A legal dispute has erupted in Bailey, Colorado, where a long-standing Christian summer camp is challenging a new state regulation related to transgender youth.

The camp's name, IdRaHaJe, an acronym for “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” is a testament to its mission: to nurture young hearts in a Christ-centered haven of horseback rides, archery, and Bible studies.

But today, this Christian summer camp finds itself locked in a legal battle with the state of Colorado over a new transgender rule that threatens to shutter its gates.

The camp’s leaders, backed by parents and the Alliance Defending Freedom, are fighting not just for their survival but for the right to live out their beliefs in a world that seems increasingly hostile to them.

The trouble began when Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood, which licenses camps, rolled out a regulation requiring all facilities to allow campers to use bathrooms, showers, and sleeping quarters based on their gender identity, not biological sex.

For Camp IdRaHaJe, this was a direct challenge to its core convictions.

The camp, rooted in traditional Christian teachings, separates facilities by biological sex to uphold modesty and privacy—values its leaders say are non-negotiable.

They requested a religious exemption, a plea to keep serving kids without compromising their faith. The state’s response was a flat denial, leaving the camp with a grim ultimatum: comply or lose your license.

“This isn’t just about policy—it’s about our freedom to follow Jesus,” said camp director Jeff Hunt, his voice heavy with resolve.

“For decades, we’ve created a safe space where kids can encounter God’s love. Now, the state is telling us to abandon our beliefs or close our doors. It feels like our faith is being targeted.”

The lawsuit, filed in a Colorado federal court, argues that the state’s mandate violates the camp’s First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion and free speech.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal powerhouse known for defending religious liberty, is leading the charge. “Colorado is trying to force a Christian camp to bow to a gender ideology that contradicts its entire mission,” said ADF senior counsel Jake Warner.

“This isn’t inclusion—it’s coercion, plain and simple.”

The camp’s leaders see the rule as part of a broader cultural shift, one where religious institutions are pressured to conform or face extinction.

Hunt recalls the early days of the camp, founded in 1948 by a group of believers who wanted to give kids a place to grow in faith and character. Over the decades, it’s become a second home for thousands, including many low-income children who attend on scholarships.

Parents like Sarah Thompson, whose daughters spent summers at IdRaHaJe, chose the camp for its unwavering commitment to Christian values. “I trusted them to keep my girls safe in a place that honors God,” she said.

“If the state forces them to change, it’s like they’re erasing everything that makes this camp special.”

The state, however, sees it differently. Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood insists the rule is about protecting transgender youth, ensuring they can access facilities that align with their gender identity.

“We’re committed to inclusive environments where every child feels respected,” the department said in a statement.

But for Camp IdRaHaJe, this version of inclusion feels like a one-way street. “They’re ignoring the privacy and safety of girls who might not be comfortable sharing showers or cabins with biological males,” said Hunt.

“It’s as if our concerns, our faith, don’t matter.”

The clash has sparked a firestorm beyond Bailey’s quiet hills. On X, supporters of the camp are rallying, their posts a mix of outrage and encouragement.

“Colorado’s bullying a Christian kids’ camp into opening its bathrooms and bedrooms to the opposite sex,” one user wrote. “This is faith under attack.” Another urged, “Stand strong, IdRaHaJe! Don’t let the state crush your mission.”

The sentiment reflects a growing unease among many Christians who feel their beliefs are under siege in an era of rapid social change.

This isn’t Colorado’s first clash over religious freedom. The state has been a battleground for religious liberty before, from the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, where a Christian baker fought against making a same-sex wedding cake, to 303 Creative, where a web designer challenged antidiscrimination laws.

Both cases climbed to the Supreme Court, and Camp IdRaHaJe’s fight could follow suit. Just days before this lawsuit hit the news, parent groups in Colorado filed their own challenge to a new transgender law, claiming it violates free speech and parental rights.

The pattern is clear: faith-based institutions are increasingly at odds with a state determined to enforce its vision of equality.

For Hunt and his team, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Losing their license would end a 75-year legacy, leaving 1,500 campers without the summer refuge they’ve come to love.

The camp has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover legal costs, and donations are pouring in from across the country. “We’re not alone in this,” Hunt said, a spark of hope in his eyes.

Hunt believes the case is about more than one camp. ‘This is about whether faith can still have a place in America,’ he said.”

Critics of the camp, including transgender rights advocates, argue that resisting the rule is discriminatory. “Trans kids deserve to feel safe and affirmed, just like anyone else,” said Alex Rivera, a Denver activist.

“This isn’t about attacking faith—it’s about making space for everyone.”

But the ADF pushes back, insisting that true freedom means respecting differences, not erasing them. “The government can’t force a Christian camp to adopt policies that violate its beliefs any more than it can demand a synagogue host a Christmas pageant,” Warner said.

As the lawsuit unfolds, Camp IdRaHaJe is bracing for a long fight. The legal road may be grueling, but Hunt remains steadfast. “God has sustained this camp through wars, recessions, and wildfires,” he said. “We trust He’ll carry us through this too.” For now, the camp’s staff are praying, planning, and preparing for another summer, hoping to welcome kids to a place where faith still shines bright—even under fire.