One Bold Summer

One Bold Summer is a free 4-week immersive experience that invites LGBTQIA+ youth to explore Rainbow Labs’ core offerings—Storytelling, Sports, Innovation, and Leadership Labs—through full-week, hands-on programming in a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive space.

July 7 - August 1, 2025

Each week introduces a new focus, offering engaging workshops that foster creativity, leadership, movement, and personal discovery.

The program culminates in a youth-led celebration where participants share their projects and reflect on their growth. One Bold Summer empowers teens to express themselves confidently, build lasting connections, and strengthen their identity and belonging.

What can QGNC Youth expect this Summer?

Storytelling Lab

Youth will have the opportunity to explore different mediums of storytelling and activate their voice.

Innovation Lab

Youth will explore different facets of Queer STEM Education like AI, robotics, ecology, and engineering.

Sports Lab

Youth will explore different kinds of sports where the emphasis is having fun/play and not competition in a friendly LGBTQ+ sports environment.

Leadership Lab

Youth will explore various leadership styles through the lens of LGBTQ+ leaders in the LA Community and throughout history.

**All Labs will include fun games/activities with field trips and panel discussion. We’ll also include snacks and beverages.

Connect with LGBTQ+ mentors

During One Bold Summer, you’ll get to meet LGBTQ+ adults from all over LA—artists, scientists, activists, athletes, and more—who are here to support you.

These group mentors have been where you are, and they’re excited to share their stories, advice, and what helped them along the way. Think less “lecture,” more real talk. They’re here to remind you: your future is full of bold possibilities.

One Bold Summer Partners

QGNC Youth

Program Times & Location

One Bold Summer runs in person, Monday through Friday, for 3 hours a day from July 7 to August 1, 2025. You’ll also get to join special events, field trips, and hands-on activities with guest speakers throughout the program. All supplies are provided—just show up ready to dive in.

QGNC Youth must meet the following criteria to participate:

  • Location: Must live in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino County.

  • Age: 12-18 Years Old.

  • Time: Commitment to 8 weeks of programming (June 15 - August 4)

  • QGNC: Must be exploring or part of the Queer and Gender Nonconforming Community. For those exploring, we welcome you with open arms as we know you may not know for certain (questioning) and we want to give you the space and community to discover.

QGNC Mentors

Program Times & Location

One Bold Summer runs in person, Monday through Friday, for 3 hours a day from July 7 to August 1, 2025. You’ll also get to join special events, field trips, and hands-on activities with guest speakers throughout the program.

One Bold Summer Kits

Our mentors are changing lives this summer. By putting in their own time to lift up and empower the next generation of youth, all mentors will receive a One Bold Summer Kit. The kit will include: t-shirts, wristbands, pens, materials for all our activities, and much more. We want all mentors to experience the program too!

QGNC Mentors must meet the following criteria to participate:

  • Location: Must live in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino County.

  • Age: Minimum age 21 years old.

  • Time: Commitment to 8 weeks of programming (June 15 - August 4.)

  • Training: Commitment to a virtual orientation (June 8) and one day training (June 10.)

  • Background Check: Must go through a live scan.

  • QGNC: Must be part of the Queer and Gender Nonconforming Community. We love our advocates and we will have future opportunities for you!

  • “From pronoun sharing, to knowing we could always change our mind (it’s fine!), and all the physical ways we and the mentees were supported, I knew I was safe to be who I was completely.”

    – One Bold Summer Mentor

  • "“I've definitely become more of like a open person. I've been a social person, but I never knew how to conversate with people who think differently, or people who have different perspectives on things. So, One Bold Summer definitely showed me other people's perspectives on life and how much relatable things we all have in common."

    – One Bold Summer Participant

  • “It reignited that sense of play again. Of just like, indulging my inner child a little bit. And engaging with the youth was so inspiring. I really loved mixing and mingling and listening to different people's perspectives.”

    – One Bold Summer Mentor

  • “All of the mentors were amazingly unique and vibrant people who I could have in depth conversations with and connect with.”

    – One Bold Summer Participant

  • ”They all (mentors) entertained my conversations and offered support or just an ear to listen. I really connected with the mentors and I am so thankful that they shared their own experiences. They went above and beyond for us and always made the activities fun.”

    – One Bold Summer Participant

  • “Having mentors met my expectations because I was able to bond and connect with LGBTQ adults who understood me and my experiences and who listened to me and valued me.”

    – One Bold Summer Participant

  • “Having mentors really helped my experience because seeing older queer people really inspired me that it works out”

    – One Bold Summer Participant

  • “I’ve grown a lot as a person. I’ve become more accepting and happy with myself and others. I feel more comfortable with myself and am more confident.”

    – One Bold Summer Participant

Questions?

For more information feel free to email us, reach out on social media, or submit this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.