Meet the Founders of Brave Trails, a Leadership-Focused LGBTQ+ Summer Camp For Teens

At 8 years old, Kayla Weissbuch received a scholarship to attend summer camp, and her life was forever changed by the experience. Now, Kayla can be found running her very own sleep-away camp,, alongside her partner, Jessica. The leadership-focused camp welcomes LGBTQ+ youth ages 12 through 18 for five week-long sessions in California every summer and gives Kayla and Jessica an opportunity to introduce the magic of camp to teens while also providing a safe space.

"If something's not working and they come to us, we're not just like, 'Well, that's the way it's done,' we're like: 'Yeah, OK, let's talk about it. Why doesn't it work? What can we do to change it?' We take action," Jessica shared. Kayla added,"Our campers designed so many of our rules, it's awesome."They also give their campers the ultimate choice of how their days will look.

Another way the Weissbuchs are in tune with their campers' needs is in terms of financial aid, especially as Kayla was first able to attend camp herself on a scholarship."The common narrative of camp is white, upper-middle class, so we're really trying to change that narrative and provide a space for anybody that can come.

The second program, Passion to Action, is described by Jessica as an"intentional storytelling space." Passion to Action helps campers realize what their passion is and how to craft a personal story about that passion with the intention of creating action in their community. For example, how to tell their school board why it's important they have a recycling program at their school.

"[The idea for family camp] came about when we were starting our family. There's almost nothing out there for queer families," Kayla shared."It can be extremely isolating. And especially as kids grow, it's so healthy to be able to see other families like theirs . . . just being together and celebrating — letting the kids be kids but with this undertone of celebration for each unique family.

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