FAQs
“What is the Champion's Journey program?”
Champion's Journey is one of two paths in the Adolescent & Young Adult Journey Year Program. Learn about Journey Year here.
To learn about Champion's Journey and see a sample schedule, visit the Champion's Journey page.
“How is Champion's Journey different from the traditional summer program?”
While Champion’s Journey and the traditional summer program share similar schedules, Champion’s Journey was created to meet the developmental needs of participants in late adolescence. Adolescent & Young Adult programming more heavily emphasizes processing and debriefing Camp activities to help participants integrate what they have learned into their daily lives. At the end of each activity, we make time and create space for participants to reflect on what occurred in the activity, why it matters, and how they can apply their experience to other situations.
In addition to how the program is facilitated, Champion’s Journey participants experience activities that are not offered to Campers by developing more advanced skills in a program area or by trying something new. Past examples of Champion’s-specific activities include baking or cooking a meal/dessert from scratch, creating ceramics and using a pottery wheel and photography lessons with DSLR cameras.
Champion’s participants also get to practice role modeling as “Champions of Camp” through formal and informal leadership opportunities with younger Campers. Whether it is helping a young Camper learn a Camp dance, assisting with a game station at Carnivarty, or supporting a young cabin’s UNITy Night, Champion’s get a taste of the leadership opportunities that await them in our Junior Staff program.
“How much does it cost to participate?”
The program is free of charge…like all Camp programs!
“Am I eligible for the Champion’s Journey program if I never attended The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp as a camper?”
Yes! No prior Hole in the Wall experience is needed or required.
“How old do I need to be to participate in Champion's Journey?”
Champion’s Journey is offered to participants aged 16 - 18 at the time of the participant’s session. Individuals who have attended Hole in the Wall’s traditional summer program until age 15 typically participate in Hero’s Journey or Champion’s Journey the following summer.
“What are the session dates this year?”
Check out the application and schedule here.
“Are all the sessions the same?”
All sessions are “General Diagnosis,” meaning a participant must be aged 16 - 18 and have a qualifying medical diagnosis or be a sibling of a participant with a qualifying medical diagnosis to be accepted. For more information on who can attend, click here.
“Is there a sibling session for Champion's Journey?”
All Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) program sessions are general sessions, which means siblings, along with diagnosed participants, have the choice of any available session throughout the summer.
“What do the days look like at the Champion's Journey program?”
Each day of Champion’s Journey follows roughly the same structure. After morning routines and breakfast, participants head to one of Camp’s many program areas (arts & crafts, cooking, woodshop, music, archery, sports & rec, theater, boating & fishing, adventure, pool). Participants enjoy lunch and rest hour before heading back to program areas. Afternoon programming is “mastery project” time, meaning participants will head to a single program area to work on their multi-day project to present on the final night of Camp. After mastery project time, participants eat dinner and head to the evening program. Sometimes, Champion’s join the traditional summer program in their own unique role, or they enjoy a special Champion's Journey evening program. To wind down and process the day, participants engage in group reflection (“fire council”) before nighttime routines and lights out.
“What’s the difference between morning program and mastery project program time?”
In the mornings, participants head to various program areas to engage in activities, explore and have fun. Morning program time is about being in the present moment and exploring all the fun, traditional activities Camp has to offer.
In the afternoons, participants return to their assigned single program area to create and complete a “mastery project.” Based on availability, participants select a program area of their choice and come up with their own multi-day mastery project to showcase their deepened understanding of the program. Each day, participants spend the mastery project program time to design, plan and complete their project. On the final evening of Camp, participants present their mastery projects to the group and celebrate their accomplishments with an awards ceremony.
“Do Champion's Journey participants sleep in cabins? What does housing look like?”
Participants in both the Champion’s Journey and Junior Staff programs stay in the Young Adult Lodge bunkhouses. Built in 2022, the Young Adult Lodge bunkhouses contain rooms with 4 - 6 bunk beds with an adjoining bathroom including private shower and toilet stalls.
“Is the application process the same as when applying to summer sessions?”
If you have been to Hole in the Wall before, you can use your application login to access the Journey Year application. Both Hero's Journey® and Champion's Journey use the same application, which is available online.
“What if I have a question that wasn't answered here?”
Please feel free to contact Ana Baggiano, Adolescent & Young Adult Director.