Apply For Camp BranchOUT!

Want to come to Camp BranchOUT this summer? Here are BranchOUT's program details in 2026. 

• Applications open Friday, February 20- Tuesday, March 3

• We'll notify you by Thursday, March 5 if your camper has a spot at Camp BranchOUT or if you've been placed on the waitlist

• 2026 Session dates: Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14, 2026

• Time: 9 am - 4 pm (drop-off starts at 8:45 am)

• Location: At North Branch Nature Center in central Vermont

• Full and partial scholarships always available, and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds

• Capacity: Limited to 14 campers

• Age Group: For kids ages 10-12

• Tailored to meet the needs of queer and gender creative kids!

Nature-based Curriculum with a Queer Twist!

Heck Yeah, we bring the sparkle with a queer twist in all that we do at camp! It's magic mix of LGBTQ+ staff who get it, camp decorations and signs that shout, "You totally belong here!" and age appropriate activities that integrate queer pride and joy.

BranchOUT features a nature-based curriculum with a queer twist. Exciting activities might include:

• Exploring fields and forest

• Classic NBNC games, such as Coyote Deer

• Wading in the river and hiking local trails

• Nature crafts and skills such as cooking over a fire

• Catching insects and learning about the critters that live in Vermont

  And so much more!
  

Optional BranchOUT Overnight - New in 2026!

This year we’re offering a NEW optional BranchOUT Overnight on Thursday, August 13! After Thursday's day camp activities, campers are invited to stay the night at North Branch Nature Center. We’ll cook over a campfire and cozy up under the stars, close to nature and surrounded by friends. Heck Yeah, it’ll be magical!

Here’s some more details about the overnight:

• The BranchOUT Overnight will be on Thursday, August 13 through Friday, August 14. 

• All the materials for the overnight will be provided by NBNC. We’ll provide a short packing list so campers have everything they need to be comfortable.

• Campers will cook over a fire, participate in evening activities, and sleep in provided tents onsite at NBNC.

• There will be four staff on site for the duration of the overnight to provide support and supervision, and ensure everyone stays safe and cozy.

We Have Your Backs!

Founded on shared values, BranchOUT's programming is co-run by directors and staff from each organization. Together, we bring a whole lot of experience in the world of youth camps and campers - a powerful blend of expertise in our respective areas of nature-based learning and the needs of queer and gender creative youth.

In addition to this partnership, NBNC staff have actively and enthusiastically engaged in ongoing training about the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, ensuring a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ campers who attend any of NBNC's programs. BranchOUT is a continuation of NBNC's deepening commitment to their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work, which is about making NBNC's natural areas, organization and community more inclusive and equitable.

Together, we're dedicated to creating an incredible experience that affirms and inspires every camper. This collaboration marks a new chapter in fostering a supportive community where every LGBTQ+ youth can thrive!

Scholarships for Campers!

No camper is ever turned away because of cost. If paying the full tuition would be a barrier, simply let us know in the application when you apply on NBNC's website. We trust families to know what they need, so there is no vetting process or extra paperwork, and it will not affect your camper’s acceptance to Camp BranchOUT!