Join the Camp Staff or LIT team!
This is a two-week volunteer position. Camp Staff receive a stipend, and additional travel and equity funds are available.
Camp Outright is Vermont’s sole residential summer camp with a queer twist! Nestled in the stunning natural beauty of our state, it's a vibrant camp that’s all about queer joy, finding your people, adventure, fun, and community. Your identity is not just accepted but it's celebrated and you can experience true belonging!
Campers ages 13-17 find their people and experience the joy and power of being their authentic selves. At Camp, youth don't have to justify their identity to anyone - they are embraced and celebrated for who they are! Together with other queer, trans, and allied youth and adults, they can participate in building a supportive, affirming intentional community and experience a feeling of belonging and the freedom to just be kids.
Campers enjoy activities based on their interests, from nature activities to visual and performing arts, to sports and social change workshops. It’s a great mix of fun and personal growth with lots of queer joy to go around. Join us for an unforgettable, powerful summer!
And did we mention Winter Reunion?! Open only to those who attended Camp Outright during the same year, campers can reconnect with their camp friends for this bonus weekend to enjoy Vermont’s winter wonderland. There’s sledding, winter games, and a cozy lodge where campers can curl up with a good book. Don’t worry; there’s heat in the lodging for Winter Reunion!
Quick details about Camp 14.0 in 2025 are:
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay tuned for important announcements about Camp Outright dates and details. Check out the FAQ below for more information.
Although there isn't a comprehensive list, check out the other handful of camps for LGBTQ+ youth.
We are SO excited for Camp, and we know you are too. It’s easy to love the long days in the sunshine, weaving friendship bracelets and splashing in the pond. But to understand the real magic of Camp, you have to experience the feeling of being surrounded by people who see and celebrate you, exactly as you are. We hope to see you there!
Emma Makdessi (she/they)
Camp Director, Director of Community Engagement
Here’s what to know:
Camper applications are now closed. For info about Camp Outright in 2026, sign up for our newsletter or folllow us on social media!
Applications are not first come first serve. The order received will have no bearing on your application, so you can take your time and submit it anytime before the deadline.
We will reach out to notify you if your camper has a spot at Camp or if you have been placed on the waitlist.
Discover the magic and pride of being a part of the larger LGBTQ+ community. At Camp, acceptance as a queer or trans youth is a given, so youth are free to focus on what matters: making lifelong memories and friendships!. Here, your identity is a superpower - a source of inner strength - that deserves to be celebrated and embraced everywhere.
There are many opportunities to make friends, meet LGBTQ+ and allied adults who support you, and learn more about our beautifully complex LGBTQ+ history and people: a community of artists, creators, makers, advocates, activists, leaders, and more.
Your uniqueness and journey are valued, your stories are heard and believed, and you're encouraged to explore all things you! A world of possibilities is open to you.
At Camp, you'll experience queer joy like a burst of rainbow confetti! Camp gives youth a chance to be their full, authentic selves as they explore new things. By creating a celebratory environment that doesn’t narrow youth experience to focus solely on gender and sexual identities, we offer space for all identities to be fully embraced. This creates the emotional space for youth to fully express all aspects of their personality, and makes joy, connection, and personal growth possible! It's all about creating a safe, fun, and welcoming space to celebrate you exactly as you are!
The Camp community works together to build our own systems and structures to support everyone and to give queer and trans youth the tools they need to be resilient. The camp is a microcosm of pluralism, celebrating various gender and sexual identities, racial and ethnic identities, socioeconomic statuses, abilities, and religious beliefs. It’s about actively educating and confronting systemic issues like racism, sexism, classism, and ableism and helping campers evaluate how they may show up systemically and interpersonally at camp and beyond. Each participant, whether a camper, staff member, or volunteer, contributes and everyone’s identity is celebrated.
You have so many options to choose from, so you can fill your days at Camp with activities that match your unique interests! It’s a choose-your-own-adventure experience that offers something for everyone.
Camp offers a unique queer twist on activities, where the vibrant creativity of our diverse LGBTQ+ community can shine. Dance the night away at queer prom, try your hand at Dungeons & Dragons, or try out 'sockapella'- a fun and creative musical experience using sock puppets! Whether campers are crafting fairy houses, learning about astrology, or taking a break to relax and socialize at tea parties, activities are thoughtfully curated to offer a mix of LGBTQ+ art, history, and culture alongside tried-and-true summer camp fun!
Take part in workshops that delve into topics that matter to you, like LGBTQ+ rights, intersectionality, fighting white supremacy, trans antagonism, advocacy, and more. They're designed to be interactive and empowering, encouraging campers to discuss, learn, and connect. You will develop more skills to drive the change you want to see!
In addition to creating an environment where youth can be their best selves, queer-identified adult camp staff act as role models for campers and enable them to imagine joyful futures for themselves! This is a two-week volunteer position. Camp Staff receive a stipend, and additional travel and equity funds are available. Staff and LIT applications will be open March 17 - April 18.
LITs are youth ages 18-19 who model healthy behaviors for younger peers, support Camp Staff in workshops and activities, and soak up all the joyful queer energy of Camp. This one-week position offers a $400 stipend. Youth may only be an LIT for one summer! Staff and LIT applications will be open March 17 - April 18.
While our camp tuition of $1,300 does not cover the full expenses of hosting, we have made a necessary adjustment this year due to the increasing overall costs. We offer partial and full scholarships, and your need for a scholarship will have no bearing on your application. You can indicate in your application the need for a scholarship. Please be assured that your request for financial support will not influence the selection of camp cohorts, as we will review these responses separately after cohort selections have been made.
The dates of Camp Outright in 2025 are:
Session 1: Friday, July 4, 2024 - Thursday, July 10
Session 2: Saturday, July 12, 2024 - Friday, July 18
You can watch this page, follow us on social media, or sign up for our Camp mailing list to get a heads-up when the application is available. To get on the mailing list, email info@outrightvt.org.
To help meet the high demand for Camp, we now offer two consecutive week-long sessions of camp each summer! Each camper may attend only one session per season. Campers are welcome to apply for the session that works best with their schedule.
For in-state campers, we encourage carpooling and we can help to connect campers who need a ride with other Camp families who have extra space. If you have extra space in your vehicle and are willing to carpool, please indicate so on the registration form.
For campers traveling to Vermont by plane for Camp Outright, we can connect you with a volunteer to provide transportation to camp from the Burlington airport (BTV). Learn more about transportation from the airport to Camp Outright!
Our LIT program is a one-week program designed for 18 & 19-year-olds to build leadership skills and support camp while experiencing the magic of Camp Outright. This position offers a stipend. Youth may only be an LIT for one summer! Staff and LIT applications will be open March 17 - April 18, 2025.
Tuition for Camp covers about 1/3 of the true cost of running Camp. We are committed to keeping tuition well below the actual cost. We have made a necessary adjustment this year due to the increasing overall costs. We offer partial and full scholarships, and your need for a scholarship will have no bearing on your application!
You can indicate in your application the need for a scholarship. Please be assured that your request for financial support will not influence the selection of camp cohorts, as we will review these responses separately after cohort selections have been made.
And, for families who can afford to contribute a little more to support our scholarship program, we have options for you to help make a difference.
We offer partial and full scholarships to cover part or all of the cost of camp tuition for your camper. You can indicate in your application the need for a scholarship. Your need for a scholarship will have no bearing on your application. Please be assured that your request for financial support will not influence the selection of camp cohorts, as we will review these responses separately after cohort selections have been made. And, for families who can afford to contribute a little more to support our scholarship program, we have options for you to help make a difference.
You may pay up to three installments, which can be set up on CampBrain if your camper is accepted into camp.
Please do not submit any payments until your camper’s spot has been confirmed by Outright staff.
Applications for Camp are open from Monday, February 3 - Monday, March 3, 2025. That's a full month to submit your camper's application!
Applications are not first come first serve. The order received will have no bearing on your application, so you can take your time and submit it anytime before the March 3, 2025 deadline.
You can watch this page, follow us on social media, or we can add you to the Camp mailing list, so you’ll be notified when the application opens. To get on the mailing list, email info@outrightvt.org.
We use CampBrain for our application and registration process. The steps below describe how our camp cohorts are created.
Step 1:
You create an account on CampBrain and complete the initial application. This allows us to collect the needed information to create cohorts for each session. We work to ensure that each Camp session is diverse across age, gender, race, location, and other factors. Campers are never turned down due to inability to pay.
No deposit is required at this stage in the process.
Step 2:
We will email you letting you know if there is a spot for you at camp or if you have been waitlisted.
IMPORTANT: Your acceptance notification will include the deadline to complete your registration. If you do not complete your remaining forms by the deadline, you will lose your spot!
Unfortunately, we can’t save spots. In order to secure a spot, all required paperwork must be delivered to us on or before the deadline. If it’s difficult to complete the paperwork, please reach out so we can help!
It is a lot easier on our end if the paperwork is uploaded into CampBrain. If scanning paper is difficult, you can take a picture and upload it. Or send it via email so that we can upload it.
If you don’t have easy access to a computer, you may mail in your paperwork/payment. We plan the application process with ample time for families to complete their paperwork. It MUST ARRIVE by the deadline.
Mailing address: Outright Vermont, PO Box 5235, Burlington, VT 05402
We wish we had enough space for everyone, but we do have a maximum capacity and a looong waitlist. We know there are many reasons your youth should be at camp, but we cannot entertain requests for youth to be prioritized on the waitlist. If a spot opens, we will be excited to contact you!
We do understand how important camp is for many youth. If you are on the waitlist for Camp Outright, we recommend checking out this list of other camps for queer youth, which may have spots open after ours are filled.
The most movement happens in June because spots open when potential campers do not complete their registration by the deadline. At that time, we give spots to youth on the waitlist. However, we take youth off the waitlist as spots open throughout the season. This means that someone could drop out of camp one month before camp, or even a couple of weeks before camp. That makes it pretty impossible for us to give a concrete timeline for when waitlisted folks may hear back from us, and we know that can be frustrating! If you would like to be removed from the waitlist entirely, please let us know.
Camp Outright works closely with health professionals to take every precaution that ensures Camp is COVID-safe and everyone has a healthy and fun experience.
All campers and staff must provide proof of the primary series (first and second dose) COVID vaccine. Upon arrival at camp, all campers will be tested for COVID. Taking precautions and testing prior to camp is encouraged but not required.
Camp programming is held outside as much as possible. Campers are asked to wear masks if exhibiting cold symptoms or as needed throughout the week. Campers are always welcome to mask at any time and there will always be staff that mask in solidarity. Hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer are widely available throughout Camp.
We appreciate your flexibility, as COVID protocols may be relaxed or tightened depending on the state of the pandemic, and there is always the possibility that an in-person camp may have to be canceled due to the pandemic. We will communicate any changes made regarding COVID protocols to campers, parents, and caregivers prior to and during camp.
Outright partners with the University of Vermont Medical Center to staff our onsite Wellness Team at Camp. The medical team is supervised by a pediatric specialist embedded in the LGBTQ+ community, and consists of a team of two, 3rd and 4th-year medical residents as well as a nurse.
In addition, three licensed mental health providers are available to support campers throughout the week. We are not a therapeutic camp, and our mental health providers do not provide therapeutic sessions for campers. However, they are available to support Camp’s overall positive environment, connect with campers as needed and assist staff with meeting the emotional and social needs of campers.
All medications are kept in locked storage at the wellness center, and the medical staff on the Wellness Team distributes medication to campers. Camp Counselors receive information regarding medications for each of their campers, and they ensure that campers retrieve their medications from the Wellness Team at the appropriate times.
Once your camper is accepted, you can log into your CampBrain account to access all the health forms under your camper’s “Profile.” When you complete the health forms, you will see a green checkmark next to each section. All sections must display a green check mark in order for the health forms to be accepted.
REMINDER: We require all campers to have a physical dated after July 19, 2024 and the form signed by their pediatrician. Please be sure to set that appointment early!
The campsite offers rustic cabins surrounded by beautiful green forests and meadows. Campers sleep in bunk beds, in the company of up to seven other campers and two counselors. Campers and counselors are housed in cabins by self-determined gender identity and age group. There is no electricity inside the cabins or on the paths, so campers should bring flashlights and extra batteries.
All the bathrooms at Camp are gender-liberated. There is a common bathhouse with two separate bathrooms that have toilets in stalls. There are several single-stall bathrooms throughout camp. All bathrooms have electricity, hot water, and locks. There are single-stall showers at the bathhouse, both indoors and outdoors. The showers have locking stall doors as well.
Campers are not allowed to bring food from home as it will attract wildlife to cabins and can pose a threat to others with food allergies. All food with nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, soy, and other common food allergies are labeled. If campers express an uncommon food allergy in their registration form, it’s also labeled.
Our kitchen staff produces amazing fresh, hot, tasty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are options for meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and people who are gluten-free, and all allergens are labeled clearly during mealtimes. You’ll have an opportunity to list any dietary restrictions on your application to Camp.
Snacks are available between meals, and there is always a sandwich bar at every meal for campers who want an alternative to what is served.
When you complete your registration, we will send you a confirmation email with important information, including a packing list. Campers need to pack bedding, enough clothes for the week, sunscreen, a flashlight, and comfort items like stuffed animals or noise-canceling headphones.
There is no required swim time and campers are welcome to hang out at the pond without swimming. Pond time is always supervised by two certified lifeguards and additional camp staff. Campers who are interested in swimming beyond the roped-off shallow end must first pass a swim test with our lifeguards.
It is a Camp policy that all campers must have swimwear that covers their chest. Some people wear shorts and a t-shirt, some wear a one-piece or two-piece bathing suit and some wear swim trunks and a compression shirt. If you’re interested in swimming but don’t know what to wear, we will gladly help you find a solution.
Each winter, the previous Summer’s campers are invited back to the campground for Winter Reunion — a weekend getaway where youth reconnect with their Camp friends and enjoy sledding and romping together in Vermont’s winter wonderland — or just curl up with a good book in the cozy lodge.
Nope!
Are you ready to spread queer joy, spark powerful conversations, and hand out lots and lots of stickers and bubbles? Join our The Queer Cheer PRIDE Crew: Outright's fabulous crew of volunteers bringing love, info, and fun to Pride festivals across Vermont this June!
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