Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Kramer.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Camp Indigo exists to provide transgender and gender expansive youth the opportunity to play, learn, connect, and live joyful, authentic childhoods. Founded in 2015 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Camp Indigo began with just 20 campers and a simple goal—to create a “normal” day-camp experience for trans kids where community and belonging could flourish without fear of otherness.
Now gearing up for our 13th summer, Camp Indigo serves more than 1,300 children and youth each year across six locations and five states. Camp Indigo is proudly trans-led and has become a national model for inclusive, affirming, and play-based youth development.
Our programming is built around four core values: Lead with Yes, Joy in Everything We Do, Invite Each Other In, and Community Above All Else. These values guide our approach to every camper interaction, staff relationship, and partnership, grounding our work in joy, empathy, and leadership development.
Over the past decade, Camp Indigo has grown from a small summer camp to a year-round movement for trans youth empowerment. We have developed leadership pipelines that elevate former campers into staff roles—what we call “Growing Up Camp Indigo.” Today, more than 15% of our seasonal staff were once campers themselves, and 100% identify as gender-diverse.
But most importantly, we’re here to play!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have the very best job in the world for so many reasons!
Every child who comes to Camp Indigo has at least one supportive adult in their life. This level of awareness and allyship makes running and growing Camp delightful because we aren’t trying to convince anyone to see or love their child(ren) for exactly who they are.
Sure there are growing pains that happen within any organization, but the community and the impact have always been positive. Occasionally we get a hate message on the internet, but it’s rare. I have intentionally kept us off of social media to avoid that sort of energy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Camp Indigo?
Camp Indigo is a summer day camp for trans and gender expansive kids and youth ages 5-17 with locations in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. Our Colorado site serves 130+ campers per day!
We’ve served more trans and gender expansive youth than any other organization in the country with a consistent focus play at the key to joyful childhood.
Camp Indigo is a trans-led organization with a fully trans seasonal summer staff. We dispersed $220,000 in no-barrier scholarships, and pay all staff a living hourly wage. As an organization, Camp Indigo has been consistent in taking care of our community – with an equal emphasis on staff, youth, and their families.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I have always been a personality! My friend groups were incredibly diverse, and I’d often bob from group to group during lunch time in an effort to see everyone. I loved (still love!) making people laugh, and quick humor and play are throughlines from childhood into adulthood.
I wasn’t an expert at anything, but I would happily try everything. I had a rock/geode stint in the 2nd grade, and a lifelong appreciation for musicals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecampindigo.org
