TRAP Camp
TRAP Camp is an immersive Creative Youth Development experience that blends music, nature, and mental health support to help young people heal, connect, and grow. Rooted in the cultural meaning of the “trap”—both as a hip hop tradition and a reflection of environmental and social barriers—TRAP Camp creates space for youth to unplug from stress, reconnect with themselves, and imagine new possibilities.
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Through songwriting, recording original music, outdoor exploration, and guided reflection, participants transform lived experience into creative expression while building resilience, confidence, and belonging. Youth engage in camping, adventure activities, and environmental learning—often for the first time—supported by mentors and mental health professionals in a safe, affirming environment.
Free for all participants and intentionally designed for Black, Brown, and marginalized youth, TRAP Camp places hip hop in nontraditional spaces to connect the known to the unknown—promoting healing, community, and respect for ourselves, each other, and our planet.
The TRAP Camp Experience
Healing · Writing · Recording
Healing
Youth experience reflection, mental health support, and nature-based activities—including horseback riding and kayaking—often for the first time. These experiences help participants unplug and reconnect with themselves in a safe, supportive environment.
Writing
Through songwriting workshops, youth explore personal stories, community realities, and social issues. Participants learn how to transform thoughts and emotions into lyrics—building voice, confidence, and creative expression. Writing becomes a tool for reflection, healing, and storytelling, allowing youth to connect lived experience to purpose and possibility.
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Recording
Youth bring their words to life by recording original music and collaborating with peers and producers. Through studio sessions and group collaboration, participants help create a collective body of work—often a full album—experiencing the power of teamwork, performance, and production. Recording affirms youth voice, builds pride, and shows young people that their stories deserve to be heard.
Created at TRAP Camp
Creative expression is central to TRAP Camp. Each experience culminates in youth-created work that reflects growth, healing, and voice.
Youth Created Album
At the conclusion of TRAP Camp, participants collaborate to create and record an original album. Each track reflects personal stories, shared experiences, and collective growth—capturing the journey from reflection to expression.
Featured Youth-Created Work: Where My Bus At
Where My Bus At was written and recorded by TRAP Camp participants as part of the camp’s creative process. The piece reflects youth voice, collaboration, and lived experience—demonstrating how TRAP Camp transforms connection, creativity, and community into meaningful art. With our older students mentoring our younger students in producing the song.
From TRAP Camp to CNN
Creative work born at TRAP Camp has reached audiences far beyond the campsite. Through continued mentorship and performance opportunities, youth-created music and storytelling have been shared on national platforms, affirming youth voice and showing participants that their stories matter in the world beyond camp.