summer program

Breakfast is at 8:30 a.m. every morning. If you wake up really early there are often “polar bear activities” such as fishing or archery available before breakfast. Each morning you will go to a different activity area with your cabin. Lunch is at 12:45 p.m., then we have rest hour or quiet time for an hour. In the afternoon you get to sign up for an activity. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. Every night we also have different activities such as campfire, UNITy night, stage night, and Carnivarty. Lights out is at 9 or 10 p.m. depending on how old you are. 

There are three full meals served every day: 

Breakfast: Cereal, granola bars, soy milk, regular milk (whole, 2% and skim) and juices are served every morning; in addition, there can be scrambled eggs and bacon, pancakes and syrup or ice cream and waffles! 

Lunch: Build your own hamburger, grilled to perfection, with your choice of lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup or cheese; salad bar with all the different kinds of Newman’s Own salad dressings you could ask for; Dino chicken nuggets or something equally delicious. Dessert may be brownies or ice cream. 

Dinner: There might be pizza or quesadillas; on banquet night there are delicious Dino chicken nuggets and ribs. For dessert, there may be cupcakes or ice cream sandwiches. 

For vegetarians, there is always a veggie dish available in the kitchen, which could be veggie pizza, roasted vegetables or falafel. 

If you have allergies or cannot eat certain foods because of dietary needs or religious reasons, we make sure that the cook and counselors know this before your session begins. There will always be something tasty to keep you fueled for the day’s activities. 

Snacks are available anytime during the day or evening – just ask your counselor, and they will make sure you get a bite to eat between meals. 

Four counselors will live with you in your cabin. They are there to make sure you are safe and help you connect with other Campers. There are also nurses and doctors on-site to make sure you get all the medical care you need. 

When you get to Camp you will move right into your cabin. You will share a big room with seven or eight other campers your own age. Four counselors will also share the cabin with you. The counselors are your role models and most importantly your friends while you are at Camp. 

At Camp you will have times when you go to an activity with your cabin, and other times you can choose what you want to do. Hole in the Wall has many activities to try something new or build your skills including: 

Adventure (including a climbing wall and high ropes course), Arts & Crafts (paint, draw, collage, make a bracelet and more), Archery, Boating & Fishing, The Cooking Zone, The Horse Barn, Sports & Recreation (which includes a gym, tennis, basketball, mini golf, air hockey and pool tables), Theater, Music (where you can record your own song), Swimming and Woodshop (build a birdhouse or craft a winning car for the Woodshop 500 race!). 

There is a range of kids at Camp. Everyone who attends has a medical diagnosis or has a sibling with a medical diagnosis. There may be kids with the same diagnosis that you have or with different medical diagnoses. Some Campers may look totally healthy, others may be bald from chemotherapy. Some need medications every day, others do not. 

Most of our Campers come from New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire). Others come from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. We also get a few Campers from states that are farther away like Kansas. There are even Campers who come internationally from other SeriousFun camps. 

Camp will provide you with sheets, towels and pillows so you should just bring enough clothes for a week’s stay of fun, a swimsuit and a sweatshirt if it gets chilly at night or in the morning. Once you’re accepted, Camp will send you a full list of what to pack. 

The following items are not allowed at Camp: radios, cell phones, tablets, iPods, video cameras, weapons, alcohol, vapes or illegal drugs.

Visit our Who Can Attend page for information on medical diagnoses and those Camp serves. 

There is no cost to attend The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. 

We do all we can to provide a safe environment for the children at Camp. All staff are carefully screened including reference and background checks. Our medical providers are fully licensed and have extensive pediatric experience. Our counselors go through an intensive orientation before Camp begins each summer. All program areas are reviewed for safety on a regular schedule, and staff members maintain certifications as required for specific program areas. For more information on our safety initiatives, please click here.

The counselor staff undergo a strict interview and screening process including reference and background checks. Counselors are chosen from many applicants for their experience, enthusiasm and empathy. The entire staff receives intensive training in areas including: safety, medical challenges of our Campers, child development, behavioral techniques and cultural awareness. 

The infirmary is staffed with pediatric physicians and nurses 24 hours a day. Nurses provide routine scheduled medical care for the Campers as prescribed by their primary physicians or specialists and their caregivers. Parents/caregivers have the opportunity to sit down with their child’s nurse to review all medical care on arrival day. You can review all your child’s special needs, medications, restrictions, etc. Your child’s nurse will set up a schedule for their routine care. 

The Campers live in cabins with other children their own age and gender. Each cabin has up to nine campers with four counselors. The cabins are air-conditioned and equipped with handicap accessible bathrooms and showers. 

In our experience, we have found that talking to home often causes or increases missing home in our Campers. Our policy is that children do not call home during their time at Camp. If you want to check in to see how your child is doing, you can call the infirmary and speak with your child’s nurse, or you can speak with your child’s counselor to get an update. We do not have parent visits during the Camp session. 

Each session, parents and caregivers are sent a link to a password-protected album of our campers during the session. Our goal is to ensure your child has approximately three-to-five photos in the album by the end of the session. This album will also include a copy of the beloved session slideshow, premiering at the end of the session and featuring photo and video of every camper to create a time capsule of their time at Camp.

YES. Please send all medications and supplies to Camp with your child. Make sure you send enough to last the entire time your child is at Camp. This includes: all medications (prescription and over the counter, oral, IV, IM), supplies for central line care (heparin, saline, syringes, caps, access needles, EMLA, etc.), and all other supplies (IV or pump tubing, pumps and supplies, wheelchair, crutches, etc.). If your child needs oxygen during the day or overnight, this must be arranged prior to coming to Camp by you and your oxygen supplier. 

If your child gets sick at Camp, they will be evaluated by the on-site physicians and nurses. Minor medical problems (minor cuts, ear infections, sore throats, vomiting, sprains, etc.) can be handled at the infirmary. Emergency medical care is provided as needed (IV antibiotics for fever, pain medications, IV fluids, etc.). If necessary, children are transported off-site for further care. You and your child’s primary/specialty physician will be contacted by the Camp medical staff with any significant medical issues. 

A staff member must be at least 18 years old. Select seasonal kitchen staff positions are available beginning at 16 years old. Learn more about seasonal staff positions on our employment opportunities page. 

Most of our cabin staff live in the one of the 15 cabins with our Campers. Staff and volunteers have a separate shared living area and bathroom. Program Counselors live in our staff housing at Lulu’s Lodge. Staff housing consists of shared same-sex housing with shared bathrooms. 

All paid summer staff members are hired for the full 12-week program. Our season starts with an on-site residential week-long orientation and staff training. Please note that you must be available to start in early June for mandatory staff orientation and work through the summer until late August. 

Transportation to and from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport and the Hartford train and bus station is available upon request. The Camp is located approximately 40 miles east of Hartford, Conn. 

Visit our Who Can Attend page for information on medical diagnoses and those Camp serves. 

Our summer salaries start at $5,000. 

Employment/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 counselors (volunteer and staff) 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. 

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 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. 

Counselors stay in their assigned cabin or lodge room (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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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 our A Day at Camp schedule to learn more about a typical day at Camp during our summer sessions. 

Visit our Who Can Attend page for information on medical diagnoses and those Camp serves. 

Our year-round medical leadership includes a Medical Director, Director of Nursing, Staff Nurse and Administrative Assistant. This core team is complemented by a seasonal nursing team who provide full-time support during our summer programs from June through August. 

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. Each session comes alive with a dynamic group of healthcare professionals including five attending physicians, pediatric fellows and residents, and a team of five to seven nurses. These volunteers work collaboratively with our year-round and seasonal medical staff, combining their expertise to provide comprehensive care for our 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 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 OK Corral 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 OK Corral 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. 

Camp provides more than 40,000 healing experiences to children with serious illnesses and family members annually, completely free of charge. Each year, 2,500 children and family members take part in year-round programs at the Connecticut Location and tens of thousands more experience Hole in the Wall fun through various outreach activities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. 

Most of our Campers come from New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire). Others come from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. We also get a few Campers from states that are farther away like Kansas. There are even Campers who come internationally from other SeriousFun camps. 

The majority of our campers have been diagnosed with cancer, sickle cell disease, hemophilia or other serious illnesses or conditions. 

At Camp, the ratio of one staff member to four Campers is maintained at all times. 

Our campers share the joy of a camping experience of the highest quality that seamlessly incorporates 24-hour medical supervision provided by paid and volunteer physicians and nurses under the supervision of our Medical Director. 

Each camper enjoys a full range of activities that include campfires, boating, fishing, swimming, theater, music, a climbing wall and ropes course, arts and crafts, horseback riding, group games, dancing and singing. Our activities are managed so that all campers can participate. All participation is by choice. 

Programming at Camp runs year-round. In addition to our signature summer program, we offer a full schedule of programs in the non-summer months featuring Family Camps, parent retreats and programs for the community. Our Hospital Outreach Program brings the healing and joy of Camp programming to the bedsides and playrooms of children with serious illnesses in hospitals across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic all year long, while CampOut brings Camp magic right to campers in their homes and communities. 

Learn about Camp operating expenses on our Camp Funding and Finances page. 

Newman’s Own Foundation is an independent organization and although not directly affiliated with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, we were both founded by Paul Newman and share a common commitment to carry on his legacy. Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have generously supported The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp since it was founded in 1988. The Foundation remains part of a generous community of donors each year that allows The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp to provide “a different kind of healing” to children with serious illnesses and their families, completely free of charge.