kin·dom camp is an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth ages 12-17 to feel safe and free to show up as their full selves. Campers have the chance to experience all the fun that camp has to offer in a week filled with affirmation, community, and celebration. This camp is affirming – full stop. It affirms all genders, sexualities, identities, abilities, and varieties of belief. The only thing we expect is a commitment to welcoming and celebrating everyone where they are, as they are.
We are thrilled to host kin•dom camp in FOUR locations this summer - Illinois, Nevada, Indiana, and Texas.
- kin•dom camper
Recognizing that families have different abilities to pay, kin·dom camp has instituted a voluntary four-tier tuition program. You may choose the tier that is the most accessible for your family. No matter what tier you choose, the amenities, activities, and camp experience are the same. For us, it is more important that families are not putting themselves in a financially tough position to pay for summer camp. We believe every child deserves to experience the magic of kin·dom camp, no matter their family’s financial situation.
Tier 1: $1050
This tier reflects the true cost of camp. This price includes site rental fees, staffing cost, supplies, and much more. This is how much we would have to charge for camp if we did not receive any grant funding or donations.
Tier 2: $700
This tier more closely resembles the cost of camp if we receive grants and other sources of funding.
Tier 3: $550
This tier is historically what we have charged in the past. It is a partially subsidized rate for those who can pay a little more but still cannot afford the actual cost of camp.
Tier 4: $400
This tier is a subsidized rate and does not reflect the true cost of summer camp.
We understand that this pricing model is still not fully accessible for some families. We can provide up to $75 of no-questions-asked scholarship. If you need additional scholarship funds, there is a need-based application form in the registration portal.
Do you love working with kids? Are you a mental health or accessibility professional? Do you love camp or being in nature? Are you a member of the LGBTQ+ community or a strong ally? Maybe you just need a week away that ends up being a deeply meaningful experience?
We're looking for fully-affirming, welcoming, and loving adults to help us make kin•dom camp a success this summer! This will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with, mentor, and learn from our youth, but most importantly, we ask that you are ready to celebrate everyone where they are, as they are.
Positions include:
More information, including a description for each position, can be found within the application portal. Must be 20 or older to apply.
Offered only at our Texas camp, Young Adult Leadership Training (YALT) is a two summer cohort program for individuals who are 18-20 at the time of application. Participants will be with the same cohort for two summers, and the curriculum will build on itself during their time in the program. During camp, participants will spend part of each day with the cohort in workshops and learning sessions that will explore different aspects of leadership. The rest of the day, participants will serve in a support staff capacity.
After camp, there will be a series of check-ins and trainings to prepare you for your second year in the program. The second summer will focus on long-term goal setting and will equip you to serve on the kin·dom camp summer staff if you choose to apply once you complete YALT.
Applications for YALT open this Thursday, February 1 along with camp registration. You will proceed with registration for kin•dom camp in Texas and make sure to select YALT if you or your camper are interested in applying. If you are a Young Adult Leader returning for your second summer in the program, you will also apply through the registration portal.
If you have any questions about YALT, please contact our Program Director, Andy Hackett, by emailing andy@kindomcommunity.org.
Do you still have questions about camp or want to get a better idea of what the experience is like? Maybe you're interested in applying to be part of our camp staff but want to learn more about what that entails? Join in on one of our info sessions to meet our Program Director, ask questions, and learn what to consider when deciding if kin·dom camp is right for your camper. Most of the information will focus specifically on our Texas location, but we're happy to answer questions about all 4 locations. We will have one in-person info session at Finn's Place in Fort Worth, TX. All other sessions will be online - register using the button below.
IN-PERSON Info Session at Finn's Place (registration not required):
Online Camper Info Sessions:
Online Staff Info Sessions:
Please reach out to us at kindomcamp@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
In summer 2024, kin•dom camp will have 4 locations - Oregon, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Brownstown, Indiana, and Texas. Our Texas location is about 3 hours outside of the DFW area - we don't give the exact location until your camper has been registered or you have been hired onto our camp staff. Read below for more information on our partner locations.
The word “kin•dom” offers a new way of imagining the full inclusion and belonging of all people. It is a word that offers an alternative to "kingdom" and allows a more expansive view of how we are all connected. It moves beyond dynamics of power and oppression, and invites us all to see the ways we are interconnected and made better together. The word was originally brought forth by theologian Ada María Isasi-Díaz, who used the word to speak about the liberation that is intended for all people. This camp is a direct part of kin•dom community, and there is no greater vision we can imagine for LBGTQIA+ youth than for them to know that they belong, that they are loved, and that they are free and safe to be their whole selves.
Now more than ever, LGBTQIA+ youth are in need of unconditional love and acceptance. kin•dom camp will be a week for LGBTQIA+ youth to experience belonging and affirmation. The week will include plenty of "traditional" camp activities and recreation, plus some specialized programming to incorporate activities and conversations around queer history, culture, and experiences.
While our partner sites are faith-based, they are fully committed to the work of kin•dom camp and to creating a safe environment for our campers. As a community, we recognize the pain and hurt that the church has caused LGBTQIA+ people. As part of our desire to dismantle prejudices in faith spaces and see this harm healed, campers have the opportunity to sign up for workshops and activities that may relate to faith and spirituality. Those conversations remain opt-in only; our camp-wide curriculum centers around the queer experience. Camp curriculums are rooted in shared beliefs, and we know that our common ground is a desire to be in queer-affirming community. There is no expectation of faith – the only thing we expect is a commitment to welcoming and celebrating everyone where they are, as they are.
Yes! We have a Young Adult Leadership Training program specifically for those who have aged out of camp and are looking for an opportunity to grow in their leadership skills. You can read more about this program in the "Young Adult Leadership Training" section above. Please note, this program is currently only offered at kin•dom camp in Texas. Please check with our other camp sites about their age policies.
We are always looking for fully-affirming adults to staff kin•dom camp! For more information about volunteering at kin•dom camp in Texas, please see the "Apply to Volunteer" section above. If you'd like to apply at one of our other locations, please see the section below and click to view more info on our partners' websites.
If you're unable to attend camp, please consider sharing our social media posts and donating as you're able! The best ways to help with these camps are by talking about us and ensuring our ability to sustain camp financially. Thank you in advance for your support!
After the successful launch of kin•dom camp at Zephyr Point last summer, we are thrilled to launch two new partnerships in summer 2024 with Stronghold and PYOCA! We can't wait to meet campers from Illinois, Indiana, and beyond. Our friends at Zephyr Point, Stronghold, and PYOCA are proud to lean into their missions of welcoming all to experience community through their partnerships with kin•dom.
June 16 - 21, 2024
Registration is Open!
Located in Oregon, Illinois
June 23-28, 2024
Registration is Open!
Located on Lake Tahoe in Nevada
June 30 - July 3
Registration is Open!
Located in Brownstown, Indiana
Click below to make a tax deductible donation that will go directly toward camp costs and scholarship funds.
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