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🌈 Rainbow Camp® • Building Our Future
The Home We Never Had
A permanent home for Rainbow Camp® — where 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allies can experience belonging, joy, leadership, chosen family, and community for generations to come.
Rainbow Camp® has spent more than a decade creating spaces where young people can be safe, seen, and celebrated. Now we are working toward something we have never had: a permanent home of our own.
Where we are now
We know what we need. Now we need the resources to make it possible.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has suggested camps, rental facilities, properties, and possible places where Rainbow Camp® could operate.
But finding somewhere to hold camp is no longer the goal. There are viable opportunities available to us. What Rainbow Camp® needs is the capital to purchase and develop a property that can become a stable, accessible and permanent home.
This campaign is about moving from temporary solutions to long-term security.
Why permanence matters
Rainbow Camp® changes what growing up can feel like.
For many queer, trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, questioning, and allied youth, Rainbow Camp® is one of the first places where they do not have to hide, shrink, explain, or defend who they are.
A permanent home would protect that experience from the uncertainty of temporary facilities and allow us to plan years ahead instead of one season at a time.
The vision
Centred on youth. Open to generations. Created to last.
Rainbow Camp® youth remain at the heart of this vision. A permanent home would give future camp programming greater stability while also creating room for year-round connection, community partnerships, families, volunteers, allies, and older generations of 2SLGBTQ+ people.
Rainbow Camp®
A stable home for future overnight camp, leadership development, staff training, creativity, outdoor experiences and youth programming.
Year-Round Community
Retreats, workshops, wellness programming, gatherings, outreach and community partnerships beyond the summer season.
Intergenerational Belonging
A place where younger and older generations can share stories, mentorship, chosen family, knowledge and community.
Aging with Pride
Belonging should not have an age limit.
Many older 2SLGBTQ+ people grew up at a time when safe and affirming spaces were rare or simply did not exist. Some continue to experience isolation, particularly in Northern and rural communities.
Our long-term vision creates opportunities for older adults to connect, contribute, share their stories and experience community without having to hide who they are.
Aging with Pride can include retreats, gatherings, mentorship, storytelling and future programming created with older 2SLGBTQ+ adults in mind.
The story
“The Home We Never Had” is bigger than a building.
Many older 2SLGBTQ+ people grew up without an affirming place where they could fully be themselves. This campaign honours that history without asking today's young people to repeat it.
We have an opportunity to build what many of us needed when we were young — and give the next generation something even better: a place that already exists for them.
It is a chance for one generation to help create something lasting for the next, while building a community where people of different ages can continue to learn from and care for one another.
The home many of us never had can become the home young people inherit.
A message from friends of Rainbow Camp®
Why this future matters.
Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath have been long-time friends and supporters of Rainbow Camp®. Their message will help introduce the heart behind this next chapter.
How you can help
Help turn the vision into a permanent home.
Building a permanent future will take individuals, families, foundations, businesses, governments, community partners and people who believe young people deserve a place to belong.
Make a multi-year pledge
Multi-year commitments can provide the confidence and momentum needed for major capital decisions.
Explore a leadership gift
Major and transformational gifts can help move property acquisition and development from vision to reality.
Create a lasting legacy
Legacy and estate gifts can help ensure future generations of 2SLGBTQ+ youth have a place to belong.
Building toward 2027
Our work continues while we build the future.
Traditional overnight Rainbow Camp® sessions are not running in 2026. This transition year gives us an opportunity to strengthen year-round connection, prepare for future programming, and move the permanent-home vision forward.
We are actively working toward the return of overnight programming in 2027. Updates will be shared as plans develop.
Help build the home many of us never had.
A permanent home can give Rainbow Camp® the stability to serve young people today while creating belonging, connection and community for generations to come.
