The University of Colorado Boulder (CU) and Boulder Valley Health Center quietly canceled a controversial “Sex Ed Summer Camp” for incoming 5th through 8th graders after rising safety concerns. The camp, initially promoted as “justice-rooted” and “affirming,” planned to teach minors about “bodies beyond the binary” and “gender and sexuality.”
According to the now-removed CU webpage, the camp promised to offer “everything your camper won’t always get to learn in school.” The Boulder Valley Health Center, an abortion and “gender affirming care” provider specializing in confidential services for minors, was slated to co-host the program.
The Boulder Valley Health Center’s website emphasizes its focus on reproductive and sexual health, including services for minors without parental notification. The clinic openly promotes its commitment to confidentiality for teens under 18, highlighting resources for those questioning their gender identity.
Following inquiries and public scrutiny, the Boulder Valley Health Center released a statement attributing the camp’s cancellation to “safety concerns.” The statement claimed the camp’s intent was to provide “age-appropriate sex education” focused on preventing unwanted pregnancies and promoting sexual health, while denying allegations of deeper agendas.
Under current Colorado law, minors have access to abortion and “gender-affirming” treatments without parental consent, a legal framework that sparked further concerns from parents and conservative groups.
Neither CU Boulder nor the Boulder Valley Health Center responded substantively to requests for further comment, with only an automated message confirming the camp’s cancellation.
