Youth Summer Camp for LGBTQ+ & Allies
Welcome to Camp Stonewall Trails
Affirming 7-day 6-night residential summer camp for LGBTQ+, exploring, and ally youth ages 8–17
About Camp Stonewall Trails
Our Mission
At Camp Stonewall Trails, our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and affirming environment for LGBTQ+, exploring, and ally youth to connect, grow, and express their true selves.
Rooted in nature and community care, camp blends outdoor adventure, creative expression, and shared experiences to foster belonging, resilience, and joy. We believe every camper deserves connection and support no matter their background or means and that youth thrive when their identities are respected and their emotional wellbeing is prioritized alongside play, creativity, and growth.
This program is family-centered and operated as an official initiative of a registered nonprofit organization. All tuition and donations are reinvested directly into program expenses, accessibility, and youth care.
Program Overview
7-day, 6-night residential summer camp, thoughtfully designed to support emotional safety, outdoor exploration, creative self-expression, and meaningful community connection.
Nestled across 200 acres along Crooked Legged Creek, Ottawa Illinois, camp offers a spacious, nature-centered setting where youth can connect, explore, and belong in an affirming and supportive environment.
Campers stay in nature-immersed cabins with supportive supervision and access to restroom and shower facilities, organized using inclusive, affirming practices that prioritize dignity and comfort.
Staff & Care Team
Camp programming is led by an experienced team of youth camp professionals, non-profit leaders, and trained facilitators with decades of combined experience in community-based programming, education, and youth development. All counselors and facilitators complete background clearance and training in inclusive youth care and safety practices.
Our leadership team includes seasoned summer camp staff, LGBTQ+ specialists, and on-site mental health advocates who bring both professional training and lived experience to their roles.
A licensed mental health professional is available each day of camp, and a trained medical and first aid team supports camper health and safety throughout the program. Many members of our staff also identify as LGBTQ+, further strengthening our commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and affirming environment grounded in care, accountability, and inclusion.
Why Join Us
Camp Stonewall Trails is more than a summer camp — it is a space intentionally created for youth to feel safe, respected, and supported. Many LGBTQ+, exploring, and ally youth face pressure to hide parts of who they are or struggle to find spaces where they truly belong.
Camp offers an affirming environment where youth are welcomed as they are and encouraged to grow at their own pace.
Through a balance of outdoor adventure, creative expression, skill-building, and community connection, campers build confidence, resilience, and meaningful relationships.
Programming is designed with care, offering structure without pressure and honoring individual needs, boundaries, and rest.
Family & Community Day (Day One)
The first day of camp is intentionally family-oriented, designed to build trust, connection, and shared understanding before the youth-only portion begins.
Families can expect:
- Welcome and check-in
- Cabin assignments and set-up
- Community advocacy and resource booths
- Mental health professionals available for informal support
- Family-friendly games and activities
- A shared community lunch provided on site
This day centers family care, recognizing that supporting queer youth also means supporting caregivers and siblings.
Parent & Caregiver Roundtable
After lunch, parents and caregivers are invited to gather in the main lodge for a facilitated roundtable discussion.
Topics include but not limited to:
- Shared challenges or concerns
- Strategies for care
- Like minded connection
Discussions are guided by mental health professionals and experienced facilitators.
Sibling care is provided during the roundtable through supervised activities.
CAMP STONEWALL TRAILS PROGRAMING
Daily Care & Support
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Youth wellbeing is supported throughout camp through a balance of structure, supervision, and flexibility.
Daily support includes:
- A licensed mental health professional available on site
- Trained staff and clear supervision
- Respect for individual boundaries, comfort levels, and energy needs
Reflection & Relaxation Hour (Daily)
Each day includes a Reflection & Relaxation Hour, a dedicated quiet period for campers to rest, regulate, and recharge.
This time may include journaling, quiet nature time, creative reflection, or rest. Participation is optional, supervised, and always respected.
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Outdoor programming is a core part of the camp experience, offering both play and practical learning in a natural setting.
Nature-based activities may include:
- Guided hiking and nature exploration
- Canoeing and water navigation skills
- Basic outdoor and nature education, including:
- Environmental awareness and stewardship
- Water safety and outdoor safety skills
- Respectful interaction with wildlife and natural spaces
- Archery, focused on safety, concentration, and self-confidence
- Water activities such as pool swimming, creek walking, and natural creek swimming (weather and safety permitting)
Spending time in nature supports emotional regulation, confidence, and problem-solving skills, while offering youth space to disconnect from daily stressors and reconnect with their bodies and surroundings.
Workshops and Discussions
Outdoor & Nature Based Activities
Workshops and Discussions
Workshops are facilitated by guest speakers and professionals and focus on guided self-expression, reflection, and skill-building. Sessions are age-appropriate, optional, and discussion-based rather than lecture-focused.
Workshop topics may include:
- Finding Your Voice & Telling Your Story
Building confidence, expression, and self-trust. - Healthy Boundaries, Consent, Conflict & Repair
Understanding boundaries, communication, and respectful repair. - Coming Out to Yourself & Queer History
Exploring self-acceptance, identity, and LGBTQ+ cultural context.
Skills & Empowerment
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Workshops and Discussions
LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of bullying, harassment, and exclusion than their peers, which can impact confidence, safety, and emotional wellbeing.
Research consistently shows that affirming environments and supportive relationships significantly improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth, reinforcing the importance of spaces where young people feel accepted and protected.
“Affirming spaces and supportive adults play a critical role in helping LGBTQ+ youth feel safe, valued, and connected.”
- Camp includes a self-defense session focused on personal awareness, confidence, and bodily autonomy
- Instruction is consent-centered, nonviolent, and age-appropriate
- Skills emphasize boundary-setting, self-trust, and situational awareness rather than aggression
- This programming supports resilience, confidence, and community care
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Creative programming provides campers with opportunities to explore identity, process emotions, and express themselves in ways that feel natural and affirming. Activities emphasize creativity over perfection and allow for both individual and collaborative expression.
Creative activities may include:
- Nature-inspired art projects using found or natural materials
- Crafts focused on self-identity, personal values, and storytelling
- Journaling, drawing, and reflective writing
- Collaborative art projects that foster connection and teamwork
These activities support self-reflection, confidence, and emotional expression, offering youth a way to communicate experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
Field Games & Active Play
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Creative Expression & Identity Center Crafts
Camp includes structured outdoor games designed to encourage teamwork, movement, and joyful release.
Field games may include:
- Tug of war
- Mud slip-and-slide activities
- Team challenges and cooperative games
- Open outdoor play and movement-based activities
These games support physical engagement, collaboration, laughter, and stress relief, while reinforcing consent, boundaries, and inclusive play.
Evening Community & Wind Down
Evening Community & Wind Down
Evening Community & Wind Down
Evenings are intentionally designed to help campers slow down, reflect, and connect after active days.
Evening programming may include:
- Group check-ins and reflection circles
- Campfire gatherings with optional sharing, storytelling, and songs
- Quiet creative activities such as skill sharing
- Low-stimulus social time for connection or rest
These moments provide space for emotional processing, community bonding, and gentle closure to the day. Participation is always optional, and quiet presence is welcomed.
Join Camp Stonewall Trails Summer Camp Today
Tuition & Accessibility
We believe camp should be accessible to every camper.
Tuition is offered on a sliding scale to support accessibility while ensuring safe staffing, quality programming, and comprehensive youth care.
"Sliding scale tuition reflects our commitment to equity, dignity, and community-supported access."
This program operates as an official initiative of a registered nonprofit organization. All tuition and donations are reinvested directly into program expenses, accessibility, and youth care.
Planned Program Tuition
7 Days / 6 Nights
Full tuition payment is required to reserve a camper’s spot.
Sliding Scale: $750 – $1,150
- Community Rate – $750
An accessibility-focused option. - Sustaining Rate – $950–$1,050
Supports staffing, programming, and daily mental health care. - Supporter Rate – $1,100–$1,150
Helps fund scholarships and overall program sustainability.
Adjusted Program Tuition
4 Days / 3 Nights
Designed as a 7-day experience, this program may operate as a 4-day camp if enrollment or sponsorship thresholds are not met. As the inaugural year, it has been developed with care and intention, laying the groundwork for a lasting, annual camp that supports LGBTQ+, exploring, and ally youth and their families.
Sliding Scale: $460 – $750
- Community Rate – $460
- Sustaining Rate – $550–$650
- Supporter Rate – $700–$750
Families will be notified of any program adjustment no later than 30 days prior to the start of camp.
If the program shifts from a 7-day to a 4-day experience, families will be reimbursed for the difference based on the tuition rate selected at registration.
Scholarship & Community Support
Scholarships for Campers
A limited number of partial and full scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation. Scholarship awards are based on demonstrated need and available funds. Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier for youth who would benefit from this experience.
Scholarships may support full or partial tuition and are applied with care and confidentiality. Receiving a scholarship does not impact a camper’s experience or participation in camp.
Applying for a Scholarship
Families seeking financial assistance are invited to apply for a scholarship during the registration process. Scholarship applications are reviewed with care and confidentiality.
- Scholarship applications are due by June 20, 2026
- Awards are based on demonstrated need and available funds
- Scholarship decisions are communicated by June 30, 2026. All application information is confidential and does not affect a camper’s eligibility or experience.
Submitting a scholarship application does not impact a camper’s eligibility or experience at camp. All information provided is kept confidential.
Community Support
Community support plays a vital role in making camp accessible. Donations to our scholarship fund directly support campers and help cover program costs such as meals, activities, staffing, and mental health resources.
Scholarship Support Levels
- Full Camper Scholarship – $1,000
Covers the full cost for one camper to attend the planned 7-day program.
- Partial Camper Scholarship – $500
Supports half the cost of attendance or helps bridge gaps for sliding scale families.
- Community Care Scholarship – $250
Helps fund meals, program supplies, and activity costs for campers receiving financial assistance.
- Flexible Scholarship Support – Any Amount
Contributions of any size help reduce barriers and expand access.
In-Kind Donations
We also welcome in-kind donations that directly support camper care and programming, including:
- Food and snack donations
- Program or activity supplies
- Outdoor equipment or safety materials
- Creative and craft supplies
In-kind contributions help offset program costs and allow more funds to be directed toward scholarships and youth care.
Community-supported access reflects our commitment to equity, dignity, and care. Together, we can ensure every camper has the opportunity to belong.
Explore the Fun at Camp Stonewall Trails Summer Camp - Photo Gallery
