The Naming Project Summer Camp
Bay Lake, 16257 Brighton Point Road, Deerwood, MN 56444
About
The Naming Project Summer Camp is a five-day summer camp for youth that brings together faith and LGBTQ and allied identities. The program also offers a faith drop-in center for LGBTQ and allied youth, support for youth on issues of coming out, families, Christianity, and general support, and advice for LGBTQ youth organizations facing issues of religion. The Naming Project communicates with parents, pastors, church staff, youth workers, and others who care for LGBTQ youth.
• Schedule: Summer Youth Camp July 26-31, 2026; a five-day summer camp for youth
The Naming Project describes its mission as creating places of safety for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities where faith is shared and healthy life-giving community is modeled. It is a Christian ministry serving youth of all sexual and gender identities, including youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or allied. The program focuses on bringing faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity together in conversation and offers space in which youth can discuss faith, who they understand themselves to be, and how they relate to God and the rest of the world. It is described as a Christian ministry that walks with youth wherever they are on their own faith journey and provides safe, welcoming, and nurturing environments for LGBTQ and allied youth.
In Minneapolis in the fall of 2002, Jay was approached by a Christian educator, and in April of 2003 The Naming Project came into being. From these beginnings, The Naming Project Summer Camp kicked off in August of 2004. Youth from around the country attend the summer camp, and The Naming Project communicates with youth, parents, pastors, youth workers, and others who care for LGBTQ youth.
The leadership and support structure includes Jay, Ross, Brad, The Naming Project staff, and an Advisory Board. Brad studied for a Masters of Divinity and served as a chaplain, and he served as a hospital chaplain in 1998. The Naming Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Naming Project Summer Camp was featured on “Our America with Lisa Ling” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and some of the camp story is illustrated in the award-winning documentary “Camp Out.”
Financial aid is provided to campers who request it. The Rev. Megan Jane Jones Memorial Scholarship will cover a full camp registration and transportation costs to attend, and one scholarship will be awarded each year.
Camper reflections shared by the program include prayers and hopes such as “I pray that God helps me to find my strengths and figure out how to use them to help others” and “I pray that God helps me to change the world for the better.” Other camper words include “Stop the hate. Feed the hungry. Accept the differences. Open your arms to all. Bless the broken. Forgive the sorry” and “A better future for all LGBTQ people and our generation. Love Jesus & God. World peace. Love for everybody.” Additional camper statements include prayers for those who are alone or feel like a shadow of themselves, and a desire for “peace to wash over my heart... at least for a short time.” One camper summarizes their hopes as “Love God. Love one another. Celebration of diversity. Inclusion and equality. Experiencing God in the way we are created. Hope for the hurting, hungry, and oppressed. Anger turned into peace and gentleness. Transformation of our earthly bodies. Everyone gathered at the table.”
Last updated July 17, 2026.
• Schedule: Summer Youth Camp July 26-31, 2026; a five-day summer camp for youth
The Naming Project describes its mission as creating places of safety for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities where faith is shared and healthy life-giving community is modeled. It is a Christian ministry serving youth of all sexual and gender identities, including youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or allied. The program focuses on bringing faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity together in conversation and offers space in which youth can discuss faith, who they understand themselves to be, and how they relate to God and the rest of the world. It is described as a Christian ministry that walks with youth wherever they are on their own faith journey and provides safe, welcoming, and nurturing environments for LGBTQ and allied youth.
In Minneapolis in the fall of 2002, Jay was approached by a Christian educator, and in April of 2003 The Naming Project came into being. From these beginnings, The Naming Project Summer Camp kicked off in August of 2004. Youth from around the country attend the summer camp, and The Naming Project communicates with youth, parents, pastors, youth workers, and others who care for LGBTQ youth.
The leadership and support structure includes Jay, Ross, Brad, The Naming Project staff, and an Advisory Board. Brad studied for a Masters of Divinity and served as a chaplain, and he served as a hospital chaplain in 1998. The Naming Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Naming Project Summer Camp was featured on “Our America with Lisa Ling” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and some of the camp story is illustrated in the award-winning documentary “Camp Out.”
Financial aid is provided to campers who request it. The Rev. Megan Jane Jones Memorial Scholarship will cover a full camp registration and transportation costs to attend, and one scholarship will be awarded each year.
Camper reflections shared by the program include prayers and hopes such as “I pray that God helps me to find my strengths and figure out how to use them to help others” and “I pray that God helps me to change the world for the better.” Other camper words include “Stop the hate. Feed the hungry. Accept the differences. Open your arms to all. Bless the broken. Forgive the sorry” and “A better future for all LGBTQ people and our generation. Love Jesus & God. World peace. Love for everybody.” Additional camper statements include prayers for those who are alone or feel like a shadow of themselves, and a desire for “peace to wash over my heart... at least for a short time.” One camper summarizes their hopes as “Love God. Love one another. Celebration of diversity. Inclusion and equality. Experiencing God in the way we are created. Hope for the hurting, hungry, and oppressed. Anger turned into peace and gentleness. Transformation of our earthly bodies. Everyone gathered at the table.”
Last updated July 17, 2026.
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