A camp where your pronouns, your identity, and your weird are all invited.

Rainbow Camp® is a summer camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies who are ready for late-night campfires, lake days, inside jokes, and a whole lot of “oh my gosh, you get it too?” moments.

✅No “proving” who you are. If you say that’s you — that’s you.

✅Names and pronouns respected. Full stop.

✅Staff who are trained, queer-positive, and actually listening.

“I found my people.”

Campers talk about Rainbow Camp® like a second home. Not perfect, not magical — but real, kind, goofy, and full of people who get what you’re going through.

13–17 2SLGBTQ+ & allies Northern & rural youth

Our story

How Rainbow Camp® happened (and keeps growing).

Rainbow Camp® started with a simple “what if?”

What if there was a camp where queer, trans, Two-Spirit, questioning, and allied youth didn’t have to shrink, translate, or hide parts of themselves just to get through the week?

Since 2012, that “what if?” has turned into:

Summer sessions where 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies come from across Canada.
Leadership roles for older campers who want to give back and step up.
Online programs that keep people connected long after the last campfire.

The goal is simple: more spaces where you can breathe, laugh too loud, try new things, and remember that you are not the only one.

Rainbow Camp® was founded by Harry Stewart and Chris Southin, whose vision, courage, and unwavering belief in queer and trans youth helped create a space that didn’t exist before. In recognition of this impact, both founders were awarded the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) of Canada for their leadership in founding Rainbow Camp® and changing lives nationwide.

Welcome Friend Association and Rainbow Camp® would also like to recognize our international spokespeople, Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath — a beloved Canadian celebrity couple known for their careers in comedy and acting — for their ongoing support and advocacy. Their voices have helped amplify Rainbow Camp’s mission and ensure more youth find a place where they truly belong.

What makes Rainbow Camp® different

It’s camp — but with your whole self invited.

🏕️

Actual camp fun

Campfires, talent shows, games, arts, swimming, canoeing — all the classics.

🌈

Queer & trans-affirming

Designed to feel good for trans, non-binary, questioning, and queer youth.

💬

Real conversations

Groups where you can talk about identity, coming out, family, labels — or memes.

🤝

Staff who get it

Trained, caring, queer-positive staff who actually listen.

🌿

Time in nature

Lake, trees, sky — and space to breathe.

📲

Staying connected

Online hangouts so friendships don’t end when summer does.

Who Rainbow Camp® is for

If you've ever thought “I'd love camp… if I didn’t have to hide this part of me,” this is your sign.

2SLGBTQ+ youth (13–17) Trans & non-binary youth Questioning youth Allied friends & siblings Rural & Northern youth

“

Before Rainbow Camp®, I'd only met maybe two queer people my age. At camp, I walked into the dining hall and thought, “Oh. There are a lot of us. Maybe I’m going to be okay.”

— Camper, Rainbow Camp®

Ready to see if Rainbow Camp® is for you?

Explore our programs, talk with your adults, or share this page. Money shouldn't be the thing that stops someone from coming — we work hard to offer sliding-scale fees and sponsorships.

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