Family Camp

Visit our Who Can Attend page for information on medical diagnoses and those Camp serves during Family Camps in Connecticut.

Immediate family can participate in the Camp. Siblings can be of any age. 

Your family will be assigned a Family Pal(s) who will be with your family for the Camp. While childcare is not specifically provided, our Family Pals will make sure that everyone is having a great time. If one child would like to go to an activity and you would like to do another, the Family Pal will be happy to go with your child to their activity. 

All Camp programming is free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors. Lodging and meals are provided. 

Generally, families and volunteers provide their own transportation to Family Camp. However, we never want transportation to be the reason that families cannot join us. If you need assistance please contact our Admissions department at (860) 429.3444 or via email.

Arrival time is 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Families leave after lunch on Sunday. If you need to arrive later or depart earlier, please contact our Admissions department at (860) 429.3444 or via email.

Yes! You will be contacted once your application has been received. We will also let you know if anything is missing. If you have any questions about your application status, please contact our Admissions department at (860) 429.3444 or via email.

While we would love to accept every family that applies, we unfortunately are not able to. Applications are reviewed and approved by the medical team. You will receive notification of acceptance at the latest four weeks prior to the Camp. You will receive a confirmation email that will include information about the Camp, directions and a packing list. 

Families stay in either our lodge or in one of our cabins. Two families may share a cabin. Families will have their own room with their own bathroom; each room has heating, air conditioning, electrical outlets and bunk-style beds. 

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides all meals, bedding and linen. You should bring all clothing and toiletries. You must bring all necessary medications, formula, specialty foods, supplies and medical equipment. 

After your family arrives on Friday at 5:30 p.m., you’ll have a buffet-style dinner, a large group activity and then an opening campfire. The rest of the Camp is filled with different fun activities that you can choose from such as woodshop, arts & crafts, fishing, climbing tower and more. 

A typical Saturday schedule looks like this: 

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast

10:15 a.m. – Morning Activities 

12:30 p.m. – Lunch 

1:30 p.m. – Rest Time / Parent Chat 

2:45 p.m. – Afternoon Activities 

5:30 p.m. – Dinner 

7 p.m. – Evening Activity 

10 p.m. – Head back to the cabins for lights out 

All volunteers helping with Camp programming are required to be at least 18 years old. Learn more about volunteering with Camp on our volunteer opportunities page. 

As a Family Camp volunteer, you perform a key role in supporting and encouraging all family members to take part in all 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. 

Family Pals stay in an assigned cabin or lodge room (with heat, air conditioning and semi-private restroom facilities) with other volunteers. 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 spots, we will no longer accept applications. 

Interview with the Volunteer Team 

Once a completed application is received, a member of our volunteer support 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. 

A mandatory day of training on Camp is required before volunteering at a weekend program. Dates are posted with the application. Learn more about applying to volunteer with Hole in the Wall here.

You will need to provide your own transportation to Camp. However, if you fly/bus/train into Hartford, Camp may be able to provide shuttle service to Camp. Plan to arrive in Hartford between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on your scheduled Orientation Day and depart between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Closing Day. Please purchase tickets after you have completed the application process and been accepted. 

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.