WELCOME TO
CAMP BRAVE TRAILS
CALIFORNIA | NEW YORK | GEORGIA
Activities
SUMMER CAMP
A LEADERSHIP CAMP FOR LGBTQ+ TEENS
Brave Trails is a fully accredited overnight summer camp for LGBTQ+ teens, centered on leadership, community, and self-discovery. Our mission is to create an affirming space where campers build lifelong friendships, explore their identities, and follow their passions. With camp locations in California, New York, and Georgia, we welcome campers from across the U.S. and around the world.
AGE RANGE:
12-17
LOCATIONs:
CA + GA + NY
ALL CABINS:
GENDER NEUTRAL
CAMPer TO STAFF:
3:1 RATIO
Some call it magic, we call it intention.
Though we’ll admit, there might be a little unicorn fairy dust, too.
From the moment you arrive at Brave Trails, you’re met with a forest of rainbows, cheers from our Unicorn Crew, and an immediate sense of belonging that feels like home.
Brave Trails combines the best of traditional summer camp with an unapologetically LGBTQ+ spirit. Here, you’ll never have to explain your identity, conform to restrictive dress codes, or be separated by gendered spaces. Instead, we focus on what really matters: friendship, growth, and having an unforgettable time together.
Campers experience everything from campfires, archery, arts & crafts, and stargazing to leadership workshops, service projects, and our signature Passion to Action program. And that’s just the beginning. Brave Trails also offers unique LGBTQ+ programs—like identity groups, drag shows, queer history sessions, and a gender expression clothing closet—that you won’t find at any other camp.
Ready for camp? Click below to learn more about our application and interview process.
OUR CAMPERS COME FROM:
50
States
19
Countries
4
Continents
100%
MADE at least one NEW friend!
A LOOK INTO THE EXPERIENCE:
A recap video from our 2024 New York Session.
Unique Features:
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Campers grow as leaders through workshops that turn passions into action—designed specifically with LGBTQ+ youth in mind.
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All-gender cabins, flexible dress codes, and affirming staff create a space where campers can safely and fully be themselves.
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Optional identity groups offer safe spaces for connection, healing, joy, and shared experiences with peers who just get it.
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Campers enjoy classic camp fun—like archery and campfires—while also diving into LGBTQ+ history, identity, and community.
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We offer over $130K in financial aid each year, covering up to 95% of tuition to ensure camp is accessible to LGBTQ+ youth from all backgrounds.
Camper Statistics
Attraction Orientation
Gender Identity
WE ARE AN accredited SUMMER CAMP.
Information gathered from our 2024 Camper Survey Data
CAMP TESTIMONIALS
“My kid has had a lot of personal turmoil in their life since starting to attend BT four years ago, and Brave Trails has been a safe place for them. They have made so many friends, found safe, caring adults, and are able to be their full self there. We live in a small, rural area with not many mixed-race queer kids around. BT is a place that helps them feel included—and that feeling lasts all year.”
“My teen chooses to return to Brave Trails every summer because of the incredible learning, support, and joy of the experience. He feels valued for who he is and what he contributes to the community and world, and inspired to be his best self. Our family is so grateful for this experience and how it keeps him motivated all year long. His confidence, leadership skills, and ability to express himself have skyrocketed with Brave Trails. I don’t know what magical unicorn potion you gave him, but WOW it works!!!”
“Going in I didn’t really know what to expect—I was just really nervous to be honest—but I came home with confidence and a glimpse into a world of queer joy. Before camp I had very low self-esteem, but everyone at camp showed me that I can be a leader, someone who believes in myself and someone who can change the world. I slowly started to learn that anyone can be a leader, including me.”
“I fell asleep on the bus to camp and woke up in LGBTQ heaven.”
SUMMER CAMP 2026
SESSION 1
CALIFORNIA
DATES TBD
SESSION 2
CALIFORNIA
DATES TBD
SESSION 3
CALIFORNIA
DATES TBD
EAST COAST
NEW YORK
DATES TBD
SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA
DATES TBD
Ready for LGBTQ Camp?
