Summer Camp

Since 2010, we've taken our young people on a weekend camping trip. It’s an annual opportunity to take part in lots of fun activities and spend time with other young trans and non-binary people. At the camp, you get to join in with activities like raft building or archery, make your own food, share stories around a campfire, and sleep in a tent. Our camps are suitable for experienced campers as well as people who have never slept in a tent before. We can also provide some indoor sleeping options for those who have particular access needs.

Click here to sign up. Signups are open until 9am on Monday 27 April.

Our residentials, trips and summer camp are all free of charge, and travel bursaries are available.

After taking time out last year, we’re back in action, and the team is excited to be on the field once more. This year will mark our 22nd and 23rd camps!

We will be running 2 camps - one for 11-17 year olds; and the other for 16-25 year olds. If you’re 16/17, you can choose which camp you’d like to sign up for.

Camp Dates:

• 11-17yrs camp will be Sunday 2nd August - Wednesday 5th August, with the prep day Saturday 11th July.
• 16-25yrs camp will be Friday 14th August - Monday 17th August, with the prep day Sunday 12th July.
• You will need to be able to attend the prep day as well as the camp dates. If this is going to be tricky for you, please do let us know.

Booking will be open from Monday 20th April 9am - Monday 27th April 9am. The link to sign up will be sent out closer to the time.
Booking is not first come first served.

As always, email youthwork@genderedintelligence.co.uk if you’d like more info about camps or any of our groups.

How signups will work:

• Booking will be live from 20th April 9am - 27th April 9am. We will make sure the booking link is emailed out nearer the time, as well as posted on social media.
• Booking is not first come, first served.
• This year we will reserve a minimum 8 spaces for trans people of colour and a minimum of 8 spaces for transfeminine young people for both camps.
• We will also reserve a minimum of 8 spaces for young people who have never been to a GI camp before. And 3 spaces for 25 year olds (for whom this will be their last chance to come camping with GI as a young person).
• This is to ensure all young people have a chance to access a diverse and inclusive camp experience.
• You'll be asked if you've been camping with us before and how many times. If you've been camping with us a lot, you may not get a space, as we want everyone to have an opportunity. But as there were no camps in 2025, everyone is welcome to apply. 
• After the spaces named above, spaces will be allocated randomly using a random number generator.
• 16-17 year olds can choose which camp they'd like to attend

A bit about the trip…

We will run 2 trips, each taking 40 young trans, non-binary and gender exploring young people aged 11 – 25 years, for 3 nights. We will run some activities, which young people will help choose on prep day. There is always plenty of chill out and ‘free’ time on camp too, with a chance to chat to each other, workers, catch up on sleep or go for a walk. All the workers and young people on the trip will be trans* or non-binary identified.

Working together

On the trip we all help to clean, cook, and look after each other. We eat, sleep, play and generally work together as a group to create the feeling of community and caring. We have our own field and toilet block that we can use as we want. We will have a combination of tents (single and shared) and dorm rooms for young people to sleep in - you can also bring your own tent, if you wish. Respect, teamwork, fun and love are at the heart of the atmosphere that we try to create and live by before and whilst we are on camp. 

FAQs:

Q - I don’t know anyone else, how will I make friends? 

A - We have a ‘prep day’ in London about a month before we go camping - this is for all the campers on the trip and the staff and volunteer team. It gives us a chance to get to know one another, figure out how we will support one another and decide activities. The team of youth workers will support you to connect with other young people in a way that works for you - from playing games together, to small group discussions, to building a fire together.

 
Q - I’m really anxious about coming and have lots of questions, is there someone to talk to about this?

A - As part of our process, we have a pre-camp call with every camper. This is a space for you to ask questions, talk through any specific needs and for us to make sure you feel confident about coming. We try to do these before prep-day, so that you can feel confident to attend. We can make additional calls between prep day and camp if you need them.

 
Q - I’ve never been camping before and i’m not sure if i’ll enjoy it. What if I change my mind when i’m there?

A - As youth workers we work with you around what you need and what’s right for you. We will always support you to stay if we can - if that means making your tent more comfy / cosy, or setting times where you can talk to home each day etc. But ultimately, if you want to leave, we will support you to do that also. We respect that each person is on their own journey and that these don’t look the same.

Q - I don’t own a sleeping bag, or a tent, is this a problem?

A - We have lots of tents, sleeping bags and so on that we will bring to site. We will send you a kit list before camp and will check with you if you need anything (and we will have lots of spares!)

Q - Where is the camp happening?

A - Both camps are happening in the South of England. We will share exact details of the location on the prep days.

Q - I’m in foster care and my social worker needs details to agree for me to attend. Is this possible?

A - Absolutely. Complete the form to book your place and if you get a place, we will work with you to make sure your social worker and carers have everything they need.

 
Q - Do I have to pay anything?

A - We fundraise and use funding to cover the costs of our camps. We ask that young people cover the cost of their travel where they can. But we can also support with travel bursaries where this would otherwise prevent you from attending.