This is a CampSite Camp Spotlight – An opportunity to highlight the amazing work being done by camps within our ecosystem. This edition’s feature is with Camp Brave Trails, an LGBTQ+ Leadership focused camp that offers a variety of camps and programs to its participants.
Where Passion Meets Purpose: How It All Began
Eleven years ago, Brave Trails co-founders Jess and Kayla met at the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center and embarked on a journey to create something special. Combining Jess’ background in queer leadership and Kayla’s background in summer camp, they created Brave Trails, an LGBTQ+ leadership-focused summer camp whose mission is to provide a space for campers to build friendships, explore their identities, and pursue their passions.
What started with just a single camp session, Brave Trails has now grown to include a wide-range of programs for 12-17 year olds. These include five core sessions of their core camp programs across California, New York, and as of 2025, Georgia – along with two family camps, a backpacking program, and a mental health program. They also have a year-round program called Brave Space that offers free programming for queer youth interested in community building. After more than a decade, Brave Trails continues to offer life-changing and transformative experiences for LGBTQ+ youth.
Catching Up with Brave Trails
Our team at CampSite had the pleasure of speaking with Sophia (they/them), Brave Trails’ Summer Camp Director and Max (he/him), Brave Trails’ Associate Director of Strategy to hear more about their experiences working at Brave Trails.
We often hear from camp staff about the impact that camp has had on them (obviously always positive but we’re biased!), and it was so powerful to hear from Sophia on the impact that Brave Trails had on them as both a participant and now as a Camp Leader.
“It meant so much to me as a kid because I could be authentic here. Especially for queer youth, being queer [at our camp] is kind of the least interesting thing about them. All things that shouldn’t be a factor aren’t a factor, and now at camp they can just really lean into their passions and what they care about.”
By offering programs specifically designed to equip campers with the tools they need to flourish both within the camp setting and in their daily lives, Brave Trails inspires and motivates its participants to become catalysts for positive change within their communities.
As Max explained to us, the impact that their youth are having on the world at such a young age is awe-inspiring.
“The experience they [campers] have is so rich with a mutual wanting to better the world. These kids are advocating for new legislation at 13 years old and have already had these incredible lives that they then share.”
Here’s some more of our Q&A with Sophia and Max:
Q: What lasting impact do you want campers to have when they leave camp?
Sophia: A quote Max has said sticks out, “No camper will ever leave this camp knowing that they have never been loved.” It’s important because everyone wants that unconditional love, no matter what they are coming in with. A lot of people say this isn’t who you should be or how you should be living life. At 12 to 17 years old, they need to hear that there’s no wrong way to exist—and that there’s a world where they can thrive, and this is that world. To see adults that look like them, had their experiences and know that they can be there and have that space. Camp changed me as a human being and I want to give that to the campers that I work with.
Max: There are a thousand people here [camp professionals] that know the transformative power of camp for youth, and I want every person to be able to experience that. And with the kids that we serve traditionally, they encounter a lot of barriers in doing that and I want them to grow up with the same fond memories of camp that a lot of kids have already.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories of camp?
Sophia: I remember we had a camper who was deaf one year and they really wanted to perform at their camp variety show. They did “Hot to Go!” by Chappell Roan in sign language. The entire crowd was up dancing and there was just sheer joy that radiated in that moment.
Max: Mine was something that happened in the Hall of Elders, a space honoring queer elders from the past. It’s a place where campers can chat about what these elders mean to them, dive into queer history, reflect on how they’ve gotten to where they are, and think about how to carry that wisdom forward. Two campers were having an emotional conversation while at the Hall of Elders and the following day they put on a silly puppet show. These are the kind of memories that really stick out because it truly shows what is so special about this space; it’s not only a space to have important discussions but is also a space where campers can just be kids.
Through Sophia and Max’s experiences and love for camp, we see the heart of Brave Trails in action. It’s this same spirit that fuels their deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion for all their campers.
Access and Inclusion: Creating a Space for Every Camper
At Brave Trails, they recognize the transformative power of camp and are committed to ensuring every camper has the opportunity to experience it. Sophia sums it up by saying “Inclusion for our team is one of the main goals because if we aren’t reaching the people who have the least access then we are not reaching the people who need our camps the most.”
By hosting fundraisers, Brave Trails is able to provide scholarships for communities like POC and hope to expand these efforts to other marginalized communities as they grow.
Brave Trails is also deeply committed to accessibility, by doing everything they can to ensure every camper has the resources they need. For instance, they provide sign language interpreters for deaf campers and offer sensory rooms and fidget toys for neurodiverse campers. If a camper has unique needs, the team is diligent in finding solutions, utilizing resources, donations and grants to provide the necessary accommodations.
The Power of Camper Feedback
In their ongoing commitment to the camper experience and creating a supportive and inclusive space, Brave Trails introduced a camper board this year to help continue this mission. This board gathers 10 long-time campers to share their insights. By listening to those who know the camp best, Brave Trails is able to make meaningful improvements to ensure an even better experience for all campers.
Conclusion
What started with humble beginnings, Brave Trails’ passion and commitment to LGBTQ+ youth and community has grown them to become a globally recognized space. Today, with campers from all 50 states and 17 countries, Brave Trails is changing lives and making a lasting impact on queer youth around the world.
After speaking with them, it’s clear that Brave Trails is more than just a camp —it’s a place where queer leadership thrives, but above all, a place where every camper feels valued and empowered to be themselves.
Curious to learn more about Brave Trails’ mission and the work they’re doing? Visit Brave Trails’ website here to dive deeper into their story.