Queer Camp is the Summer Vacation LGBTQ+ Adults Have Been Craving

4 hours ago
5 min read

As a queer nomad and outdoor enthusiast, I love helping people connect with nature. I also understand how easy it can be to stay at home in your bubble of safety, where no one will judge you, misgender you, or devalue your lived experiences.

Many RV parks and campgrounds are not focused on being LGBTQ or POC friendly. Or worse, some actively feel unsafe. This is why it is so important to create LGBTQ friendly outdoor stays and fun ways for queer folks to connect with both one another and the outdoors.

Enter queer adult summer camps: a few days spent outside laughing, loving, and learning alongside other queer people. These summer camps strengthen connections within our community, help queer adults foster a love for the outdoors, and advocate for queer inclusion in the outdoor industry.

Whether you’re feeling nostalgic for your summer camp days as a kid, only this time as your authentic self, or you’re looking for a unique LGBTQ friendly vacation idea, queer camp lets you reconnect with nature and find your people.

Here are five queer adult camps to add to your travel bucket list!

Queer Camp

Queer Camp is a weeklong summer camp retreat in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hosted at a 156-acre wilderness preserve with eco-camping, adventure trails, and endless starry skies.

Campers can get moving with activities like hiking, spear throwing, and tree climbing. But it’s not all sports. There’s karaoke, crafting, and a community drag show. This year, Queer Camp is partnering with local artists to create a goth night and a small art market!

Queer Camp got its start when trans YouTuber Ty Turner organized an outdoor group excursion for his fans. From the first year with twelve attendees, Queer Camp has grown to host more than forty campers in 2025.

What campers are saying:

“Queer Camp changed my life. I made so many life long friendships and found my chosen family. And it was that new found family that helped give me the strength and support to not only leave my toxic home environment but also to get out of Florida. I now live with my gorgeous wonderful girlfriend (who I also met at camp btw) and I couldn’t be happier. My life went from struggling to take it day by day to loving life and being excited for the future. Ty and Christy have really created something special and I can’t wait to go again this year.” – Carrie

LGBTQ+ Outdoorsfest

LGBTQ Outdoorfest is a four-day adventure retreat for adults. This annual gathering is held at a different location each year, with activities like hiking, paddling, climbing, campfires, and engaging workshops run by outdoor enthusiasts.

This year’s Outdoorfest is in Bellvue, Colorado, a laid-back mountain town minutes from downtown Fort Collins. Just a few of the workshops planned for this year’s OutdoorFest are archery, fly fishing, and wildlife photography.

This event is run by LGBTQ Outdoors, which is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to create a national network of inclusive outdoor adventures. It began as an Instagram account in 2019, after founder Justin Yoder recognized the need for a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people to connect with nature.

The first LGBTQ Outdoorfest was held in Texas in 2021. Starting with just 26 people, Outdoorfest has grown significantly. In addition to hosting LGBTQ Outdoorfest, they run local chapters across the country, providing opportunities for inclusive outdoor connection and skill-building.

What campers are saying:

“My first LGBTQ Outdoorfest was nothing short of magical. I faced my fear of heights on the high ropes course, discovered a new love for candle-making, and had the incredible honor of leading my Pride In Our Parks workshop. But above all, the most meaningful part was reconnecting with old friends and meeting incredible new ones – beautiful souls who inspired me and who I now proudly call friends.” - Kenneth

Camp Camp

Known as America’s premier summer camp for LGBTQ+ adults, ‘Camp’ Camp has been offering a fun and distinctive vacation for LGBTQ+ folks since 1997.

Every day campers enjoy arts and crafts such as cooking, ballroom dancing, and needle felting alongside sports and recreation activities like kickball, golf, and archery. As the sun goes down, there are social events such as parties, games, and talent shows alongside campfires, stargazing, and an after-dark pottery studio.

This annual event in Maine is typically attended by over 200 queer folks of all ages and gender identities, with many even traveling internationally to join the fun. Camp Camp has grown into a strong community, with a majority of campers returning after their first visit. In 2025, nearly 40% of campers and staff had attended for five years or more.

What campers are saying:

"Coming out later in life I’ve never experienced being around people who identify similar to me. Being accepted and loved for who I am as an individual was one of the best things I’ve ever felt. … I look forward to this every year and think about it during the year. Thank you for allowing me to build friendships with people around the world and learn new things and ideas and perspectives to enrich my life. I think what we have here is a special thing, and I wish the outside world was more like ‘Camp’ Camp." – Jeffery W.

Lez Camp

Sapphics, this one is for you! Lez Camp is an inclusive weekend retreat for queer women, hosted at The District Hotel, an LGBTQ+ hotel and resort in Oklahoma City.

Queer camp activities include hikes, pool parties, and arts and crafts activities like making friendship bracelets for your new lesbian besties. This year, the event will include a burlesque show, a lube wrestling tournament, and a Twerkology workshop that’s body positive and beginner friendly.

Lez Camp was created to be a beacon of safety, inclusion, and celebration in the conservative state of Oklahoma. According to their mission, "Lez Camp is more than just a gathering—it’s a sanctuary where Queer individuals can come together in an environment free from judgment, fear, or the need to explain themselves... We provide not just a space, but a movement—one that champions visibility, strength, and the unwavering belief that every Queer person deserves a place to belong."

Glimmer Camp

Oregon-based Glimmer Camp offers two annual adult queer camp events. First, there’s a spring campout weekend. Then there’s a four-day adult camp retreat in the summer.

Glimmer Camp’s facility has different levels of accommodation. You can glamp in a cabin or yurt; or rent a spot to camp in your car, tent, or small RV. Shared facilities include a lodge, shower house, and art hut.

Queer campers can take part in over 50 small and large group activities, including traditional summer camp classics like swimming, canoeing, archery, and arts and crafts. There are also more queer-coded activities like tarot readings and a queer prom.

As a co-created event, campers are encouraged to initiate activities, games, and play such as hikes, book clubs, board games, and yard games. There are also structured events led by activity leaders such as archery, tarot reading, crafts, and fitness classes.

Glimmer Camp takes its name from “glimmers” in pklyvagal theory, a term coined by social worker and author Deb Dana to refer to small moments of nervous system regulation.

This article was originally guest-posted on Queer Adventurers. Thank you for having me!