Though he was never a camper, even as a child, Tim Consilvio knew there was something special about Hole in the Wall. It might have been watching campers the same age as him hit the stage when he attended the Fandango Benefit Gala, and realizing how lucky he was. Or maybe it was the puppy his family won in the Gala Auction. But whatever it was, Camp has had a lasting impact on him, and he remains involved to this day. 

“Camp always stuck with me, even going back to my memories from the 90s,” Tim said. “You are hooked the second you jump in.” 

Since becoming more involved again with Hole in the Wall about 10 years ago, Tim has volunteered just about everywhere. Whether at special events, onsite in the summer and at Family Weekends, or even with the Hospital and Family Outreach Programs, Tim has been an important part of the Camp experience for so many in the Hole in the Wall community. 

“I see Camp as one big family – the volunteers, the staff, the Camp counselors, the campers, the camper parents – it’s like one big giant community,” Tim shared. “And it brings me joy to be a part of it, to see the campers with their smiles, and the other volunteers, many of whom have become friends. I love seeing campers who remember me. It’s like seeing old friends every time you come to one of the events.” 

Tim can often be found helping campers, families and supporters express their creativity with his screen print designs, which have been featured on shirts, bags and more. But his volunteerism extends well beyond that, and Tim has always been ready to jump in with a helping hand anywhere he can provide support. 

“When I first came back, I just dove in,” Tim said. “I didn’t look for a particular event. I just saw one close to me and went. Now, I enjoy going to the hospital and always try to be there. Creating that Camp experience everywhere is something that sticks with me. And after every event, I feel a lot fuller.” 

We are grateful to Tim and all of the incredible Camp volunteers who share their time and talents with Hole in the Wall to ensure so many children and families find joy and hope. 

Want to join Tim in creating unforgettable memories for Campers and their families? Learn more about how you can get involved as a volunteer or Camp supporter. 

Carl and Aurora first came to Camp earlier this year for a Family Weekend with their son, Elijah. And though they are new to the Camp community, Hole in the Wall has already had a big impact on the family. 

“We heard about the Family Weekend through the Hospital Outreach Program,” Aurora shared. “Elijah loved it. This is the only place he catches fish. Elijah caught 13 fish when we came here in May.” 

Soon after, Carl and Aurora came to a Parent & Caregiver Retreat Weekend at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Conn. It was an opportunity for them to connect with each other as well as other caregivers in a relaxed and fun environment, without children. 

“The Parent & Caregiver Retreat was our first night alone together since Elijah was diagnosed,” Aurora said. “We had a great time.” 

There were plenty of opportunities to let their hair down, with time to use the hotel pool, create in arts & crafts and woodshop, and even a fun silent disco, but the heart of the weekend were the sessions just for moms and ones just for dads, where everyone could connect about their shared experiences. 

“When we first walked in, a lot of the men didn’t want to talk – I was one of them,” Carl shared. “You don’t have friends who you can really talk to. I walked out of there so grateful that we did come. It was so sobering and humbling to hear some of their stories.” 

And several of the families who attended the Parent & Caregiver retreat just reconnected at a Fall Family Weekend at Camp. It was an opportunity to rekindle their bonds and build their community of support. 

“We try to stay connected with the families we met here,” Aurora said. It’s been so helpful to share resources and learn from every parent. I wish more parents would take a chance and be open to the retreat.” 

Discover more about how Hole in the Wall programming supports parents and caregivers here.

In 1993, Erin (Hodne) O’Brien first entered the gates of Camp as a camper, and it left a lasting impact on her. She and her friend, Ellen, a classmate since first grade who was diagnosed with the same disease as Erin, spent four memorable summers together at Hole in the Wall. And this year, in May, Erin and Ellen celebrated their shared Camp history by joining forces to form “Little Red Wagon,” a team participating in the 16th Annual Camp Challenge. Their goal was to raise funds and increase awareness for the Camp that had given them so much. 

“The impact of Hole in the Wall continues to run deep within me,” Erin said. “Hole in the Wall heals from the inside out – it nourishes the soul, which is just as vital, if not more so, than healing the body. Today, Camp Challenge brings back a profound sense of excitement and belonging. Just the smell and feel of the overall Camp energy is infectious. The prospect of reliving Camp memories fills me with excitement. And to find myself back in Red 9, the same cabin Ellen and I shared in 1994, is simply astonishing.” 

Erin has been participating in Camp Challenge, a family-friendly 5K held each year at Camp to raise funds for programming, for five years. This year, Erin and Ellen jumped on a new opportunity – along with eight of their friends and family – to stay in Cabin Circle the night before the race. They are one of 11 teams this year who raised more than $2,500 in total and stayed overnight to enjoy some additional activities and events – and experience just a little bit of the magic our campers feel all summer long. 

“At Camp, there’s a profound connection among people; it doesn’t matter whether you were a camper, counselor or volunteer, and regardless of how long you have been part of the community,” Erin said. “There’s an innate understanding and empathy that binds everyone together. We connect first through the heart, and from there, everything else effortlessly falls into place. It’s a haven – a sacred space where you belong and a place where you will always find unwavering support. What I truly enjoy about Camp Challenge is the opportunity to connect with everyone at Camp, whether they’re old friends or new ones.” 

Erin also appreciates the accessibility of Camp Challenge – it’s something that anyone can do. And this year, more than 200 runners and walkers proved that, participating alongside Erin and her team to raise an amazing $120,000 for Camp. 

“I just hope that I am able to give back a fraction of what I have received in my life,” Erin said. “You may leave Camp, but Camp never leaves you – it leaves an indelible footprint on your soul, a reminder of the joy, connection and growth experienced there.” 

Want to join Erin and become a Camp fundraiser? Learn more about how you can get involved as a volunteer or Camp supporter. 

In 1998 Peg Carlson dropped her daughter Emily off at Camp for her very first session as a camper. She came back changed – happier, more positive and able to take on whatever came her way. Inspired by her daughter’s transformation, Peg, along with her husband Pete, began volunteering for Hole in the Wall that very year, with Em soon to follow. 

The family continued to volunteer together until November 2009, when Em passed away. Surrounded by Camp love and support, Peg and Pete have continued to volunteer in a variety of ways – at the Gala, Beantown Bash, Camp Challenge, Bandit Roundup and more. And Peg soon found herself volunteering in the Camp store with more and more frequency. In fact, she was instrumental in the opening of the new Camp Store in the recently built Creative Complex. 

“I love it,” Peg said of volunteering in the Camp store. “I am a very organized person, and one of my tasks in getting the new store up and running was setting up the stock rooms. I know what we have and where it is. If you need a color or size, I’m your girl! Oh, I’ve gotten quite good at folding, too. I love being in the store. I get to see everybody, and people are happy and smiling.” 

Peg and her husband also recently began volunteering at Camp’s new Bereavement Program. She participated as a Family Pal for the first time, where she was paired with the same family over the three weekends of the program, building their relationship and bond over the weeks. 

“It’s hard to describe what a wonderful community it is,” Peg shared. “A lot of healing goes on – at least the beginning of healing. There is something special about being in a room with people who have gone through what you have. There are no words to describe what it does for us, even as a volunteer. You don’t ever want to go home.” 

And just a few weeks ago, Peg took on yet another volunteering adventure, traveling down to the new location in Maryland for a volunteer workday. She was joined by a friend, who took the eight-hour drive with her, along with a cousin who lives in Virginia. 

“I thought I could help in Maryland, so I went down, and it was awesome,” Peg said. “I was so impressed; it’s going to be something special. The location is phenomenal, and the history is fascinating. I definitely will be going down to help out again.” 

We are so grateful to Peg, Pete and all of our incredible volunteers who make Camp magic possible. Learn how you can get involved as a volunteer here.

My name is Breana, and I’m a twenty-three-year-old former camper who lives with a rare autoimmune inflammatory disease and two hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) genes. My family was unaware of my HSP genes until I was a senior in High School, but Camp had prepared me long before my diagnosis for the fight ahead. See, no one knew what was wrong when I was becoming so much sicker in adolescence. But Camp was there regardless, and I learned a lot from the experiences and wonderful people at Hole in the Wall. 

I was twelve when I first entered through those magical Camp gates, and from then until I was seventeen, Camp was my safe place that saved and treated me in ways the best hospitals couldn’t. It gave me a time and place to heal and grow with people who truly understood rare diseases and the medical and emotional challenges I faced. As a twenty-three-year-old woman, I can see that Camp gave me a family with unconditional love, along with the ability to live in my truth and accept my conditions for all they are – all they can do, but also everything I can do despite them. 

Nos became yeses at Camp. The towering rock wall would’ve been a definite no in my doctor’s eyes. It was in my mother’s until the counselors made her more comfortable. Little did she know, that yes unlocked much more than just an opportunity to climb a rock wall. It enabled me to realize doctors aren’t always right, and their answers aren’t definite. My mother put enormous trust in Camp and in return, was in tears as her daughter climbed that wall. With every peg that I grasped, I realized I’m stronger than my sickness, and nothing is impossible. 

Ten years later, this experience still impacts me tremendously. When high school teachers said pursuing a Criminal Justice degree was not a smart choice because of my health, I said, “No, I’ll make it work. My health can’t hold me back from every job I may want to pursue.” Now, I am one of the youngest inductees in my university to the only Criminal Justice Honor Society, holding an academic excellence award that is only passed out to one student out of more than six hundred. I’ve also been on the Dean’s list each semester, and have been offered job opportunities. 

Camp taught me to live in my truth, not to damper my ambitions, and move to the beat of my drum as long as I’m safe and having fun. It is an oasis that, as a child, adolescent and young adult, I still visualize returning to, which helps me in my darkest nights and at times when pursuing my ambitions is challenging. Hole in the Wall gave me the confidence to take back the power not only from my conditions but also from how society labels and views them. I no longer allow perspectives to be made; I help change them with kindness and education. I fight for accommodations in areas that I love the most. 

Camp made me comfortable speaking up for my needs and others. I knew because of Camp that I wanted to volunteer and take the kindness and love I felt at Camp out into my community. I have done and will continue to do this, from mentoring and volunteering in high school and university to donating food to the needy and helping others whenever possible. The story doesn’t end when you age out. That’s where the story begins. You can choose to take that magic with you outside those heavenly gates into the world to make a difference that truly makes a “hole” difference to somebody’s life. Just like Camp does to everyone who enters those gates.