Camp Starlight

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.

Founded in 1999, Camp Starlight is a weeklong sleep-away summer camp for children in Oregon and Washington originally created for children who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Some of our campers are HIV+ themselves, while others have someone in their immediate family – a parent, a sibling, a care-taker – who is infected. In 2025, Camp Starlight expanded its mission to also welcome children who identify as LGBTQIA+ or who are children of LGBTQIA+ parents. Camp Starlight creates an environment of fun, friendship and support for these children to cast aside their shared worries and fears around HIV and to just be kids for a week.

Campers enjoy the attention of a one-to-one ratio with an all-volunteer staff of counselors, activity specialists and medical personnel. Activities at Camp Starlight include swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, archery, music, talent shows, sports, games, campfires and more. Our children come to camp at no charge to their families. We supply healthy meals, swimsuits, towels, new and used clothing, shampoo – making sure every child has what he or she needs to feel at home and cared for while they are at camp. Our aim is to create a place where these children are given the space to be themselves and continue to discover who they are and who they want to be; a place where they can make friendships with both kids and adults that can last a lifetime; a place that makes a difference in their lives.