Fall 2025 Camp Overview

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The Fall 2025 All Queers Campout will take place Friday, September 26th through Monday, September 29th on Jemez land.

Please see the info below and review the QCO Values & Community Participation Guidelines so you’re prepared to co-create our time together. It is our organizing team’s goal to build a space where campers can curate their outdoor experiences.

We’re continuing our tiered registration process. Emails are sent out at the start of each registration section and the link is below.

Fall 2025 Queer Campout Registration Timeline:

  • August 19th: Registration open for BIPOC*, transfeminine folks, those affected by transmisogyny, and disabled** queers!
  • September 1st: General registration opens—all queers can register!
  • September 19: Registration closes (will close earlier if we reach capacity before this date)
  • September 26-29th: Campout weekend

*We define BIPOC as people who have been racialized as ‘ethnic minorities’, including but not limited to Native/Indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, Pacific Islander, Indian, Middle-Eastern, and/or multi-ethnicity/mixed-race folks. Rather than gatekeeping, we are relying on community members to self-assess which spaces are for them.

**Disabled: those excluded from aspects society due to lack of accessibility (read: social model of disability) and/or those with physical, cognitive, psychiatric, sensorial, and undiagnosed conditions necessitating accommodation, including those who do and do not self-identify as disabled; identity-first language intentional

Families

Kiddos are an important part of the community and including them is in line with QCO’s Values. We encourage families and other campers to practice mutual aid by collaborating to offer activities, ensure youth supervision, and meet families’ needs. If any of these are roles you’re interested in taking on, please let us know in your registration or email us at hello@qcampout.com.

QCO is a body-positive space, which means that attendees can expect some nudity.  Families should ensure their young people are prepared for and comfortable with this. (Kink and play activities will take place in designated 18+ areas.) 

Furry Friends

Trained service animals who will be working while at camp are welcome, but please leave emotional support animals and pets at home.

We’ve heard from campers that finding reliable and affordable pet care is a big barrier to joining camps located far from home. While we do not yet have an established network, we hope to connect campers who need pet care with people who are able to offer it to meet this need where possible. If you or a contact can provide this support, please email us at hello@qcampout.com.

Volunteering

In the spirit of co-creation, everyone who attends Campout should plan to volunteer for at least one shift. Campers can sign up for role(s) before camp or at camp:

  • Before camp → We’re recruiting for roles that require varying levels of commitment. From Helpers to Team Leaders, we are looking for campers to join the following teams and prepare together before camp starts: Camp Greeters, Care Bears, Disability and Access Resource Team (DART), Camp Setup & Teardown Crew, & the Medic Team.

The Pre-Camp Queer Cookout will be held in Albuquerque from 11am-1pm Saturday, September 20th! We encourage all campers and organizers to attend.

  • At camp → At check-in, campers can sign up for shifts on crews that don’t require commitment before camp such as Camp Upkeep Crew, Campfire Crew and Answer Keepers. Folks are also encouraged to help out with empty shifts throughout camp if they can.

We make QCO happen together! Learn more about Volunteer roles and what they entail.

Activities

Campers have hosted all sorts of fun games and activities at QCO, from kink workshops and play parties to dance parties, talking circles, campfire karaoke, and topless watermelon eating. If you want to make a particular activity happen at camp, go for it! Please let us know when registering or email hello@qcampout.org and the Activities & Engagement team will reach out directly to help coordinate gear and ways to improve access. A little thought and preparation around access needs including (but not limited to) mobility, allergies, sensory stimuli, and language interpretation go a long way toward campers being able to participate and grow in community.

If your activity would benefit from ASL interpretation, we ask that you type a rough summary or script and email it to us by September 23rd so that we can forward it to our interpreters ahead of time to make their jobs easier. Things like rules for a game, short stories, poems, or song lyrics to share, and information about the wild neighbors we might encounter on a hike are all great for interpreters to be able to review ahead of time so they can communicate more smoothly.

COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to present a very real and serious risk to many people, including members of our community. Queer Campout is an anti-oppressive space committed to inclusivity and accessibility, which means practicing community care through continuing to take COVID-19 precautions although they were lifted across the country and much of the world. Please plan to take at least one COVID test before traveling up to Jemez (sequential tests 48 hours apart have the best rate of catching false negatives!), and make sure to have a well-fitting mask such as an N95 with you at all times.

Although much of our time will be outdoors and well-ventilated, we are grateful for any additional actions you take to protect our beloved community!

Read more about QCO’s COVID-19 Precautions.

Accessibility

QCO was–and is continually–created to offer an opportunity for those with less access to nature/camping to enjoy the outdoors in safe, inclusive community. This means prioritizing accessibility for disabled** campers. In addition to using campsites with ADA-compliant features, the QCO Disability and Accessibility Resource Team (DART) is prepared to collaboratively develop accommodations for those with a range of disabilities and accessibility needs.

Learn more about QCO accessibility. If you have questions, please email us at hello@qcampout.com. If you have access needs, let us know in your registration and DART will be in contact with you.

**Disabled: those excluded from aspects society due to lack of accessibility (read: social model of disability) and/or those with physical, cognitive, psychiatric, sensorial, and undiagnosed conditions necessitating accommodation, including those who do and do not self-identify as disabled; identity-first language intentional

RVs & Campers

Space for RVs and campers is limited at the campgrounds. We ask that only those who need to use RVs and campers do so and that all others plan to car camp or use a tent. The QCO Disability and Accessibility Resource Team (DART) will reach out to those who note in their registration that they hope to use an RV/camper to make appropriate arrangements.

Donations

This year, we will collect donations via Venmo and Givebutter prior to and at camp. We ask that all campers who are able to make a contribution to help cover the costs of the campground rental and supplies needed for the weekend. We suggest a sliding scale of $10-25 per camper. 

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the weekend regardless of their ability to contribute financially.

We’re so excited to be in the woods with you so soon!

P.S. If you have IG, follow us! And, if you have any questions or feedback, please email the Organizing Team at hello@qcampout.org ♥️

Early Registration is NOW OPEN for the Fall 2025 All Queers Campout!

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This Fall’s All Queers Campout will be in Jemez from September 26th to September 29th.

Like our spring camp, this event is open to all queers and their families, and we are continuing to offer Priority Registration for:

BIPOC* queers  
Trans Women/Trans fems/TMA** Folks
Disabled*** queer and queers with disabilities  

If this is you, click here to register! If you want to attend the QTBIPOC camp September 4-8, a Partiful link is embedded in the same form.

Otherwise, please register when General Registration opens on September 1st.

Once you have registered, please monitor your inbox for follow-up communications.

*BIPOC: People who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, multi-heritage, Indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialized as ‘people of color.’

**TMA = Trans Misogyny Affected

***Disabled: those excluded from aspects society due to lack of accessibility (read: social model of disability) and/or those with physical, cognitive, psychiatric, sensorial, and undiagnosed conditions necessitating accommodation, including those who do and do not self-identify as disabled.

Dates to Remember for this Campout:

  • Friday, September 19th: Registration for the All Queers Camp closes
  • Saturday, September 20th: Pre-Camp Potluck 11am-1pm. All campers and organizers invited to attend.
  • Friday, September 26-29th: Campout weekend


We look forward to spending time in the mountains with you all!


– The Queer Campout team

Register Here.

Get Ready for Three Queer Campout Events This September!

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We’re thrilled to announce three distinct opportunities to connect with community in nature this fall:

September 4-8: QTBIPOC Campout

September 20th: Pre-Camp Queer Cookout

  • The Pre-Camp Cookout is a great space to get to know other nature-loving queers ahead of the All Queers Camp, learn about volunteer roles, and have fun!
  • Grill staples with vegan options will be provided.
  • We encourage bringing a food or beverage to share, but this is not required.

September 26-29: Queer Campout

  • This event is open to everyone who identifies as queer.
  • More details coming soon!

Important Note: Please be aware that each of these campouts is being organized by separate groups of volunteers. As such, the guidelines, structure, and focus for each event will differ. We encourage you to review the specific details for each campout before attending.

Fire Restrictions for Spring Camp 2025

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There are currently Stage 1 fire restrictions at our campsite that prohibit the building, maintaining, attending or using of all fires, campfires or stoves. Stage 1 restrictions include all gas and charcoal barbecues or grills, except where posted. These fire restrictions are in place due to high fire danger in the area. We expect fire restrictions to be in effect for the duration of camp, and want to provide you with the information needed to plan accordingly for your trip.

More fire and weather updates will be emailed to camp registrants as the date approaches and forecasts gain more accuracy.

General Registration is Open for the Spring 2025 Queer Campout!

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Please check out the Spring 2025 Queer Campout Overview for important details about this campout.

Subscribe to our email list so you never miss an important QCO date!

Follow us on Instagram for the same.

Dates to Remember for this Campout:

  • NOW: General registration is open! all queers can register using the button below!
  • Friday, May 23rd: Registration closes
  • Saturday, May 24th: Volunteer Potluck 11am-1pm. All campers and organizers invited to attend!
  • Friday, May 30-Monday, June 2nd: Campout weekend


We look forward to spending time in the mountains with you all!


– The Queer Campout team

Register Here.

Spring 2025 Queer Campout Overview

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The Spring 2025 Campout will take place Friday, May 30th through Monday, June 2nd in Jemez. It’s been over a year since we’ve had an All-Queers Camp, and we can’t wait to come together!

Please see the info below and review the QCO Values & Community Participation Guidelines so you’re prepared to co-create our time together.

We’re continuing our tiered registration process. Emails are sent out at the start of each registration section and the link is below.

Spring 2025 Queer Campout Registration Timeline:

  • April 21: Registration opens for BIPOC*, transfeminine folks, those affected by transmisogyny, and disabled** queers
  • May 5: General registration opens—all queers can register!
  • May 23: Registration closes (will close earlier if we reach capacity before this date)
  • May 30 to June 2: Campout weekend

*We define BIPOC as people who have been racialized as ‘ethnic minorities’, including but not limited to Native/Indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, Pacific Islander, Indian, Middle-Eastern, and/or multi-ethnicity/mixed-race folks. Rather than gatekeeping, we are relying on community members to self-assess which spaces are for them.

**Disabled: those excluded from aspects society due to lack of accessibility (read: social model of disability) and/or those with physical, cognitive, psychiatric, sensorial, and undiagnosed conditions necessitating accommodation, including those who do and do not self-identify as disabled; identity-first language intentional

Families

Kiddos are an important part of the community and including them is in line with QCO’s Values. Ideally, someone coordinates all things family-related for QCO (activities, youth supervision, and meeting family’s needs). If this is a role you’re interested in taking on, please email us at hello@qcampout.com or let us know in your registration.

QCO is a body-positive space, which means that attendees can expect some nudity.  Families should ensure their young people are prepared for and comfortable with this. (Kink and play activities will take place in designated 18+ areas.) 

Furry Friends

Trained service animals who will be working while at camp are welcome, but please leave ESAs and pets at home.

We’ve heard from campers that finding reliable and affordable pet care is a big barrier to joining camps located far from home. We hope to connect campers who need pet care with people who are able to offer it to meet this need where possible. If you can provide this support, please email us at hello@qcampout.com. If you would like to receive this support, let us know in your registration.

Volunteering

In the spirit of co-creation, everyone who attends Campout should plan to volunteer for at least one shift. Campers can sign up for role(s) before camp or at camp:

  • Before camp → We’re recruiting for roles that require varying levels of commitment. From Helpers to Team Leaders, we are looking for campers to join the following teams and prepare together before camp starts: Camp Greeters, Care Bears, Disability and Access Resource Team (DART), Camp Setup & Teardown Crew, & the Medic Team.

Our Volunteer Picnic will be held in northeast Albuquerque from 11am-1pm Saturday, May 24th! We encourage all campers and organizers to attend.

If you’re interested in taking on one or more of these roles, please contact us or let us know when you register. Our Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to you directly.

  • At camp → At check-in, campers can sign up for shifts on crews that don’t require commitment before camp such as Camp Upkeep Crew, Campfire Crew and Answer Keepers. Folks are also encouraged to help out with empty shifts throughout camp if they can.

We make QCO happen together! Learn more about Volunteer roles and what they entail.

Activities

Campers have hosted all sorts of fun games and activities at QCO, from kink workshops and play parties to dance parties, talking circles, campfire karaoke, and topless watermelon eating. If you are interested in hosting an activity, please let us know on the registration form and the Activities & Engagement team will reach out directly to help coordinate. In planning an activity, please consider requirements for participation such as mobility, allergies, sensory stimuli, and language interpretation so that campers can make informed decisions about where to direct their energy. If your activity would benefit from ASL interpretation, we ask that you write up a rough summary or script and email it to us by May 27th so that we can forward it to our interpreters ahead of time.

Poetry Circle

Send your favorite poems to hello@qcampout.org so we can share them in a signing and reading circle!

Nature Walk

Nature knows no binary! Get to know your non-human neighbors!

COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to present a very real and serious risk to many people, including members of our community. Queer Campout is an anti-oppressive space committed to inclusivity and accessibility, which means practicing community care through continuing to take COVID-19 precautions although they were lifted across the country and much of the world. Please plan to take at least one COVID test before traveling up to Jemez (sequential tests 48 hours apart have the best rate of catching false negatives!), and make sure to have a well-fitting mask such as an N95 with you at all times.

Although much of our time will be outdoors and well-ventilated, we are grateful for any additional actions you take to protect our beloved community!

Read more about QCO’s COVID-19 Precautions.

Accessibility

QCO was–and is continually–created to offer an opportunity for those with less access to nature/camping to enjoy the outdoors in safe, inclusive community. This means prioritizing accessibility for disabled** campers. In addition to using campsites with ADA-compliant features, the QCO Disability and Accessibility Resource Team (DART) is prepared to collaboratively develop accommodations for those with a range of disabilities and accessibility needs.

Learn more about QCO accessibility. If you have questions, please email us at hello@qcampout.com. If you have access needs, let us know in your registration and DART will be in contact with you.

**Disabled: those excluded from aspects society due to lack of accessibility (read: social model of disability) and/or those with physical, cognitive, psychiatric, sensorial, and undiagnosed conditions necessitating accommodation, including those who do and do not self-identify as disabled; identity-first language intentional

RVs & Campers

Space for RVs and campers is limited at the campgrounds. We ask that only those who need to use RVs and campers do so and that all others plan to car camp or use a tent. The QCO Disability and Accessibility Resource Team (DART) will reach out to those who note in their registration that they hope to use an RV/camper to make appropriate arrangements.

Donations

This year, we will collect donations via Venmo and Givebutter prior to and at camp. We ask that all campers who are able to make a contribution to help cover the costs of the campground rental and supplies needed for the weekend. We suggest a sliding scale of $10-25 per camper. 

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the weekend regardless of their ability to contribute financially.

We’re so excited to be in the woods with you so soon!

P.S. If you have IG, follow us! And, if you have any questions or feedback, please email the Organizing Team at hello@qcampout.org ♥️

You’re Invited: August 2nd Gathering

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Do you love Queer Campout and want it to continue? Join us for an outdoor dinner, where we will plan and reimagine the future of this project.

Friday, August 2nd, 2024
5pm – 8pm
Albuquerque foothills 

Queer Campout is evolving away from the current organizing structure where a small group of folks plan large events twice yearly—this has been fun, but is also unsustainable.

While we’re still figuring out what a new Queer Campout looks like, our vision for the future includes:

  • Centering marginalized people within the queer community
  • Gathering in more intentional ways that allow us opportunities to practice our values
  • Fostering a more connected community by having smaller and more accessible gatherings and events between campouts
  • Campouts that are collectively organized and executed by all who attend

Come plan with us and be part of realizing QCO’s next chapter!

Please RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/2c9C4eRyLtANDYZhRdUB 

  • We will have $25 gift cards for attendees, thanks to a one-time partnership with The Mountain Center.
  • Exact location shared with those who RSVP.
  • Please leave your doggos at home unless they are trained service animals.
  • No smoking.
  • Dinner will have vegan and gluten-free options. Feel free to bring extra snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.


Accessibility info: We reserved a mobility-device accessible outdoor facility near Sandia Heights with paved paths, picnic tables, restrooms, and 40 reserved parking spaces (including accessible spaces). If you have other accommodation needs, feel free to reach out to us to plan together.

We’d love to see you there!
Your fellow queer campers

ICYMI: General Registration is Open for the May 2024 BIPOC Queer Campout!

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Please check out the May 2024 BIPOC Queer Campout Overview for important details about this campout.

Subscribe to our email list so you never miss an important QCO date!

Follow us on Instagram for the same.

Dates to Remember for this Campout:

  • NOW: General registration is open! all QTBIPOC can register using the button below!
  • May 10th: Registration closes
  • May 17–20: Campout weekend


We look forward to hang out in the mountains with you all!


– The BIPOC Queer Campout team

Register Here.

P.S. “ICYMI” stands for “in case you missed it”.

Tier 1 Registration is Open for the May 2024 BIPOC Queer Campout!

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If you identify as a black or indigenous queer, a trans fem/woman of color, or disabled queer person of color, you can begin registration from today.

Things to note:

  • Please ensure that everyone in your group who is 18 years of age or older registers individually.
  • Please make sure you specify if you require any accommodations and fill out the registration form as accurately as you are able.

Early registration is an opportunity for people who are historically underrepresented in the community to join and participate in camp activities before all spaces fill up. Don’t let this opportunity eclipse you by!

– The BIPOC Queer Campout team

REGISTER NOW!

2024 Campout Dates & Other Important Announcements

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May 2024 Campout Dates & Intentional Community

We are excited to announce that the May 2024 Campout will be the first QTBIPOC Campout and will take place Friday, May 17th through Monday, May 20th in Jemez.

A cartoon image that includes a bear and a cat standing in a forest next to a camping tent, and the tent is decorated with rainbow flags. Text at the top reads, Save the dates! Queer Campout 2024. Text underneath reads, May 17-24, Jemez, QTBIPOC. September 6-9, Jemez, All.”

We’ve all felt how powerful it is to have time and space in nature specifically for us. Guided by our values, we aim to be intentional and conscientious in centering and prioritizing those who are intersectionally marginalized within our community and outdoor spaces at large. Gestures like tiered registration have started to help us do this. Still, we’ve seen camp after camp that QCO remains a predominantly white space (as well as predominantly nondisabled, cis/transmasc/nonbinary, and other dominant groups).

Having a QTBIPOC-only campout is not about furthering segregation or disconnection, but a response to their occurrence within queer-only spaces like the campout. Just as Q* people need spaces without straight people, and trans people need spaces without cisgender people, Black, Brown, Asian, Indigenous, and other people racialized as People of Color or ethnic minorities need spaces without white people.

We envision additional specialized campouts, such as one for disabled folks, another for trans women and fems, and one for families with children. Everyone in the QCO community is invited to participate in making these spaces happen, even if the space itself is not designed for you. This is an opportunity to actualize and practice the values of equity, allyship, and community care, all in service of our collective well-being.

Click here to learn more about how the QTBIPOC camp aligns with QCO values.

The background is a feded cartoon image that includes a bear and a cat standing in a forest next to a camping tent, and the tent is decorated with rainbow flags. Text at the top reads, First-ever QTBIPOC Campout: Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous, & People of Color. Text underneath reads, May 17-24, Jemez Mountains, NM."

Call for QTBIPOC Organizers

Part of our goal is for QCO to not only support and center BIPOC, disabled, transfemme/TMA, and other intersectionally marginalized members of our community but to be organized by BIPOC, disabled, transfemme/TMA, and other intersectionally marginalized folks. Ideally, QTBIPOC folks will be the ones making decisions about what this (and future) campout looks like.

Regardless of the level of involvement you can commit to, please let us know if you would like to be part of the planning and decision-making for the May 2024 QTBIPOC Campout! A small core group of white organizers is committed to providing labor and support for the QTBIPOC campout and assisting in displacing the amount of labor. (If other white folks would like to offer labor, we invite you to join us in doing so as well.)

September 2024 Campout

The fall 2024 campout will also be in Jemez, Friday, September 6th – Monday, September 9th, and open to all queer campers.