PRIDE Camp is an annual week-long safe space summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth aged 7-15 and their friends and family. Our first session of PRIDE Camp will be July 2025 at Camp Conrad Weiser in Reinholds, PA. All the activities and amenities of camp are open to PRIDE Campers. Additionally, our PRIDE campers will have special daily programming as a group—slam poetry, social justice conversations, mindfulness workshops, and writing & arts workshops.

We love the place, but you can read everything about it here.

We have three answers to this question.

1. Because we love camp, and camp was something that our founders both benefitted from in their lives. Gracie always said going to camp was a way to connect with herself. On a whole, nature is good for you.

2. We have experienced as a family how difficult it is to find a camp that has a non-gendered approach to camp life, and we are no strangers to waiting lists. In fact, we experienced aging out on a waiting list, which happens to a lot of youth waiting for a spot at a camp that makes them feel safe and seen. We didn’t want something as easy as going to camp to be so difficult just because of a camper’s gender identity. We wanted to make the search for a camp easier and we wanted to make the application process the same as it is for any other kid who wants to go to camp.

3. Found family is an important part of being in the LGBTQ+ community. At camp, you will meet friends for life, some of whom might become your found family. In a family, you feel like you belong, and this is what PRIDE Camp is all about.

Why do we say “and their friends and family?” First, because some kids want to bunk with their ally friends or siblings and that makes a lot of sense. But also because we know sending your child to a LGBTQ-only camp can sometimes mean outing your kid. Part of being a safe space is making sure every child who wants to come to camp can, without risking their safety back home. Camp Conrad Weiser is a camp with a long history of serving all kinds of young people, and PRIDE Camp is just another type of camp they offer. You can send your child to CCW and not tell anyone what village they’re in, keeping them safe at camp (in a safe space village) and at home. It’s a win-win!

Any child grade 1 to grade 9 can come to PRIDE Camp. Cabins are separated by age so campers will not only be with peers in their age group, but their counselor-to-camper ratio will be appropriate for each age group.

PRIDE Camp uses counselors and staff from Camp Conrad Weiser, all of whom have been trained to meet ACA standards. All counselors, staff, and administration will receive training about our Safe Space Code of Conduct by Gracie’s House through a well-known HR educator in central Pennsylvania.

PRIDE Camp also uses its own camp staff to act as safe-space ambassadors—moving with the campers through their activities. There will be some creative visitors to run workshops and lead discussions. These Gracie’s House helpers will be trained and have all clearances.

Camp Conrad Weiser has several modern and beautiful villages, each with six cabins. PRIDE Camp will occupy a village of its own.

Each cabin has space for 12 campers and 4 counselors. Go here to read more about accommodations.

Camp Conrad Weiser uses a tierd system of payment to be able to offer camp to many different types of families. Go here to read why and how.

PRIDE Camp is a LGBTQ+ safe space option for young people who would benefit from ungendered cabin assignments and a strong LGBTQ+ community connection. It is sponsored by Gracie’s House. That sponsorship offers a reduced price inside the tiered system that is offered.

Beyond the already-discounted rate, there are scholarship opportunities available. Instructions on how to apply for those are on the camp registration pages.

We think the opening paragraph from our Code of Conduct answers this a lot better than we can.

“At Gracie’s House, we work to create spaces where LGBTQ+ people feel safe to be themselves. If anyone who is part of a Gracie’s House event or camp —campers, attendees, staff, patrons, artists, or other individuals—are made to feel threatened or uncomfortable by another person in our spaces, we take it very seriously. When we are made aware of situations related to this we will make sure that your concerns are heard and we will take the necessary steps with you to respond to the situation. We expect everyone who engages with us and shares our spaces to respect others and challenge unacceptable behaviors.”

Why does it matter? Because eveyone deserves to feel safe in their home, their family, their school, and their neigborhood. Everyone.