $1850.00. We do offer financial assistance to make camp affordable.
2023 Dates:
- Session 1: June 18th-23rd, All LGBTQIA+ youth, Ages 11-17
- Session 2- June 25th-July 7th, Specifically focused session for transgender/non-binary/gender-expansive youth, Ages 12-17
- Session 3- July 16th-July 21st, Specifically focused session for transgender/non-binary/gender-expansive youth, Ages 7-15
- Session 4- July 23rd-August 4th, All LGBTQIA+ youth, Ages 12-17
- Session 5: August 6th-11th, All LGBTQIA+ youth, Ages 11-17
Camp Unicorn: Pasadena, CA. A summer day camp (1pm-4 pm) for trans and gender non-conforming kids aged 6-10. Connect, create, empower! “Join others on a similar gender journey for four days of arts, crafts, games, and unicorn magic!” Includes a unicorn pop bake-off, face-painting, water balloons, and a magic show. Organized through a collaboration between the Los Angeles Gender Center, the Institute for Girls’ Development, and the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Cost: early bird: $360 (till June 1st), then $385. Bring a friend discount of $50. Some partial scholarships available.
2023: July 5th-July 8th
Welcome Friend Association’s Rainbow Camp: Summer camp located in Northern Ontario, Canada for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, 2 spirited, plus and Allied youth, their siblings and children in Queer families, aged 12-17. Campers are split into different sessions by age (12-14 or 14-17). They also have a two week Leaders in Training program for youth 18-19. This camp includes traditional camp activities as well as workshops that focus on gender, sexuality, health, community, leadership, and creating safe spaces. Several different sessions over the summer!
2023 Dates: See here! (Too many to list here)
Camp YouthSeen: Colorado. A camp for LGBTQ teens on “61 acres that offer a mix of alpine, prairie, and riparian ecosystems. ” Camp provides a space for interdependence, friendship and community belonging, and campers are supervised by dedicated counselors who provide a safe space for youth to be themselves. Cost is $700 for the week, and scholarships are available.
2023 Dates: July 22n-29th
Back to Table of Contents.
2.
WEEKEND/SINGLE DAY CAMPS/RETREATS
ASPYRE Camp: Greensboro, NC. A Safer Place for Youth to Reach for Excellence (ASPYRE) Leadership Camp is for middle-school and high-school LGBTQ and allied students to learn how to make a difference in their schools and communities through team-building activities and presentations. Due to donations, cost is only $25 per student.
2023 Dates: October, date TBA
Camp Aurora: Manitoba, Canada. Hosted in Whiteshell Provincial Park, this is a weekend retreat for 2SLGBTQ+ youth aged 14-19. This is an inclusive environment for youth to themselves and feel supported, while doing the typical summer camp activities like canoeing, swimming, crafts, s’mores, a talent show, and more! Cost: unknown, but one of their goals is to support youth of different socio-economic backgrounds.
2023: August 27th-August 30th
Camp Dragonfly: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Camp Dragonfly is a summer camp for trans+, gender-creative and gender diverse kids, their siblings, and friends. Note that this is a day camp, not a sleep-away camp! Cost: $175 per kid, $350 cap for families sending more than one kiddo! If cost is a barrier, please get in touch.
Camp 2023: August 25-27th
Camp Eclipse: Newfoundland, Canada. “Camp Eclipse: OUT in the Woods”takes a strength based, harm-reduction, and solution focused approach to the issues faced by lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LBGTQ) youth,” and provides a space for youth to build relationships, find support and have fun! For youth 16-24, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Info from 2015: Cost is $400, youth and families are asked to pay what they can. Minimum $25. I am not sure this camp is still running, as all of the info dates to 2019.
Summer 2023: TBA, usually held in August
Camp FYrefly. Canada. Founded in 2004. This camp is a 3-4 day educational, social and personal learning retreat with camp locations in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. They seek to honor the Indigenous land that the camps are located on, and acknowledge continuing colonial violence. They are open to Campers who are lesbian, gay. bissexual, trans*, genderqueer, non-binary, two-spirit, queer, questioning, pansexual, asexual, and allied youth between the ages of 14 and 24. “fYrefly is an acronym which stands for fostering, Youth, resilience, energy, fun, leadership, yeah!”
2023 Dates: TBA
Glitter Camp: Olympia, WA. USA. “Glitter Camp is our annual youth-led camp for LGBTQA2S+ youth ages 12-21 and Stonewall staff, volunteers, and Board members. We’ve had to skip the last few years because of the pandemic, and we’re thrilled that it’s back! Since 2010, we’ve gone on an annual excursion for three or four days to a comfortable camp (heated cabins!) to plan and re-vision Stonewall Youth programs, bond, share, and participate in awesome workshops. We treat each other with respect and conspire together about the social justice work we want to do in our community”
2023 Dates TBA: it was held in August in 2022.
Camp OutDoors: Based in Phoenix and Prescot, AZ, USA. “Out of the Closet and Into the Woods.” This is a camp for LGBTQ youth aged 11-24. They have a 5 day session for ages 11-17, and another one for ages 11-24. This camp is aimed at helping youth build leadership skills, work collaboratively, and create community. “Camp activities vary and evolve each year and range from educational workshops on topics like “LGBTQ History” and “Non- Violent Communication” to community activities like our 250 person drum circle, horseback riding, and zip-lining.” FREE to all. Youth are housed based on age, not gender or sexual orientation.
2022: November 18-20, 2022
OutLandish: California. Outlandish! aims to bring LGBTQIA+ youth out into nature for day-long hikes and other activities. The participants, accompanied by qualified adults, will be immersed in the natural world where they can learn about themselves and the complex ecosystems around them. Because we believe the outdoors should be accessible to all people, each trip is FREE or by any donation.
Dates:
- Saturday, May 13th for 16-18 year olds. Muir Woods National Monument
- Saturday, June 17th for 13-15 year olds. Marin Headlands
P10/Project 10 Summer Camp: Montreal, Canada. P10 runs an annual bilingual weekend retreat in July which gives 2SLGBTQ+ youth aged 14-25 the chance to connect with each other, relax, and have fun in the woods! Activities include hiking, swimming, s’mores, a talent show, crafts, sports and more. In 2019 they hosted a staycation in Montreal instead, which included lots of adventures around the city. Cost $5-275 (Canadian dollars), sliding scale. In 2021, most groups have moved online, and I can’t find info about camp.
2023: Unknown if they will run in 2023.
Queer and Trans Youth and Allies Camp (QTYA): Sonoma County, CA. Organized by Metamorph Mentorship camp offers a few different options for LGBTQ + youth aged 7-18, with a day-camp, overnight camp, and back-packing trips. (Back-packing is for 13-18 year olds) . From their website, “is a fun and welcoming opportunity for LGBTQAI2s+ youth and allies to be outside, connect with their peers, and be in a magical space of queer and trans joy. ”
2023 Dates: July 14th-16th
Queer Wilderness Project: Boulder, Colorado, USA. This is a program of the Women’s Wilderness organization which runs programming for women and lgbtq + folks. In Fall 2020, they held two programs for queer youth ages 14-19. “The goal of Queer Wilderness is to create safe spaces for queer-identified people to enjoy the outdoors, learn skills, and connect with each other.”
In 2023: TBA
Sam and Devorah Foundation Retreat: Berkshires, MA. USA. This organization hosts several different weekend retreats for trans youth, as well as leadership retreats for trans young adults. From a description of the 2018 retreat on their website: “[T]eens participated in support groups, yoga, educational workshops such as legal issues, and a gender journey session. Interspersed were recreational activities including a rope course, nature walks, art projects, and a giant campfire with singing, skits, and s’mores. A hairstylist was on hand giving participants gender-affirming haircuts. The counselors and teens spontaneously organized a drag make-up night as well as a late bunk night where teens were encouraged to ask the counselors anything and everything about being trans. Connections and friendships sprouted everywhere; a safe, caring and supportive community formed.”
Cost: Estimated $175-200. Full and partial scholarships available.
Next retreat: October 21-23rd 2022! Presumably it will be run in 2023 in October as well.
Camp Unirondack’s QSA Retreat Upstate New York. A weekend for LGBTQ high-school students to connect and have fun, and talk about LGBTQ issues. $40 per person if accompanied by an adult adviser. $60 if coming as an individual. I learned about Camp Unirondack (A UU Camp/Conference Center)at the Tri-State Summer Camp Conference and their regular summer camp was one of the first in the country to offer gender-inclusive cabins, and their summer camp isn’t even an LGBTQ specific camp! They are awesome. They have many different kinds of programming, including a Queer-Youth weekend.
2023 Dates: May 12th-14th
TYEF Youth Retreats: Weekend retreats in the summer and fall in a confidential New England location. TYEF retreats focus on providing a space for trans and gender non-conforming kids aged 7-17 (or till end of HS) to socialize, have fun, and participate in a variety of traditional camp activities like swimming, kayaking, archery, arts and more. Cost: $250 a camper, partial and full scholarships available.
2023: July 21-23rd
The Youth Project:This camp is located in Nova Scotia and has three 4-day long camps. 2021 Camps were virtual and day-camps due to covid. Not sure if they continued in 2022 or will continue in 2023.
Camp Coyote is for trans-identified and gender-questioning youth age 20 and under, providing a safe space and an opportunity to meet new ppl and engage in activities like “trans-health discussions, campfires, scavenger hunts, swimming, arts & crafts, resources, and more!” Dates: TBA
Camp Seahorse is for LGBTQ + identified youth aged 20 and under, providing a fun place to be free of homophobia. “Activities include: writing, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, support & discussion groups, resources, campfires, ghost stories, swimming, and much more.” Dates: TBA
3.
MUSIC, ART AND THEATRE BASED CAMPS:
Iridescent Youth Circus: Toronto, CA. “IYC is a two-week program for LGBTQ2S+ youth ages 12-15. Throughout this immersive circus experience, participants will learn both aerial and ground circus from a variety of Queer and Trans artists, and work together to create a final show.
Our purpose is to support folks who may not feel as welcomed in traditional movement spaces. This includes queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming people, those experiencing mental illness, neurodivergent people, racialized folks, people with disabilities, and youth of all body sizes.” Thanks to funding this is FREE.
DATES 2023:
- July 10th – 14th (11- 4pm) – End of week show Saturday July 15th @ 1pm
- August 7th-11th (11-4pm) – End of week show Friday August 11th @ 6:30pm
Pride Rock: Rochester, NY. Day music camp for LGBTQ+ Youth and allies between the ages of 10-17. “Campers receive instruction on the instrument of their choice, attend workshops, form a band with new friends, write an original song together, and perform in a showcase at a local venue.” Cost: $375, with a sliding scale based on need.
Dates: July 31st-August 4th, 9 am-5 pm
QORDS: Haw River Summit, North Carolina. “Queer-Oriented Radical Days of Summer” is a music and activism-oriented camp, open to queer and gender non-conforming youth or youth of (LGBTQQIA) families, aged 12-17.
Camp was virtual in 2020, 2021, and 2022. I imagine it will be virtual in 2023, though I am not sure yet. From their 2022 advertising: “Campers will still be divided into two age groups 12-14 and 15-17 and will meet Monday, Wednesdays, and Friday. Unicorns, the younger group, will meet in the mornings to have band rehearsal and workshops with a QORDS counselor or a community member. Workshops can be about a variety of topics – activism, queer science history, or how to make a zine. Rainbows, the older group, meet in the afternoons and take the same workshop and have band rehearsals. In the evenings we all come together for movies, games, or other activities.”
2023: TBA
Gender Generations: Victoria, BC, Canada. (Formerly known as the Trans Tipping Point). This is a biennial retreat organized by the Victoria Pride Society which allows trans youth to connect with other youth, and creatively express themselves.
2023: June 9-11th
4.
SPIRITUALITY-BASED Camps/Retreats:
The Dubois Center’s Rainbow Camp: Illinois. Started in 2015. A one day of fun activities, including swimming, horseback riding, archery, pontoon rides, and an end of the day BBQ. “DuBois Center is a place where everyone is welcomed as a child of God. Come experience camp in the beauty of God’s creation and have a whole lot of fun. Rainbow Camp is for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer singles, couples, and families. Straight allies are welcome too.”Cost $40 for adult, $35 for child. Horseback Riding is extra, and there are some early bird rates available.
2023 Dates: TBA, Usually held on a Saturday in early August.
Keshet Teen Shabboton Gatherings For LGBTQ & ALLY TEENS.”Meet new friends, learn about LGBTQ organizing and identities, and celebrate Shabbat with a warm, vibrant community of LGBTQ and ally teens and adults.These peer-led Shabbaton weekends of learning, Jewish ritual, and community building are open to LGBTQ and ally Jewish teens grades 8-12.” Cost: $54 for food, lodging, programming, and group transport from select locations. Limited scholarships and air-travel help available.
Dates and Locations:
- East Coast Shabbaton (returning for its 11th year!): March 10-12, 2023
- Midwest Shabbaton (returning for its third year!): April 28-30, 2023
Machane Lev. This is one of the first Jewish camps in Canada for LGBTQ youth, or youth who come from LGBTQ families, and it was founded in 2018. It is for kids aged 8-16. Machane Lev means “Camp Heart.” “It’s a place where you can bring and be your whole heart. There are many ways to be Jewish. There are many ways to be family. There are many ways to be. You are valuable, and belong.” Camper Cost: $1000 CAD (scholarships available).
2023 Dates: August 20th-28th
LGBTQ Muslim Retreat: For adults. See more info under adult camps. Currently on hiatus.
The Naming Project: Minnesota. Camp for youth aged 14-18 (or who have completed 8th-12th grade) who want to explore gender and sexuality in relation to their spirituality. Typical camp activities of canoeing, swimming, campfire songs, hiking, along with bible study, worship and reflection time. 2022’s camp was held virtually.
2023 Dates: July 23-28th
Pilgrim Lodge Camp Pride: Maine. Camp for LGBTQ youth and allies (entering 10-12th grade, and recent graduates). “Camp Pride exists as a space for us to explore our identities, our faiths, and ourselves, in addition to all the regular summer camp activities like swimming, hiking, boating, arts & crafting, and enjoying the beautiful shores of Lake Cobboseecontee. We are an interfaith camp hosted by Pilgrim Lodge, a camp of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC).” Atheists or youth of no faith are welcome to attend, but should understand that spirituality will be a frequent part of conversation. Campers are housed by age, not by gender. Cost: $520-680. Contact them about scholarships.
2023 Dates: July 9th-15th
Spirit Pride Project: Texas.“Spirit Pride Project (SPP) exists to create a welcoming and safe community for youth and young adults of all sexual orientations and gender identities to experience and share spirituality, community and acceptance.”This camp is for LGBTQIA people, and children of LGBTQ people aged 12-30, applications are divided between 12-17 yr olds, and 18-30 year olds. Allies aged 14-25 are also welcome. Folks are housed according to age. Located in East/Central Texas, cost is $200 per camper, and they work with folks to make it possible for everyone to come.
2023 Dates: June 23-25th
Queer Talmud for adults. See below.
5.
SPORTS:
Able to Sail: Longmont, Colorado, 20 miles north of Denver. This camp focuses on building self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of empowerment through learning how to sail! They will have an LGBTQ week this summer, for any LGBTQ-identified folks aged 12-21. The cost is $395.
2023 Dates: July 10th-13th and July 31st-August 4th
Venture Out: New England and Pacific Northwest Trips. “Backpacking and Wilderness Trips for the Queer, Trans, and LGBTQ + Community.” Run for queer people, by queer people, supporting leadership development, creating a safe space for queer and trans people to be in the outdoors, with the added goal of supporting QPOC access to the outdoors. They include youth trips for kids aged 13-19 in New Hampshire, cost is $875 and includes food and equipment. Scholarships available! They also have adult trips (see adult camps below for more details) and a Family Camp for parents (see below “children and parents”).
6.
CAMPS OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA:
Gendered Intelligence. Essex, UK. For trans and non-binary youth, ages 11-17, and 17-26. “On camp you can expect a range of activities and games to get involved with, such as art, journaling and exploring nature. All this, plus sharing round campfires, cooking and eating as a community and living in a trans-only space for 3 days.”
2023 Dates: July 31st-August 3rd and August 18th-August 21st
Hojokamp: The Netherlands. A camp for LGBTQ + youth aged 13-25. I don’t speak Dutch, this site was suggested to me by a scholar I know from the Netherlands but here is what I was able to understand. Organized by Stichting Outway, this camp has existed since 2002. It is 6 days of different activities, including workshops. Cost: 189 euros. They also have Hojokamp 2.0, for previous attendees of Hojokamp. (Usually you can only attend Hojokamp once). HJK2.0 is a weekend retreat in April.
2023 Dates: August 9-15th
Mosaic Camp: Wales, UK. Near Snowdonia. Delicious food, good company and interesting workshops. “Mosaic’s retreats provide you with an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily routine, as well as to join an accepting, friendly and fun LGBT+ community. You will have the chance to make friends, partake in great activities, soak up the atmosphere, and learn useful skills.”
2023 Dates: TBA
OASIS. near Barcelona, Spain. (website in Spanish). Their first camp was held in 2015, and their program has grown from 3 days to a week. They serve youth of diverse gender and sexual identities and expression. I can’t find information about age, but it seems to be teen/adolescent focused. They write that camp is a fun place to socialize with others like yourself, and includes workshops on different identities, comprehensive sex ed, arts and crafts, as well as workshops for parents. They also have sports activities, including kayaking and hiking, and performances by LGBTQ artists.
2023 Dates: Usually held in July
Camp OUT. Australia, near Sydney. “We are a camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ), and sex and/or gender diverse teens, same-sex attracted, curious, and questioning teens aged 13-17.” Camp gives a chance for youth to hang out away from home and be themselves. There are lots of fun activities, including art, movie nights, music, and sports as well as workshops on coming out, dealing homophobia or transphobia, and how to be a good ally. I love that this camp is open about having a queer lens, rejecting the gender binary, and “helping campers to queer their ideas about the future.” They are also an anti-racist, anti-ableist, and feminist organization. Cost: suggested $200, on a sliding scale.
2023: Not sure if this camp is still active, info on website is from 2021.
Inside Out Hui, Porirua, New Zealand. Shift is a “national hiu (gathering)” for youth of “minority sexes, sexualities, and genders!” It is for young people aged 15-20. “Hui is the Māori word for a gathering and we use it to mean an awesome gathering/queer camp! Our hui are usually held on a marae over a few days with awesome guest speakers, workshops, a talent show and all sorts of fun.” More info here. Cost is a suggested $100. Minimum $10, but folks can pay what they can.
2023 Dates: April 21st-24th
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COLLEGE STUDENTS:
Camp Pride, is a camp organized through Campus Pride. Charlottesville, NC. This is a leadership academy for undergraduates (from 2 year, 4 year, HBCU, southern, religiously-affiliated and TCU colleges/universities, aged 18 +), with a social justice focus and emphasis on learning leadership and organizing skills.
2023 Dates: July 12-14th
T*Camp: An InterCampus Retreat for Trans/Genderqueer & Gender Questioning Students. Southern California. This is a 3-day retreat for college students from different campuses to discuss gender and learn from each other. Organizers are hopeful that this will be especially valuable to students who may not have many other trans/genderqueer/questioning students on their campus. Cost: $150.
2023 Dates: April 7-9th
8.
CHILDREN WITH LGBT PARENTS:
Camp Highlight: Located in Wernersville, PA at a 600-acre camp facility, founded in 2010. This is a week-long summer camp for children (8-15) of LGBT parents, where kids get to meet others like themselves, and build a strong support network. Campers are housed by age. The camp curriculum focuses on the “universal virtues of peace, respect, honesty, acceptance, unity, generosity, responsibility, courage, and cooperation.” Camp activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, mountain boarding, arts and crafts and more.
There is also a Camp Leadership Academy for kids aged 16-18 to learn social skills, and leadership skills. Teens will attend workshops, go on fieldtrips, and have independent time to explore camp. In 2018, Camp Highlight ran a Family Camp in April and October, see more details below. They also host a Winter Reunion each year. Registration opens in January for summer camp.
Cost per camper: (8-15) $1099, (aged 16-18), $1199.
2023 Dates: August 13-20th
Welcome Friend Association’s Rainbow Camp: Summer camp located in Northern Ontario for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, 2 spirited, plus and Allied youth, their siblings and children in Queer families, aged 12-17. They also have a two week Leaders in Training program for youth 18-19. This camp includes traditional camp activities as well as workshops that focus on gender, sexuality, health, community, leadership, and creating safe spaces. They have so many sessions I can’t list them all here, see the website for more details!
9.
For FAMILIES AND CHILDREN to Attend Together
Camp Brave Trails. California. In 2018 Brave Trails hosted their first family camp weekend for LGBTQ parents and their kids. There were yoga classes, parents-night off, hiking, arts and crafts, teen adventures, toddler town, family games and more!
- LGBTQ+ Kiddos and Their Families: Feb 3-5, 2023
- LGBTQ+ Identified Parents and Their Kiddos: March 3-5, 2023
Harbor Camps host two family weekends for families of transgender and gender-non-conforming youth (Labor Day Weekend, and the weekend before Labor Day Weekend) as well as week-long overnight camps for kids 8-17
Camp Highlight: Located in Wernersville, PA at a 600-acre camp facility. Camp Highlight (for kids of LGBTQ families) hosted its first Family Camp in October 2018. Now the adults can enjoy the fun too! Adults are $210 and children ages 3 to 18 are $160. Children under 3 years old may attend for free. Optionally, families may pay $690 for the whole family.
Camp It Up!: Quincy, California. LGBT Family camp. Activities for adults, tweens, teens, and children. Swim or float in the lazy river, learn new specialty art skills, tie-dye, participate in the carnival, and more fun activities. Summer camp has 1-10 day sessions. Sliding scale fees, and there are different costs depending on age. See here.
Summer 2023: July 17-20th, and July 20-23
Keshet Camp: near Yosemite. Jewish LGBT Family camp, now celebrating over two decades of existence! A place where families can feel included and safe, and celebrate their commonalities. Keshet is Hebrew for Rainbow. Child-care available for all ages, allowing adults and children to participate in various activities like yoga, hiking, arts and crafts, S’mores, etc.
2023 Dates: August 24-27th
Camp Out Camp: Southwest Michigan. This is the Midwest’s first and only lgbt family camp! They are all inclusive and have campers ranging in age from 2 months-65 years old! “At CampOut Family Camp, you define family. We are open to all families that identify with the LGBTQ community.” Held over the course of a weekend, activities include waterskiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, canoing, tennis and more. Also includes a petting zoo, which is awesome! Participants get to choose their own schedule and can focus on one activity in particular for a morning or afternoon, or can move to different activities over the course of the day. Childcare is also provided at particular times so that adults can have some child-free time together.
2023: THURSDAY, AUGUST 17TH – SUNDAY, AUGUST 20TH 2023
Provincetown Family Camp: Organized by the Family Equality Council and COLAGE, this is one of the biggest annual gatherings of LGBTQ-Identified families in the world. (It started in the 90s!) “Family Week will include more opportunities than ever to build community and to get empowered on today’s issues. Join us for daily events or relax on the beach with other LGBTQ families.” There are many different options for a variety of age groups.
2023 Dates: July 22–29, 2023
10.
Last but not least, a selection of CAMPS FOR ADULTS!
Camp Camp: Enjoy a traditional summer camp making new friends and playing like a kid again! Accommodations are based on gender (men’s cabin/women’s cabin, and one gender-neutral cabin). Each session has about 200-250 attendees, slightly more men than women (though they strive for 50/50), ages 21-70, though most are in their 40s, 80 percent singles. This is the perfect vacation for folks who like the outdoors, being active, and meeting new people! Cost: $1825 (Options for reducing fees by being staff are available, and there are a few campership funds to help reduce cost as well).
2023 Dates: August 20th-27th
Easton Mountain Retreats: New York. Easton Mountain is a “community, retreat, and sanctuary created by gay men.” They have programming for gay, bi, queer, and trans men throughout the year, with various themes, including weeks celebrating Thanksgiving, New Year, and Fall fun, as well as weeks for Bears, writers, folks in recovery, folks involved in Kink, and gay men of color. Dates and prices vary, see here for more details. [Including Virtual offerings in these covid-19 times]
Jamboree: Canada. “Jamboree is a great, inexpensive vacation like you’ve never experienced before! Each year, 275 LGBTQ adults (19+) from the Out & Out club rent a summer camp in the Haliburton area (3 hours northeast of Toronto).” Cost for 7 days: $692 (early bird)-$717. Cost for 4 days: $420 (early bird)-$445.
2023 Dates: August 18th-26th, or August 23-26th
Camp Lost Boys: Cleveland, GA. A camp for Men of Trans Experience to celebrate male/masculine identities in an outdoor space. This is not workshop based or academic, it is about having fun in the outdoors! Get the chance to experience a boyhood you may not have been able to experience. Cost: $475-780 (depends on whether you are in a shared cabin or private room). Note that while there are many ways to be male/a man, this is for male/men-identified folks only, and is not a space for non-binary identified folks.
2023: TBA
LGBTQ Muslim Retreat: “Since 2011, the annual LGBTQ Muslim Retreat has convened more than 700 LGBTQ+ Muslims and their partners for a weekend of faith-based reflection, kinship and community building.” Due to Covid this retreat is on hiatus.
Queer CampOut, New Mexico. “Queer Campout was founded by a group of friends and friends-of-friends and friends-of-friends-of-friends in 2017. The idea is just what it says: camping out, with a bunch of other queers! We’re using “queer” here as an umbrella term encompassing non-heterosexual sexualities, as well as trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer folks. Frequently within public spaces, queers don’t feel safe. The goal of this camping trip is to create space in our community that centralizes the safety and comfort of queers. That means fat queers, skinny queers, femme queers, butch queers, trans queers, queers of color, agender queers, genderfluid queers, queers without documentation, queers of different abilities, queers of all flavors. ”
2023 Dates: May 19–22 in Jemez and September 8–11 in Tijeras
Queer Talmud: “A gathering of queer folks, radicals, and seekers who come together for five days to immerse themselves in rigorous yeshiva-style learning in warm, loving, and joyful community….we build a vibrant learning space that celebrates queer culture, cultivates intergenerational relationships, and reveals the deeply rooted radical queerness of the Jewish tradition.”
2023 Dates: On hiatus due to covid-19
The Rusty Anvil Forest Bathing Trips: Vermont. 4 day back-packing trips for BIPOC, reconnecting BIPOC to nature through mindful wilderness trips and ancestral skills workshops. “Being out in nature is a way for us to shed ancestral traumas related to the wilderness and feeling a sense of belonging. We deserve to enjoy wild spaces and learn wilderness skills without worrying about our safety, and truly benefit from the healing that nature has to offer.”
2023 Dates: May 18th-21st, June 29-July 2nd, July 13-16th, August 10-13th, September 7-10th
Venture Out: New England and Pacific Northwest Trips. “Backpacking and Wilderness Trips for the Queer, Trans, and LGBTQ + Community.” Run for queer people, by queer people, supporting leadership development, creating a safe space for queer and trans people to be in the outdoors, with the added goal of supporting QPOC access to the outdoors. Their events include Winter Getaways, Nature Reflection, Classic Backpacking, Trans-masculine, and POC centered trips in NH, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and Oregon. There are different skill levels from beginner to experienced, and prices range from $275-800 depending on location/length of trip. Check out more details here.
2023 Dates: Variable: check out their website for the most up to date info!
References:
Google searches, comments and emails from people who want their camp added, and these excellent websites/articles:
Brave Trails 10 Best LGBTQ Summer Camps (2014)
LGBTQ Camps Give Youth a Place Where They Can Be Themselves in a Safe Environment
The Spaces In Between 
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