Volunteer with Camp

All volunteers helping with Camp programming are required to be at least 18 years old. Volunteer opportunities at fundraising events and cheer zones are often available for volunteers under the age of 18 years old.

Yes! Hole in the Wall has many opportunities for groups to volunteer together and experience the positive benefits of giving back to your community alongside team-building efforts. To learn more, contact our volunteer support team.

As a volunteer Cabin Counselor, you work in conjunction with our summer staff to supervise, support and care for Campers throughout every aspect of their Camp life. Volunteer Cabin Counselors are energetic, positive, patient role models who are ready to help make magic happen. Although the medical team will provide medical care, counselors often help campers with basic daily tasks while they are at Camp (including dressing, personal hygiene, or helping a camper transfer to/from a wheelchair). All summer sessions are six days in duration, and volunteers must commit to the full session.

Volunteers supporting our Adolescent & Young Adult programs get the opportunity to connect with adolescent participants aged 16-18 during one of two distinct Journey Year programs: Hero’s Journey® Program, held at a primitive campsite in the Connecticut woods, and Champion’s Journey Program, based in the Young Adult Lodge at our Connecticut Location. Working alongside full-time and seasonal staff, volunteers facilitate program activities and foster camaraderie amongst participants. Learn more about Journey Year programs here.

The final year of our Adolescent & Young Adult on-site programs, Junior Staff are participants who pair with counselors for mentorship opportunities while participating in workshops to build skills in communication, teamwork, role modeling and more. As a volunteer, you’ll assist seasonal staff in facilitating workshops and activities, and planning for the Junior Staff program session.

As a Family Camp volunteer, you perform a key role in supporting and encouraging all family members to take part in activities. Family Pals are assigned to one family and act as their host at Camp! Family Pals offer friendship, encouragement, support and an extra set of hands. Most of all, they help families to get into the Camp spirit by making new friends, letting loose and experiencing all Camp has to offer.

Trained to facilitate Camp program areas over the course of Family Camp programs, these capable volunteers and staff are cross-trained in multiple program areas or specialize in just one or two. Program areas during Family Camps include archery, tower (Connecticut Location only), arts & crafts, woodshop, the maker’s space (Maryland Location only) and fishing (Connecticut Location only).

Counselors and Pals stay in their assigned housing (with heat, air conditioning and semi-private restroom facilities) with other volunteers and/or summer staff members. Towels, linens and bedding are provided.

Complete an Application 

All volunteers are required to complete the current volunteer application. Applications will be available on the website in early January and are accepted on a rolling basis. When we have filled all spots, we will no longer accept applications.

Interview with the Volunteer Team 

Once a completed application is received, a member of our Volunteer team will be in contact with the applicant to set up a day/time for an interview by phone. 

Criminal Background Check and National Sex Offender Registry 

Volunteers will be required to successfully clear a criminal background check and a National Sex Offender Registry check before being granted final acceptance as a residential volunteer. 

Medical Form 

Because we have the privilege of serving children with unique needs, including those with compromised immune systems, we maintain comprehensive requirements for all volunteers. Volunteers are required to submit annual documentation to our medical team, including a medical examination form completed by your healthcare provider (required every 3 years). 

Verification of required immunizations that meet our Camp requirements 

These health protocols help us create the safest possible environment for our extraordinary campers.

Before each summer session, an on-site Volly-O mandatory day of training is held for volunteers. For new volunteers, orientation begins at 2 p.m., and returning volunteers begin at 3 p.m. During Family Camps and other programming, a mandatory day of orientation is required and dates are provided during the application process.

You will need to provide your own transportation to Camp. Camp may be able to provide shuttle service on a case-by-case basis. Please purchase any necessary tickets after you have completed the application process and been accepted.

Volunteer positions will be contingent on positive references, criminal background check and completion of comprehensive medical history/physical forms. 

Smoking and/or vaping is not permitted anywhere on Camp grounds. Drinking and drug use are also strictly prohibited.

Except for scheduled time off, all volunteers are expected to be “on duty” 24 hours a day. We must be able to count on you to help us as the need arises, so we ask that you not leave Camp except during your scheduled time off.

Check out the summer programs page to learn more about a typical day at Camp during our summer sessions. 

We do not exclude volunteers with disabilities. However, because work as a counselor can sometimes be strenuous, we expect that any person working at Camp will have the ability to supervise and provide for the safety of our campers.

Our remarkable volunteer medical team includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists and child life specialists from both our local community and across the nation. We especially welcome professionals with experience in pediatric specialties, including emergency medicine, intensive care, hematology/oncology, metabolic disorders and immunology. Their expertise and commitment to serving children with serious illness makes our Camp programming possible.

Medical volunteers are the heartbeat of our Camp’s healthcare team, playing an active role in promoting a safe and healthy environment in both the infirmary and across Camp. These volunteers work collaboratively with our year-round and seasonal medical leadership, combining their expertise to provide comprehensive care for campers.  

Our volunteer medical team brings not only their clinical excellence but also their enthusiasm, creativity and compassionate spirit to create an extraordinary and safe camp experience. Working side by side, we provide exceptional medical care while fostering the joy and magic of Camp.

As a summer medical volunteer, you’ll have the unique opportunity to build meaningful connections with your assigned group of Campers. While approximately half of your time will be dedicated to providing care in the infirmary, we encourage you to fully embrace the Camp experience during your remaining hours by joining your Campers in activities and creating memorable moments together or enjoying some well-deserved down time.

We prioritize having volunteers join for a full session, however there are many ways to get involved. From full sessions to a few shifts in the infirmary, we have lots of options for medical volunteers to participate.

For summer sessions, every medical volunteer, new and returning, is encouraged to attend Volunteer Orientation (the day before the campers arrive). Hole in the Wall provides an extensive orientation on Camp routines, medical care and camper support … as well as the fun stuff like songs and cheers! Additional onboarding specific for medical volunteers includes emergency procedures, equipment and policies.

Medical students can volunteer as cabin counselors. They live in the cabins with campers and counselors and work with the full-time counselor staff to provide daily care and supervision to the campers. This experience allows you to see what it is really like to live with a disease.