Happy Trails for Kids

Happy Trails for Kids Happy Trails for Kids is a non-profit organization that aims to provide stability, self-esteem and a They are separated from siblings, relatives and friends.

Nearly one hundred times a day, a child in California is placed in foster care because of severe abuse or neglect. In Los Angeles County alone, there are over 30,000 boys and girls in the foster care system. Although the child welfare system is built to protect youth, too often these children are exposed to additional trauma once placed in foster care. Frequently moved from home to home, they enco

unter a stream of new caretakers, schools, therapists and peers. Not surprisingly, without stability and proper support, foster children face an exceptionally high risk of unemployment, homelessness and incarceration as adults. More than 50% do not graduate from high school and only 3% will earn a college degree. To combat these statistics, Happy Trails for Kids provides overnight summer camps, year-round alumni events, and older youth programs that help our campers prepare for life after foster care. We impart meaningful stability and a sense of community. We infuse fragile young lives with laughter, joy, happy memories and exciting experiences. We teach our children that in spite of their circumstances, they have a circle of support surrounding them and hope for a better future.

“Everything about Happy Trails is special to me because I’ve had the chance to meet other kids in foster care, make new friends and do things I might never get to do because they’re not available to everybody, like swimming and canoeing.”

Camper Success Stories

"Happy Trails for Kids is a safe haven for foster youth. Every year we see new and returning campers excited to be in a place where they can truly be themselves. No one will be judged because they do not live with their parents, but loved because they have loving spirits."

- Jasmine, Counselor & Former Foster Youth


“Happy Trails is a really good place for kids to be because it’s a lot of fun. It’s a good place for all the kids having a hard life and struggling and things like that. Happy Trails bring joys to kids’ hearts and makes their lives a little bit easier."

- Kevin, Camper, Age 10


“I like Happy Trails a lot and I like going camping a lot. Swimming in the pool and hiking were the most fun things. The counselors were nice and they get along with the kids with a lot. I made good friends - they were so happy and they were never mad! I think everyone who went to camp would want to go back again.”

- Kelsey, Camper, Age 9

05/13/2026

Foster children face challenges most people will never fully understand.

And yet… they keep going.

They keep learning.
Keep trusting.
Keep hoping.

That’s resilience.

As we continue our Foster Care Awareness Month series, the letter “R” stands for Resilience.

Every child deserves the support, stability, and encouragement to keep moving forward… no matter where their journey begins.

05/12/2026

An incredible day for our Junior Leadership Cohort!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing partners — Hope In a Suitcase, Make Good, Kid Grit , and Junior League — for pouring into the lives of our teens in such meaningful ways.

Julia from Kid Grit led an engaging and impactful workshop focused on real-world leadership and professional communication skills. Our teens learned the importance of email etiquette, following up, making strong first impressions, carrying a positive attitude, and building the confidence needed to become respectful, authentic leaders.

After the workshop, the teens enjoyed a delicious lunch and an unforgettable shopping experience where they received professional clothing, casual and athletic wear, shoes, suitcases, toiletries, and essentials to help them feel prepared, empowered, and confident for the future.

Thanks to our wonderful friends and partners at the Junior League, each Junior Leader also received a digital camera to capture memories and moments from camp this summer — a gift they were incredibly excited about! 📸

We are so grateful for partners who believe in equipping youth not just with things they need — but with the confidence, experiences, and skills to thrive. 💙
Hope In A Suitcase Junior League of Los Angeles kid-grit

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.This week, we’re focusing on the A in CARE… Acceptance.For many youth in foster care,...
05/11/2026

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.

This week, we’re focusing on the A in CARE… Acceptance.

For many youth in foster care, acceptance isn’t guaranteed.
But when they experience it, everything begins to change.

At Happy Trails for Kids, acceptance is often the first step…
toward trust, connection, and ultimately, belonging.

Because when a child feels seen and included,
they begin to believe they matter.

And that’s where real care begins.

05/11/2026

Watching it grow… watching the kids grow… watching the impact grow.

Happy Trails has always felt like family.
Now, it has a place to call home too.

That’s what building something real looks like.

05/08/2026

A strong community changes everything.

During Foster Care Awareness Month, we’re reminded that no child should feel alone. At Happy Trails for Kids, community isn’t just something you experience at camp…it’s something that stays with you long after.

It’s the friendships.
The support.
The feeling of finally belonging.

Because when young people know they’re not alone, everything starts to change.

05/06/2026

23,000 kids age out every year…
and too many do it alone.

Happy Trails steps in earlier — building relationships, trust, and support that don’t disappear when the system does.

Because what lasts matters most.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.At Happy Trails for Kids, we see it every year…community.Not just a place to go, but ...
05/04/2026

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.

At Happy Trails for Kids, we see it every year…
community.

Not just a place to go, but a place to belong.
A place where kids can be themselves, feel safe, and build connections that last long after camp ends.

Because community isn’t just important…
it’s care.

05/04/2026

“Community means sticking together… no matter what.”

From camper to mentor… that’s the kind of impact that lasts.

Happy Trails builds bonds you don’t break — the kind that carry kids forward long after camp ends.

04/29/2026

Happy Trails gives kids something they can count on —
trust, encouragement, and a space where they feel safe to grow.

That’s how confidence starts to come back.

04/27/2026

If you had to sum it up in one word…

Family.

That’s what Happy Trails creates — bonds, memories, and moments kids carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Not just a program… something that stays.

04/24/2026

Happy Trails campers got their sea legs and set sail to Catalina Island aboard tall ships with LAMI and our incredible counselors! ⚓️

They experienced life on a wooden brigantine—hoisting sails, tying knots, learning navigation and marine biology, climbing to the crow’s nest, and even relaxing on the bowsprit.

Once on the island, the adventure continued with kayaking, tide pooling, hiking, a beach BBQ, and (of course) ice cream from the market!

Throughout the trip, campers made new friends, stepped outside their comfort zones, gained confidence, built leadership skills, and learned to RESPECT the ocean—bringing our core values of Confidence, Respect, and Leadership to life.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather—the skies were blue, the sun was shining, and despite the threat of a storm, it turned out to be an unforgettable experience!


Los Angeles Maritime Institute - LAMI

Address

Los Angeles, CA
90049

Telephone

+13104527979

Website

https://happytrailsforkids.ejoinme

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