Camp Sunflower, Inc.

Camp Sunflower provides transformative recreational experiences, leadership development, and authentic community connections for LGBTQ+ youth and their families throughout the state of Kansas. Established in 2018 as an outreach camping retreat hosted by Pine Valley Christian Church, the initiative quickly expanded into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based on East 21st Street North in Wichita. The organization creates safe, joyful spaces where queer adolescents and young adults can express their authentic identities, build lasting friendships, and develop self-confidence in an encouraging environment.

The organization's signature program is its week-long overnight summer camp, hosted at a private campground facility near Wichita. Campers entering grades seven through 12 participate in traditional outdoor adventures, swimming, arts and crafts, team-building activities, and affirming identity discussions led by trained adult mentors. For young adults ages 18 to 21, the Counselor-in-Training program offers hands-on leadership development, mentorship experience, and youth development training that prepares participants to serve as future camp leaders and community advocates.

Complementing the overnight camp, the agency operates daytime specialty camps, including creative gaming retreats, as well as year-round family programming. Through The Village caregiver support network, parents and guardians of queer children meet twice monthly in Wichita and Reno County to share parenting experiences, receive expert guidance, and build supportive community networks. The agency also hosts supervised teen social hangouts that provide ongoing connection between summer sessions. Families seeking camp registration, financial aid scholarships, or caregiver group schedules can connect with directors online.