Campfire Institute Inc

04/07/2026

Win 2 tickets to see Pattie Gonia at the State Theatre! 🎟️🌎✨

Here’s how to enter:
💝Donate $10+ to Campfire Institute (LGBTQ+ youth summer camp)
📲Send us a screenshot of your donation confirmation via DM. That’s it!
✨ 2 winners (4 tickets total)
✨ Enter up to 3 times to increase your chances

Donate here: campfireinstitute.org/donate. Good luck! 🌎

03/30/2026

So much joy, connection, and community in one place. Stay tuned for our next OUT trip! 🛶

03/30/2026

So much joy, connection, and community in one place. Stay tuned fo our next OUT trip! 🛶

03/08/2026

02/06/2026

📅 March 28–29 (overnight)�📍 Location shared after registration — just 1 hour from Portland�💰 $100 | Scholarships available�🔗 Sign up here: https://www.campfireinstitute.org/registration/p/lgbtq-leadership-retreat-and-dance-amncz
Open to LGBTQIA2S+ youth and allies, ages 12–17 — this retreat is a space to be yourself, make meaningful connections, and experience the kind of community that gets you.

08/28/2025

Campfire Institute is thrilled to once again offer our DOWNEAST CampOUT!

Originally designed by a UMM student to increase access to LGBTQIA+ youth programming in rural Downeast Maine, this special event will take place September 26–28, 2025.

Participants will stay in cozy cabins with the rocky shore as our backdrop. This unique property inspires creativity, and we plan to spend plenty of time making art from found objects. Expect to explore nature, learn from visiting artists, and—fingers crossed—enjoy a boating excursion on the last day!

The Downeast CampOUT offers not only a safe and welcoming environment, but also the chance to connect with peers and explore shared identities through fun, meaningful activities. Join us for an unforgettable weekend that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and the beauty of nature.

Transportation is not provided, but it’s worth the drive! Carpooling encouraged.

Scholarships Available! https://www.campfireinstitute.org/registration/p/jo4ks0gtdv2f674vcebldy4gdqgthr

📍 Location: Washington County, ME (exact location shared with registered participants)
📅 Date: September 26 (evening)–28 (afternoon), 2025

08/27/2025

Our staff 💙

08/26/2025

Saplings, Roots, and Wings — every camper, every cabin, one camp family. 🌱🌳🪽

06/24/2025

🎸✨ Are you a camp song connoisseur? The kind of person who knows exactly when to start "Barges" or how to strum along to "Country Roads"?

We need someone to accompany our campfire singing on guitar—to add the instrumental that ties it all together. Think of yourself as the flavor enhancer of the evening singalong.

Bonus points if you can also lend a hand with other camp activities—whether it’s crafts, nature walks, or just helping kids feel like they belong. But the main gig? Playing guitar while we sing our hearts out.

Our camp is for girls, trans, and gender non-conforming youth ages 7–15, and we’re especially seeking someone who identifies as female, trans, or gender non-conforming to reflect and support our campers.

📅 August 16–23📍 Thetford, Vermont
💰 This is a volunteer position with a small stipend, plus room, board, and all-you-can-eat s'mores.

Know someone whose playlist is just one big campfire? Message us!

06/07/2025

✨From campers to counselors to true legends✨�Please join us in cheering for our Campfire Institute summer camp favorites—Tulip, Chippy, and Finch—as they graduate high school and step into their next big adventures! 🎓🌈💫
These three started out as campers, wide-eyed and giggly and covered in bug spray—and over the years, they’ve become steady, glowing parts of our community. From silly skits to quiet heart-to-hearts, they’ve been woven into the fabric of our camps, our songs (especially the Girls Camp song 💛), and our traditions.
They’ve braided friendship bracelets and braided community. They’ve led with heart, laughter, courage, and joy. Tulip, Chippy, Finch—you’ve truly been part of it all. A part of the foundation. A light for so many younger campers. 🌲🌟
As you head out into this big, wild world, we hope you know Campfire will always be a soft place to land.
We love you endlessly. Keep shining, keep wandering, keep being exactly who you are. 💛🔥

03/31/2025

🌲✨ Just a few spots left! ✨🌲

Our 3-day, 2-night Outdoor Leadership Camp is back this summer—made for LGBTQIA+ teens (ages 14–18) who are ready to dive into adventure, build confidence, and find community under the stars. 🌈🔥

🗓 July 14–16
📍Maine wilderness + riverside camping
🎒 All gear provided—no experience needed!
💙 Allies welcome!

This year’s lineup includes:
🧗 Indoor climbing + belay training
🌊 Whitewater rafting (!!)
🏕 Camping out by the river
🔥 Classic campfire magic
✨ And the kind of community that makes you feel like you really belong

Thanks to support from the Maine Tourism Association, this unforgettable experience is possible—so let’s make it count. 💫

⏳ Spots are flying—don’t miss out!
📲 https://www.campfireinstitute.org/registration/p/outdoor-leadership-trip-for-lgbtqia-teens-and-allies-ages-14-18