Brave Trails
Brave Trails is an overnight summer camp and leadership program specifically designed for LGBTQ+ youth, fostering community and personal growth in a supporti...
▌ Editor's read The Brave Trails website loads as a real camp site, offering overnight programs for LGBTQ+ youth. The camp was founded by Jessica Weissbuch and Kayla Kearney and has been operating for 9 years, since 2014. They are a non-profit organization, as stated on their 'About Us' page. The website mentions that all staff undergo background checks and extensive training. Brave Trails has a strong social media presence with an Instagram handle @bravetrails and a Facebook handle 'bravetrails'. Google reviews show a rating of 5.0 stars based on 11 reviews, with parents praising the inclusive environment and positive impact on their children. The camp offers various programs including summer camp, family camp, and year-round leadership programs, all centered around empowering LGBTQ+ youth.
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Since 20179+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 12–17
Brave Trails serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in overnight/sleepaway, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 2017 (9 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 12–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: PO Box 691300, Los Angeles, CA 90069, USA
- Cost notes: USD. $2,600 per 9-day session. Financial aid is available, covering up to 75% of tuition. Flexible payment plans and fundraising tools are also offered. A $300 deposit is required. Bus transportation from the airport is available for an additional $50 each way.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Brave Trails
- What ages does Brave Trails accept?
- Brave Trails is open to children ages 12–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Brave Trails cost?
- Brave Trails publishes $2,022/week for the standard session. USD. $2,600 per 9-day session. Financial aid is available, covering up to 75% of tuition. Flexible payment plans and fundraising tools are also offered. A $300 deposit is required. Bus transportation from the airport is available for an additional $50 each way. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Brave Trails's hours?
- Brave Trails runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Brave Trails?
- Brave Trails is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 9 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Brave Trails provide lunch?
- Brave Trails does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does Brave Trails compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Los Angeles?
- Brave Trails is one of 6 overnight/sleepaway camps in Los Angeles that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Brave Trails with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Browse similar camps
Indexable directory cuts for families comparing Brave Trails against nearby options.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Brave Trails.
- Brave Trails - Session 2 CA · Brave Trails · Ages 12–17 · $2,600/week
- Brave Trails - Southeast GA · Brave Trails · Ages 12–17 · $2,600/week
- Cali Camp · Topanga · Ages 4–15 · $1,075/week
- Cali Camp - Classic Camp · Topanga · Ages 4–15 · $1,075/week
- Cali Camp - Junior Leaders · Topanga · Ages 14–15 · $1,075/week
- Camp Bob Waldorf - Jewish Cultural Session · Ages 8–18 · $600/week
- Camp Brave Trails - California Session 2 · California · Ages 12–17 · $2,022/week
- Camp JCA Shalom · Los Angeles · Ages 8–16 · $1,560/week