Biography

Jessica and Kayla Weissbuch founded Brave Trails in 2014 with the goal of creating a summer camp experience driven by LGBTQ leadership. Jessica is a licensed marriage and family therapist and focused her academic life on studying LGBTQ+ youth affirmative therapy practices. Her passion for LGBTQ+ youth leadership led her to found COLORS LGBTQ Youth Counseling Center and become the Program Manager at the LA LGBT Center, where she discovered how vital mentorship and community are to a young LGBTQ+ persons wellbeing. Kayla is a native of Los Angeles who was very inspired by her childhood experience growing up in a queer household. Being surrounded by two moms and several LGBTQ families of choice, motivated her to realize her dream of creating positive, empowering spaces for LGBTQ youth. Kayla received a scholarship to attend a summer camp when she was 8 years old and quickly fell in love with the supportive, warm, and transformational environment. She returned to camp every year until she became a staff member and always dreamed of one day becoming a camp director. 

The combination of Kayla’s love of summer camp and Jessica’s passion for LGBTQ+ youth leadership are the corner stones of why Brave Trails exists today. Most importantly, they dreamed of a space where LGBTQ+ campers and staff could always call a home away from home.