Camp Outright

Residential Summer Camp with a Queer Twist!

Camp Outright 14.0 coming in 2025

Session 1: July 4-10  |  Session 2: July 12-18

Applications open in February 2025

Here's to another amazing Summer at Camp Outright!

Camp Outright & Winter Camp Reunion

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!

Here are the dates for Camp 14.0 in 2025: 

  • Session 1: Friday, July 4 - Thursday, July 10
  • Session 2: Saturday, July 12 - Friday, July 18

Want to stay up to date on all things Camp Outright? 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.

    And although there isn't a comprehensive list, check out the other handful of camps for LGBTQ+ youth!


    I want to live for moments like this."
    // Outright Camper

    For More Information

    Emma Makdessi (they/she)
    Camp Director, Director of Community Engagement

    camp@outrightvt.org

    Application Process

    • Applications open in February and remain available for a period of two weeks.

    • Applications are not first come first serve. The order received will have no bearing on your application, so if you submit it anytime before the deadline, you'll be considered for Camp Outright.

    • By the end of March, we will reach out to notify you if your application has been accepted or if you have been placed on the waitlist.

    It's all About 

    Belonging, Queer Joy & Fun! 

    You Belong

    Find Your People

    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.

    Fun is Everywhere

    Experience Queer Joy

    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!

    We Got This

    Engage in Intentional Community

    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.

    Choose-Your-Own-Adventure

    Explore a Wide Variety of Activities

    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!

    • Connect with Nature: Embark on exciting adventures, including hiking, swimming, and more, each offering its own thrill. Engage in fun camp activities like archery or water balloon toss, play outdoor games and sports with new friends, and of course toast lots of marshmallows over a campfire. - Heck Yeah!
    • Unleash Your Creativity: Express yourself through art, music, and performance. Camp offers a range of creative activities that allow you to showcase your talents and imagination. Whether zine making, drawing or sculpting nature, or playing theater games, you'll find a supportive space to let your creativity soar!
    • Just Rest and Relax: At Camp, you can also find your peaceful haven. Free from the stress of everyday life, you’ll have plenty of time to get lost in a good book, dip your toes in the pond, or enjoy a quiet moment making friendship bracelets side by side with new friends. It's a place where you can unwind and relax, surrounded by nature's calm. Every peaceful moment lets you recharge and reconnect with your awesome self!
    Drive Change

    Skill Up for Social Justice

    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!

    We Got Your Back!

    Camper Scholarships

    While our camp tuition does not cover the full expenses of hosting, we have made a necessary adjustment this year due to the increasing overall costs. It's important to note that no camper will be denied participation due to lack of funds. We offer partial and full scholarships. You can indicate in your application the need for financial assistance. 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.

    Step it Up

    Join our Camp Staff or Become a Leader In Training!

    In addition to creating an environment where youth can be their best selves, queer-identified staff act as role models for campers and enable them to imagine joyful futures for themselves. Staff and LIT applications are now closed.

    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 position offers a stipend. Youth may only be an LIT for one summer! 

    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!

    camp outright FAQs

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    Winter Reunion

    We can't wait to see you!