James Canton

Chief Executive Officer

James H. Canton has had a relationship with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp since it began in 1988. During that time he has been a counselor, unit leader, assistant director and for eight years, camp director. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in the Spring of 2002.

As camp director, Mr. Canton led the development of various programs to extend the healing touch of Camp throughout the year. Fall and spring weekend programs were created to serve the previous summers’ campers, as well as family retreats for children who might not have the chance to experience a summer session.

Under his leadership as CEO, the Camp’s Hospital Outreach Program was commissioned to bring Camp to hospitalized children. What began as a summer camp in 1988 serving 288 children has grown, under Mr. Canton’s leadership, to a year-round center serving more than 20,000 children and family members annually. He continues to volunteer during two sessions at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., participating actively with campers in the Camp program.

Mr. Canton has played a part in programmatic development of many SeriousFun Children’s Network camps. He has also assisted with the launch of sister camps around the world, including those in France, Italy, Hungary, Japan, and the Network's first camp programs in Africa. He has helped to advance the SeriousFun Children’s Network accrediting criteria throughout the world and participates as a site visitor in the accreditation process.

Mr. Canton graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in humanities and received a master’s degree in theology from Yale Divinity School.