queer summer camp

frog in the bog at queer summer camp
drag yeti performing

let’s get weird in the woods

Come experience summer camp the way you never did as a kid!

LGBTQ+ for 30+yr olds

Palisade, Minnesota

Aug 19-23, 2026

Hosted by: Madelyn Steen, Kenen Heggernes, and Samsara Siler

gays under the moonlight

all-inclusive weekend for LGBTQ+ 

in beautiful Palisade, MN

Join us for a 3 or 4-night adventure in beautiful Palisade, Minnesota, where you can experience summer camp the way you never did as a kid! This all-inclusive weekend for LGBTQ+ (age 30+) combines the nostalgia of childhood camp with the freedom to be your authentic self. For many of us, camp wasn’t a place where we could be fully out or ourselves—now it can be. Whether you’re here to meet people, reconnect with nature, or simply celebrate in an inclusive space, Queer Summer Camp is your chance to create the summer memories you’ve always deserved.

“This weekend was an oasis. Spending time in the company of smart, beautiful queers is a gift.”

—Camper

campers cuddling at camp
A smiling woman taking a selfie outdoors near a body of water with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

meet your camp counselors

kenen heggernes

There is a non-refundable $300 Registration fee that goes towards ticket price. The remaining balance is due July 1st and you will receive an invoice.

canoes at long lake

sample schedule

Wednesday or Thursday (3pm check-in) - Sunday (11am check-out)

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM -Sunrise Gentle Yoga

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM -Breakfast

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Bog Trek

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM -Cyanotypes Photography

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -Lunch

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM -Beach Party!

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Free Time (hike, rest, connect, etc.)

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM - Choose your own adventure:

-Queer Magick or Outdoor Rec Hour

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Dinner

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Talent Show

8:00 PM onward - Queeraoke and Dance after dark

long lake conservation center

Learn more about Long Lake Conservation Center here.

Three people in an indoor climbing gym, wearing harnesses and smiling, standing near climbing walls with colorful holds.

FAQs

Support the BIPOC Scholarship Fund

Help more folks attend camp. 100% goes toward reducing costs for BIPOC folks. (Not tax-deductible.)

3% Cover the Fee

Your contribution helps increase access to camp through community support and BIPOC camper scholarships. Please note that donations are not tax-deductible, as funds are administered through softwildjoy LLC, rather than a nonprofit organization. No goods or services are being provided in exchange for this donaion.

hands holding rocks

“…the way people pulled me in and acknowledged me helped me feel seen and accepted, especially given the wonderful ways activities were led. It's incredible being in a space where the norm is queerness.”


— Camper