MISSIOn
Camp Starlight provides a caring, safe, recreational, and fun camping experience for children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS and/or the stigma against the LGBTQIA+ community.
PHILOSOPHY
This is the campers’ time to play, learn, explore, and create friendships in a safe place where they know they are accepted, supported, and loved. Each child brings to camp their own experiences with stigma. Some children may choose to talk about these experiences; others may not. We need to remember that it is their choice.
While many campers have a good understanding of their connection to the LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS communities, others simply know that “mom is sick,” or “I take a special medicine.” We respect their varying degrees of understanding and let them decide if they want to share. We are here to listen and support.
Camp Starlight is a community that provides campers and staff with an environment of safety and acceptance, where they can enjoy freedom from the stigma while playing, reflecting, and supporting one another in the sunshine of a beautiful outdoor facility.
VISION
Camp Starlight envisions a world where every child affected by HIV/AIDS or who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community grows up knowing they are valued, supported, and free to thrive. We strive to create a generation of young people who carry confidence instead of stigma, community instead of isolation, and joy instead of fear.
Through compassionate care, inclusive programming, and a culture of belonging, we aim to empower campers to see their own strength, build lifelong connections, and become leaders who shape a more just and accepting world.
DEI
Camp Starlight is committed to providing a safe, affirming community for children affected by HIV/AIDS and for children who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We welcome campers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, health statuses, and family backgrounds, ensuring every child feels seen, respected, and supported.
Equity guides our programs and decisions. We work intentionally to remove barriers, challenge stigma, and create an environment where all young people have equal opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Our staff and volunteers uphold these values through compassionate care and ongoing learning.
Inclusion is central to our mission: every child deserves a place where they belong.