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Each summer we host the YES Program Summer Community Camp!

The YES Summer Community Camp program is a week-long residential camp designed to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people with the support, knowledge and skills they need to take charge of their own health and well-being.

Because so many LGBT youth lack a support network that is affirming of their identities, we seek to create a supportive network through the camp program and it's FREE!

The residential week of camp includes workshops in the mornings for all campers, followed by afternoon and evening activities, such as swimming, hiking, boating, talent shows, arts and crafts workshops, nature walks, sports, ice cream parties and lots of fun!

YES Summer Community Camp Dates 2012
Residential Week of Camp: Sunday, August 19th through Saturday, August 25th, 2012

Joining Camp - Young people who want to join the Camp program are required to sign up at a Camp Orientation. All Orientations are held at the YES office at the Center during the month of June (and sometimes July). After completing a Camp Orientation, each camper will be assigned to a Family Group, this is a group of young people who will share a cabin lead by two youth leaders (called Family Group Leaders) and supervised by a YES Staff Mentor. Due to the high demand for participation in camp, interested young people should complete a YES intake by early June to obtain specific information about the orientation cycle. 

Camp Commitment - Starting in July, all campers begin to come to weekly Family Group meetings so they can get to know each of the people who will live in their cabin. There are a total of 6 meetings that a camper must attend, once a week, all leading up to Camp in August. After this series of Family Group meetings here, we head off to a week of residential camp at the Fairview Lake YMCA Camp and Conference Center in Stillwater, New Jersey in mid-to-late August.

Leading The Way - Youth leaders are trained to serve as Family Group Leaders for Community Camp.  Family Group Leaders act as camp counselors for our week-long residential camp program, which includes the facilitation of a 6-week Family Group cycle before we leave for camp to build community and prepare campers for the week of camp.  Family Group Leaders receive a stipend for their participation. Training begins in May including a four day training retreat at Fairview Lake YMCA Camp.  The Family Group Leaders’ commitment extends through early September when we have our Camp Reunion.  If you have attended the YES Summer Camp Program and have leadership experience, you may be eligible to be a Family Group Leader

contact us Call 212.620.7310 and ask for the YES program (or a specific staff person's name), or email us at YES@gaycenter.org.