Pride 2021 spotlight: Brave Trails

Throughout the month of June, we’re highlighting organizations and initiatives that advocate for greater outdoor access among the LGBTQ+ community. Today’s feature is Brave Trails, a summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth.

There is a special magic that comes with traveling as a young person. It gives you the space to truly discover, explore, and find yourself—and to learn from others from different backgrounds. For many of us, that first away-from-home experience is summer camp. And now LGBTQ+ teens have an option to enjoy a transformational experience in the great outdoors with other queer kids and counselors, thanks to Brave Trails’ summer camp.

Brave Trails is the epitome of a safe space. With two locations in the forests of California and Maryland, this residential camp hosts kids for one week with hand-picked volunteer staff who are there to be mentors and provide leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth. Empowering independence and celebrating identities, Brave Trails is an LGBTQ+ centered space, where pronouns are respected and facilities are genderless.

Brave Trails also aims to provide financial assistance to campers in need, which is where your support can be felt. You can donate here. Or, if you know a young person who may want to attend, they can join the waitlist for any last minute summer 2021 slots that open up.

Looking for other outdoorsy summer camps for LGBTQ+ youth? Check out Camp Outright (VT), Camp Aranu’tiq (NH), Camp Ten Trees (WA), Camp OUTdoors (AZ), and Camp Lilac (OH).