Hole in the Wall Gang Camp

I truly love working at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. I have the privilege of supporting a mission that brings "a different kind of healing" to children with severe illnesses. What I love the most is being surrounded by a community that truly cares and feeling very supported in my role.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is an incredibly special place where children with serious illnesses can come to a traditional summer camp program for free. It's absolutely amazing to see the kiddos arrive at camp and be able to be a kid and "raise a little hell".

I was a participant in Hole in the Wall's programming for 10 years. My first involvement with Camp was a family weekend when I was 6 years old. My family made a mix tape of Queen and my parents did the Chicken Dance in front of the whole crowd in the theater. I had a blast. It made me want to come back for the next 8 years. For the next 8, besides 1, I attended a 7-day summer session. I connected with other chronically ill campers and aspired to be like my role models, the camp counselors. I loved letting my creativity flow at the Woodshop while woodburning Pokémon and painting fantastical creatures. Dancing in the dining hall filled me up with joy, especially when we did the Ice Cream & Cake dance!

One summer I was unable to secure a summer session slot, so Camp came to me! Two Camp employees drove to my house and my brother and I had a field day in our own backyard. We turned out slide into a water slide and had a great time chalking up our drive way. No matter where, Camp carries its magic with it.

The summer before I attended college, I attended the LIT (Leader in Training) program (now called Junior Counselor). I learned leadership skills, professional skills (like how to utilize LinkedIn and a resume), and got a better understanding about what being a summer counselor is (through mentorship) at Camp.

The last two summers (2023 and 2024), I worked as a Cabin Counselor. These summers have been life changing. It was extremely fulfilling to be in the position to create a magical experience for campers, whose shoes I had once been in. I created life long friendships, empowered Campers to be their best selves, and gained confidence in my own potential to have a positive effect in others' lives.

Camp has positively influenced my life for the last 15 years. I cannot emphasize enough how magical and important Hole in the Wall has been in my life. I am forever grateful for its influence in my life.

I've had more than one role at Camp, and I hope to continue for as long as I possibly can do so. From 1994 to 2002, I was a Camper, then I served as a LIT 1 and 2 the following two summers. In 2024 I volunteered for my first summer session in two decades--and the place was as magical as it ever was.

Only in my adult years have I begun to appreciate the importance that Camp played in shaping my life and how I've managed my chronic illness. It was the one time each year that I didn't have my Mom and Dad hovering over me. I remember being so very homesick. All these years later, though, I realized how important that was for me.

Moreover, it was one place where I wasn't the sick kid. I was used to sitting in the nurse's office while the other kids went outside for recess or to gym class. But at Camp, I was one of the healthier kids. As a volunteer I often worry that I'm getting more out of the experience than I'm putting in.

This past July, on my first night back in 20 years, I and another counselor helped an 11-year old camper get ready for bed. This camper is in a wheelchair and cannot control his lower body.

Here I am, a 38-year old man, with a 21-year old fellow counselor, and we're trying to help an 11-year old we just met to shower and change and go to the bathroom. But everything went well, and it wasn't until afterwards that I realized what had happened.

Thanks to my own medical condition, I've been unable to do such tasks on my own at various times. The last was in 2022. I had a bad knee infection and couldn't stand for 4.5 months.

During that time, my Dad had to help me do things like shower. Then I realized: I had just copied my Dad's words and actions. "OK, you're going to tell us exactly what you need, OK, dude? What are you thinking, what's the best way of doing this?" When the kid told us, I then repeated his instructions. "OK, on the count of three, I'll start picking you up..."

And that's what we did. The shower went well, the tension and nervousness was immediately gone. This 11-year old boy, who relied on his Mom for everything, had not only trusted us enough to try it, but it had also gone super well.

It was a full circle moment for me. Being 36, having your Dad lift you into the shower, is a pretty embarrassing moment. It feels like the loss of all autonomy in life. Sure, it shouldn't feel that way, but it does. Not too many people have had that life experience, but I have, and for that week, I can now remember having taken that feeling of lost autonomy and I put it to use to help make a nervous kid's first night at Camp a little easier.

Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has given our family so many opportunities for joy during an otherwise difficult time. Watching our daughter, who was in the midst of her cancer treatments, scale the camp's rock climbing wall and smile widely as she zip lined down was a highlight for all of us. HITWG's counselors also come to our house and our daughter's clinic to have lots of fun with arts and crafts, plus offered my husband and I a weekend away to connect with other parents at a retreat. This organization is amazing and we are beyond thankful for their support.

I arrived at camp, entered the cabin, dabbed up an Eevee plush. The other campers slowly arrived and we waited for the rest who took the buss. We all became good friends.

Camp greatly improved my quality of life. I made lifelong friendships there. Camp gave me the opportunity to try many things usually off limits to me due to my disabilities. Camp provides disabled children with a great sense of courage and empowerment, through supportive medical staff and counselors.

Camp makes me feel at home every summer. There's not one person there who doesn't make you feel supported, loved, and part of a community. It has truly been one of the best experiences of my childhood and my life.

I got involved with the Camp when my company participated in the Camp Challenge Walk/Run. The experience was great: the people, the kids, the camp itself. Even though my company is no longer involved, I have kept on, getting donations from friends and family, for years. The testimonials-- from the kids themselves, from their doctors, their family-- attest to how "a different kind of healing" is so effective. Getting away from a hospital setting, allowing them to "raise a little hell" and just have fun with peers has an amazing effect over and above any medicine on these children. Look how many continue as teens and adults to participate and mentor the younger kids. I know several personally that have gone to Camp and benefitted. This is a worthy organization, and looking at the finances, an honest one. The rebuilt buildings after the big fire are first-rate.

My family and I have been volunteering here for 15 years. My son started as a camper and for the past two summers has been a Leader in training (LIT I & Ii).
We look forward to our week of volunteering all year long. It's great to be able to help the kids have fun in a safe and loving environment. I'm not sure who gets more out if it, me or the kids. Equal. This is an excellently run camp, with top-notch facilities and staff. Can't wait for my week this summer!
Dr Dave

Compasion, caring and a whole lot of fun. These are the hallmarks of Hole in the Wall. High standards for facilities, staff training, program as well as camper safety and well being. A place where children with exceptional medical need can be "normal" for a week.

It doesn't get any better than this organization. The wonderful Paul Newman, now happily acting in heaven, gave an immense gift to sick children, their families & everyone involved with this wonderful place.

Chemotherapy may have saved my life, but the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp saved my spirit. I was a very angry eight year-old when my mother brought me to camp for the first time. She jokes that when she picked me up it was like picking up a different kid. The Hole in the Wall is like no other camp on the planet. It lets children who have all kinds of medical difficulties live, play, and celebrate just like normal kids. At camp, each child has a different story but they are all in the same boat. We laughed at doctor jokes, we climbed the rock tower, and we camped out despite our medical regimes. There is so much love in one place, its almost impossible to stay angry. That what makes the Hole in the Wall the most amazing place on earth.

Even though i missed my parents when they left me at the beginning, my counselors really cheered me up and I knew that camp definitely the place for me. We do so many activities with our cabin in the daytime we can go..... horse back riding, do archery, make arts and crafts, go to the wood shop, go swimming, do theater acting, go to sports and rec, go fishing, go into the treehouse, and possibly play tennis or to do mini golfing I feel like camp is part of my family now that I have experienced camp. And it was an extraordinary experience of a lifetime. thats how much I love camp!!!!!!!!

I began working at the Hole in the Wall in 2000 and then spent anywhere from a few weeks to an entire summer working there for 6 years. It is one of the most magical places on the planet, an oasis in the middle of the Connecticut woods where kids and their families who are suffering from blood diseases and cancer can rediscover fun. Volunteering there is not easy, but it is GOOD work. And some of the most rewarding time I have spent on this earth.

I am a parent of two campers, a cancer survivor and a sibling camper. When my son was diagnosed with cancer our who family went into overdrive and began a journey down a road no family should travel. Our family first went to HITWGC for a Family Weekend, and it was the first time we were able to spend time with people "who just get it". Once my children attended camp we saw a huge weight lifted...they finally felt like they had a place to belong. The kids were so happy to spend time with people who cared and understood. My kids are addicted to HITWGC, they would live there if it was allowed. Thank you camp for giving my family a new start.

A long time ago I went to the sibling session at THITWGC and it was amazing, so I went back the next year as a volunteer. My experiences with camp have had a lasting affect in inspiring me to work with seriously ill or disabled people for the rest of my life. Camp has had a giant impact on my family and my sister, in providing a lifetime of experiences and a community that she would not otherwise have. I love camp!

The HTWGC is a magical place! After two summers of volunteering, I can't wait to go back this year. To witness the joy that camp brings to these children has been such a gift to me! The days and nights are filled with opportunities for children to experience activities that they might never have had the chance to try. The staff is AMAZING and filled with boundless energy and enthusiasm for their campers. There is such an atmosphere of love and respect spread throughout camp. In just a short week, I have watched kids become so close within their "cabin" family, learning new things about themselves and their peers. These life lessons are as important a part of camp as the fun that just comes with the whole experience. If you are blessed enough to have the opportunity to come to camp, as a camper, a counselor, or as a volunteer, your life will never be the same!!

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has played a huge part in my life. This camp and all that it entails made my family a stronger unit, shaped who I am today and helped me to create relationships with some of the most amazing people in all the world!!

When I first started volunteering 9 years ago, I didn't understand the profound effect that a week at camp could have on the campers served by this great organization. Ordinary summer camp experiences like catching a fish, building a birdhouse, riding a horse, climbing a rock wall, or going swimming may well be out of the question for many of our campers - until they spend a week at The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. The Medical Staff, Summer Staff, and volunteers show remarkable resourcefulness so a camper can safely experience all the camp activities that he/she wants. I now have a camper granddaughter who recently summed up her perspective on camp "Everybody here is my friend".

I am actually both a former volunteer (10 summers and 14 total years, counting off-season programming) and now a camper parent. Needless to say, my love of camp runs both deep and broad. Others have said many of the things that I might have said--about how camp changes kids' lives, about the excellent medical staff, about how well maintained the beautiful facility is and about how thoughtful and intentional the programming for children is. All I can add is this. I took my five year old to camp this weekend. It had been a bad day in kindergarten. She spent the weekend jumping out of her skin with joy. On Monday morning, she told the parent of one of her classmates that she'd been at camp, and the parent asked her what kind of camp it was. Her answer, "the kind of camp where you're a rock star." And that's the crux of what camp is: the kind of place where after just two days, you're a rock star!

I am the parent of a first time camper this year. The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp is unbelievable ! It is very hard to put in words all taht camp has done and given my son. It was a place where he didn't feel out of place . A place where no one stared or pointed . It was a place he could be a kid and do all the things his disease takes from him on a daily basis ! Camp is magical ! They transform kids. If they are shy they leave being outgoing ! The staff is AMAZING ! They know how to ease a mom's fears . I have never let ANYONE manage his disease but camp made me feel comfortable. He made friends that will last a life time.
Camp makes each child feel special and that they can conquer the world. It gave them acceptance . A place where they could just be kids not sick kids. That is a priceless gift ! Camp is a a PRICELESS Gift not only to the children but to their families !

I have volunteered at this year-round camp for seriously ill children as a medical doctor. I find working at the camp very fulfilling and satisfying. The campers are very active. They love to dance at every meal. They develop great friendships with one another and with the staff. With all the adversity these children face in their daily lives, they really value their relationships. They are mature beyond their years because of what they are going through. They appreciate that life is more about relationships than things.

My first experience with camp was a resident physician in 2003...and I have enjoyed the privilege of volunteering since that time. What I always say about my camp experience is that I started volunteering while still in training so that I might become a better doctor...what I soon realized is that camp not only has made me a better doctor but a better person as well. My experiences at Camp Hole in the Wall serve as a constant reminder of what is good in this world...each volunteer, each staff member, each camper bring energy, compassion and kindness making camp one of the greatest places to be.

It had been a long and difficult year of chemotherapy for my seven year old. Then we learned about the Hole in the Wall Gang camp. It turned out to be everything she needed - a place filled with warmth, music, smiles, evenings by the bonfire, friendship, songs, laughter, happiness and love!!! Up until this day my daughter wears her ID bracelet (which used to be purple but now is all faded). She says that means her camp is always near. Her memories of this amazing time do not fade, and she is waiting for the next summer to go back to that wonderful place where children who had to deal with serious illnesses, pain and suffering become happy again! A huge thank you to all those who make it possible!

THITWGC was a place I went to offer... finally I ended up getting sooo much back. Thus I had to go back again and again and again... and every time I had the same feeling: I was always getting back more. THITWGC is a place that brings the best out of everyone: campers, staff and volunteers. I was blessed to have had the camp experience in my life. Now I am 5.000miles away from camp and it has been many years since my last summer there but every single memory is still with me every day of my life helping me in noumerous ways. So... once more... the camp keeps offering me so much more than I have ever had offered. Does that mean that perhaps it's time for me to go back? I send my warmest kisses and thoughts to everyone in CT. Maria, former staff & volunteer (now living in Greece). :)

The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. It changed my life. Just the first step on campus. You see about the brightest of the brightest smiles all over on these children faces. You find that there are better things in life than just thinking about yourself or worrying about the smaller things in life. When really you could be helping millions of children who just want that normal life like any other kid/teen their age. You could give them that. By giving them that, you could give yourself peace and happiness. Love and Joy. It's changed my life volunteering there as an L.I.T. I was a camper as well. They gave me the most amazing time ever there. I loved giving it back to other children.

Love this place. Sheer madness and genius. Started as clown, then volunteer who wouldn't leave, I help with galas and fundraisers; I live with the voices of campers in my heart Every Single Day. They touch you in ways you can only experience, not imagine! I've learned so much, and keep learning. The counselors are incredibly gifted; they feed off the kids who "give it right back to you, yeah". Camp has taught me a whole new way to listen to a child, a whole new way to give a rip!

Each summer I volunteer for a week as a counselor. Camp is a magical place! It helps restore a sense of normalcy to families whose lives have been turned upside down by serious illness. Quite simply, its a place where kids can come and be just that...kids. The camp staff are among the most dedicated and caring individuals I have ever met and they always find a way to help the children to have a traditional camp experience. At the end of the week the kids said things to me like "I live for this week" and "this was the best week of my life," but what the parents said was even more poignant..."I haven't seen my child smile like this in such a long time" and "you dont know how much this means to find a place that will take my child just the way they are."

I started volunteering as a Camp nurse in the summer of 2009. Since then I have been back for several family and camper reunion weekends. I work as a nurse in an outpt dept at CT Children's Medical Center and I have been able to help some of our "kids" apply to Camp and it has been rewarding to see them go and have fun and come back to tell the songs they have learned and the experiences they have had. I plan to volunteer again as a nurse for weekends in the upcoming year and for an entire week the summer of 2011. I LOVE Camp. It is hard to explain but it is such an incredible place. I have met amazing people ...campers, their families, medical staff, volunteers, paid staff , counselors. They are an incredibly giving , loving bunch who work tirelessly to give these kids a phenomenal camp experience. I never see anyone say no to these kids (unless it is a safety issue of course)j. They will do their best to be able to allow the kids to do what makes them happy. They are so encouraging. The kids feel safe in this Camp environment, they don't have to worry about being picked on or not being able to do something because of their medical issues. I love watching the "kids be kids" . They TALK to each other (no cell phones or computers), they experience "cabin chat" which for me was an awesome experience, they create things, they make things. They use their imaginations to perform and create projects. They love to fish...that is one of their favorites.

From a medical perspective the staff nurses and the volunteer nurses and the physicians are amazing. They never seem to get tired. I have seen a staff nurse work all day, stay up all night with the older kids keeping them safe during a camp-out and then accompany a sick child to the emergency room the next day--in her pajamas--and never complain.

It is such an uplifting place to be. You would think with all the medical issues and illness that this would be a depressing place to be but it is exactly the opposite. The kids are inspiring. It is so rewarding to see them making friends, helping each other and learning about themselves. They can't wait to come back. I always leave Camp with much more than I came with and I can't wait to go back. I feel very lucky to be a part of such an amazing team.

My wife and I have been donors and counselors for about 15 years. We have seen first-hand the destruction that a child's life-threatening disease can cause to the child and his or her family.

The camp, which is free, doesn't cure the disease of course, but it does allow each child to just be a kid for a while without having to dwell too much on the illness itself, as well as to recognize that he or she is not alone. At the same time, it also provides a respite to the families who tend to spend a lot of time with their sick children - sometimes to the detriment of their healthy children or the parents' relationship.

My wife and I have met many remarkable people over the years - staff, other volunteers, parents and children, and have formed lasting friendships. In many respects, these people have become extended family. Paul Newman once told me that he got more out of the camp than he contributed. I agree with that sentiment. I can't think of another organization that is more worthy of a person's time and money.

For the past 14 years The Hole in the Wall Gang camp has been a vital part of my life. As a camper I would live for the one week to go to the place where I could be my complete and total self without judgment. The counselors were not only my caretakers for the week but my friends who never showed lack of interest in me. It did not take me long to figure out that I wanted to be a staff member for camp. In my mind it was a no brainer decision to become one of the coolest people on the face of the planet. At least this was my view of all the counselors at camp. Making the transition from camper to counselor was everything I hoped for and more. I finally had the opportunity to bring the same joy which I experienced into hundreds of campers’ lives. I have also been able to develop amazing lifelong relationships with my fellow staff members. I feel so honored to be able to work with such loving, kind and selfless people summer after summer. One of my favorite things about being a counselor who was once a camper is having a deeper insight on some of the everyday struggles a young boy with Sickle Cell disease may have undergone. Three years have passed since my first year as a counselor and I am still in awe of the mission we are able to accomplish every summer. I can’t wait to complete my journey as a counselor this upcoming summer and hopefully make it nothing short of legendary for the campers of 2011.

My first time at Camp, I was very excited to be volunteering as a nurse in the infirmary. Little did I know that I would be leaving with so much more than I arrived with.The enthusiasm, the courage, the spirit, the friendships, the fun, the creativity is greater than you could ever imagine. The genuine sense of caring, from the smiles and hugs , to carrying a child on your back or in your arms because they have used up all their energy at play and are blissfully tired. The encouragement to perform on stage , ride a horse , make a birdhouse or pass a swim test. The environment at Camp is perfect for making awesome things happen and that's why we keep coming back year after year to witness them
Adrienne

Our son, who has sever Hemophilia A, has been going to camp one way or another for about 4yrs now. In my formative years, I worked at summer camp for a couple of years which has a great reputation. My first time @ Hole in The Wall, I was speechless. It really is a special place. The staff get you pumped up and happy to be there from the time you enter the gates. It's very well organized, there's so much to do, and you feel at home:) Between the sessions for campers, siblings or family's, the camps enviroment and staff make everyone who attends feel like a hundred bucks. The children & family's who attend, haven't been dealt the best hand in life. The HTWGC make them feel real, normal & together again. Our youngest son, who sometimes can be introverted and a hard shell to crack socially, is convinced Camp is the best place on earth.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp should claim the title, “The Happiest Place on Earth!” I have never heard, seen, and experienced more laughter, joy, and play in one summer. The campers and staff truly embody the Camp rules of “Safety, Respect, and Love” I was the Camping Specialist, currently volunteer for family/camper weekends, and will be back again next summer as full-time summer staff. The facilities are state of the art, the programs are incredible, but what makes Camp so magical are the people. During the year, I am a teacher and the staff and volunteers at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp are the most dedicated, enthusiastic, and qualified group of professionals that I have ever worked with. They meet each individual camper at their level. Through creativity and the passion to make sure each child is included in every activity, our campers see themselves as children rather than being defined by their disease. One of my favorite camp memories was when one of my campers, who is wheelchair bound, went up the high ropes tower via team fly (our cabin lifted her up to get to the top of the wall) and zipped down. Then, she turned to me and said, “I can’t walk, but after just two days at Camp, I can fly!” The energy at camp is electrifying, everywhere one turns there are campers and staff singing, dancing, and applauding one another. This spirit is exemplified during the Awards Ceremony where every camper is recognized and gets a standing ovation for their accomplishments that past week. After a week of Camp, our campers leave with a confidence and stronger spirit and sense of self. I wish I could do Camp justice in just a few paragraphs, but it is an indescribable place that has infinite benefits for anyone that experiences it.

After a week of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a volunteer cabin counselor understands a new world view, a new language and a code of conduct: There are only 3 principles to run your week—safety, respect and love, and the kids really do believe in them. There are only 3 rules, No physical violence, no killer statements, and no unsupervised activities, and if they were followed in the world we’d all live in Utopia. But there is a fourth rule—have fun. It’s an impossible rule not to follow. You will never in your life ever see so many people putting so much energy and talent and creativity and hard work into hard playing. You usually don’t notice the hard work part. You notice that when someone mentions what or how much they make, it doesn’t refer to income but the volume of crafts and woodshop projects created. You realize that the only colors that really matter in this world are unit colors: purple and blue and red and green and yellow and if you mention one, a loud cheer with complicated rhythms executed in perfect synchrony might very well ensue. You wonder why clowns don’t help out in our lives everyday. Things would work out so much better. You learn that you can get really tired and not much sleep and still just thrive! Each day of the week has a name but it’s not Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, but Fun Day, Stage Night Day, Party Night Day. Camp is the only place other than a Broadway musical where singing and dancing can break out at any time. The most important meeting of the day is when everyone is in bed and a candle is burning and it’s time for cabin chat. Overnight transformations of places you were in only hours ago occur regularly. Where did that gorilla come from? Was that totem pole there yesterday? People transform too. Random acts of kindness are performed by super secret agents. That there is true goodness in the world and it is possible to spread it around . Every risk you might take to be better, stronger, kinder, more artistic is not so scary with a lot of help from your friends. That homesickness is never as hard to deal with as sadness about leaving camp. It’s a good world to understand.

You can read other reviews about The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp that will be more eloquent and more detailed than anything I’d ever be able to share (And, by the way, they’re all so terrifically written and so spot-on accurate!). So my short, simple story goes something like this: I first heard of Hole In The Wall Camp over 15 years ago, but didn’t get the chance to jump into the mix until the Summer of 2009. Since then, I’ve worked as a volunteer counselor at camp, worked at one-day outreach programs in the city, worked at fund-raising events, worked at the New Haven administrative offices — I’d gladly, voluntarily work any time, any place for this organization because of what they stand for: Safety, Respect, Love. You feel it every minute you’re around this place. Everyone you meet — from the staff, to the volunteers, to the kids themselves — has an energy and enthusiasm and passion for life that’s hard to find in such abundance anywhere else. This is an organization with a singular, laser-like focus: helping seriously ill kids and their families have some serious fun! There aren’t too many things more rewarding than seeing a smile or hearing a laugh coming from the heart of a Hole In The Wall camper. If you’re considering attending camp, volunteering at camp, or giving to camp, this is THE place to do it!

Overall it is an incredible organization. Truly, it is about these critically ill children getting to be 'kids at camp'.

I believe there are few if any organizations with a mission as important as that of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Nothing is more unfair than a child having to deal with a serious illness rather than the usual joys of childhood, and Hole in the Wall combats this injustice by giving kids a week as a camper when they can soak up enough sun, laughter, dancing, and love to last them for the rest of the year. And because many families are already burdened by health care expenses, every camper attends Camp for free. Being a camper at the Hole in the Wall made me change my perspective on my own disease - it was no longer something that made me different from my friends but instead something that made me unique. When I was lucky enough to return for several summers as a cabin counselor, I realized that my passion is life is caring for others, and I switched career paths and entered medical school. What an effect this 300 acre camp, tucked away in the northeast woods of Connecticut, has had on my life! But the amazing part is that there are over a thousand stories created every summer just like mine, where campers living with cancer, HIV, sickle cell, hemophilia and other serious diseases have their lives altered forever. Please help The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp help those who deserve it most.

I arrived at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in the summer of 1994 as a volunteer counselor. As with so many other people who came to know this camp, it changed my life entirely. The organization has given me far more than I’ve been able to offer it in my years of work there. The Camp defies easy description. Volunteers return year after year because the place offers you the chance to work long, intense hours around an intelligent, funny, big-hearted staff, and children who are often far wiser than anyone around them. Volunteers and staff members pour their hearts into the task: giving campers a packed week of play and fellowship, free of the social and physical constraints they face back home. As cabin counselors, we would routinely stay up past midnight to plan the next day’s activities and strategize about how to maximize the experience; how to make this one day as great as it could possibly be for our campers. At daybreak we’d lock arms with them and venture into those activities, building deep friendships in whispers as we waited for a fish to bite, or in songs shouted in the dining hall, or in silence around a candle at the close of the day. At the end of the week, those children are members of Camp’s family – a status that guarantees a lifetime of support from anyone affiliated with the place. The support extends to siblings and parents as well. They rely often on that support, and we are the better for it. For many who’ve stood in a joyful swarm of Hole in the Wall campers, we have been transformed into people who more fully understand what it means to love those around us, while serving a purpose that is far greater than whatever material goals we might have. Paul Newman somehow knew there would be magic in such a place. It’s difficult to believe that even he knew just how much magic there would be.

I was a full summer counselor at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for six summers. I had a front row seat to the lives of so many wonderful kids who were dealt such unimaginable plights. The campers at Hole in the Wall Gang Camp lived their lives to return to camp for weekend reunions and summer sessions. It gave them a bright source of hope in their most difficult of times. And the power that had on the child resonated throughout their families. A fact that is only magnified by the fact that Hole in the Wall extends programming to siblings and parents. The way the camp trains their staff is superb. Beyond the obvious medical concerns to look out for, we were given the tools needed to treat everything from home sickness to unruly behavior in such a way that was at the utmost respect to the camper. If I had to sum up my camp experience with one story, it would be the following. I was sitting on the ball field with campers on break from some goofy Sports and Rec activity that involved safety cones, hula hoops, and most certainly water guns. One of my 14 year old campers looked at me and said, "You know why I love it here? Because when you talk to me, I don't feel like Greg with cancer, I just feel like Greg."

I attended The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp as a camper and later as a volunteer counselor. I have zero hesitation stating that camp changed my life and made me who I am today. I was born with a severe bleeding disorder, hemophilia. My body also developed an inhibitor, which means my body rejected the only medicine available to treat this disease. As a result, I quickly developed crippling joints with constant bleeding into my joints causing severe chronic pain. On top of this, at the age of 12, I also learned that I contracted AIDS and Hepatitis C from my medication to treat my hemophilia. I was told I had about 1 year to live. All of this led to depression and low self-worth. It was the next summer that I learned of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. For years I kept to myself and became extremely shy. Not only did I feel I wasn’t worth much, but I was scared to death to let anyone into my life in fear they would discover my HIV status. So it took me about a day at camp to really come out of my shell, but when I did, it was like discovering a whole new world! Before camp I always heard about how awful people were (usually in reference to the treatment of people with AIDS). It wasn’t until I was at camp when realized…there are good people in this world, and more importantly, it was ok to be myself. For that one week at camp, I didn’t have to pretend I was someone I wasn’t. I didn’t have hid from people in fear of them getting to know me. I could be me…100% ME! While the activities were great, it really is the people, campers and counselors, which make this the best organization in the world. I went from feeling like a misfit to feeling like I belong somewhere. I remember sitting up all night with my whole cabin cracking jokes, sharing stories about friends that we’ve lost, to making farting noises, to crying, to sharing tips on the best ways to take that gross tasting medicine…there isn’t anywhere else that this happens. For the first time, I found myself. It was no longer “poor me”, it was “wouldn’t it be cool if I didn’t let my diseases define me” or “I now know I can do amazing things DESPITE my diseases.” Camp gave me the strength and confidence to get out of my room and actually live my life, graduate high school, be the first in my family to graduate college, intern for MTV, live on my own in L.A. and N.Y.C., backpack Europe, and now have a career, married to the woman of my dreams and actually consider starting our own family. All thanks to the life that camp encouraged me to have!

Our son is a former camper who first attended The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1989 at age 9 under active treatment for leukemia. After several years as a camper, he became a counselor and worked at Camp into his college years. He continues to visit Camp and volunteer for special events. As an indebted parent, I began my volunteer service to the Camp almost 20 years ago. I will always remain obligated to the Camp for what it has provided to our son, our family, and now so many dear friends. Paul Newman’s extraordinary and perhaps impossible vision sprang to life in the summer of 1988. The brilliance of the design resulted in its immediate success. It has made an extraordinary impact on all those it has touched. The Camp was conceived from a deep commitment to serve a special population of very seriously ill children in a unique environment backed by a commitment to offer the experience of a life time to kids with no other possible options for a camp experience – and at no cost to their families. Since 1988, the commitment of the talented staff has taken the concept to new and higher dimensions and has delivered life-changing experiences to thousands of children. It is not possible to fully describe what the Camp has and continues to offer to these kids, but it is certainly magic. When your child is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, your world as a parent changes. Perhaps the most striking change is that you witness a sudden loss of your son’s or daughter’s “childhood”. Explaining the impact of camp on these kids and families requires an appreciation for this loss. Camp, through its total commitment to these kids, has found a way to do nothing less than consistently “restore” the childhood so often lost to their disease. Fears are consoled, talents are celebrated, friendships are fostered, confidences are engendered, choices are constantly offered, respect and love are offered non-stop, and the fun simply flows through a deep, safe and totally natural vein that is, in fact, the essence of the Camp. I have never witnessed anything that even remotely resembles this phenomenon. The success of the Camp is immeasurable. It has provided unique experiences to thousands of kids from all backgrounds, bound together as members of the “Hole in the Wall Gang”. Every child, family and caregiver is enabled to new and higher levels of understanding of their situation and refreshed in their ability to manage their challenges. It is a testament to the founders that the life lessons earned at Camp by all who spend even the shortest time there are touched by a life-altering experience that can and should be applied everywhere. From a personal perspective, as well as an understanding of my fellow parents, the Camp experience has allowed us to reach a new understanding of our children, the real values in life, and provided new perspectives and appreciation for the courage and generosity of others of all ages. Our son’s experience has and continues to have an indelible influence on him in his life and work as a medical doctor. The continued preservation and expansion of the Camp spirit is of such importance that I cannot overstate it. One of my son’s best Camp buddies once said: “Why can’t the whole world be like Camp?”

I first arrived at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1992 at age 12, when I was deep into treatment for osteosarcoma bone cancer. I arrived bald, on crutches, and very apprehensive. I had been in and out of the hospital for the prior 9 months and had barely been out of my parents’ sight since my diagnosis. We nearly missed the unmarked and hidden driveway tucked into the beautiful woods. As we drove between two large boulders, up a long driveway, and past a sparkling pond, I became more and more nervous. Suddenly, a man in a 4-foot tall cowboy hat and a woman dressed as a clown came into view. They were waving wildly and welcoming us into the parking lot. As soon as we opened the doors and they learned my name, they acted as though they had been specifically waiting just for me. There was cheering, and hugging, and singing, and dancing. I felt incredibly special and incredibly normal at the same time. This feeling is one of the most remarkable gifts that camp provides. I spent four years as a camper at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and one year as a Leader in Training (junior counselor). Since then I have worked there for three summers and have volunteered as a counselor and in the infirmary. Over these years of privileged involvement I’ve tried to figure out how Camp creates the magical environment of love and acceptance that makes it so unique. It’s still hard for me to describe to people who have not been fortunate enough to visit. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is more than just a summer camp for children with cancer and blood diseases. Camp finds people at the most vulnerable points of their lives- children undergoing invasive and isolating therapy for devastating illnesses, parents facing the most terrifying possibilities imaginable, siblings trying to keep the family stable throughout the struggle- and provides a respite. It is a place where you don’t have to explain your fears and mixed emotions. Where scars are battle wounds to be worn proudly. Where bald heads, crutches, Port-a-Caths, and pillboxes are common accessories. Where tree houses have wheelchair ramps and IV pumps run unnoticed next to bunk beds. By normalizing all of these things, Camp allows children and families in crisis to focus on the simple joys of summer camp. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides an exceptional camp experience to children with special needs. Then they go beyond this mission and actually show campers and staff how to make the world a better place. There is a conscious culture of kindness that permeates the environment. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp subtly teaches important lessons about unconditional acceptance, listening, and reserving judgment. And they encourage people to take theses lessons and share them with the outside world after they leave. I for one am a better person for having been involved in The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and I firmly believe that the world is a better place due to its work.

I can still recall vividly arriving for the first time to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Counselor were cheering. The sun was shining. Everyone was smiling. And little did I realize that my life was about to be changed forever. I have been involved with the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for the past twenty years. I was a camper. I have volunteered as a counselor. I’ve played a role in fundraising. And I can say that the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is truly a magical place. There is a large population of children out there who can neither go to “traditional” summer camps nor simply spend the summer “playing.” For those children, the Hole in the Wall Gang camp offers a unique respite. As a camper, I fished; I canoed; I made beads; I put on plays; I climbed a rock wall; I wrote poetry; and I did all of that in a supportive, safe, respectful, and loving environment. These experiences were, of course, great fun. But they were also so much more. They offered a sense of normalcy. I too have ridden horses. I too know how to canoe. I too have a drawer full of arts and crafts projects. While, perhaps for some children, these are just summer distractions, they gave, to me, a sense of being “normal.” As a child, I spent much of my time around doctors or hospitals. And during much of my remaining time, I was around those who had never had such experiences, a constant reminder that I was “different.” But for a short time each Summer, I enjoyed what everyone else seemed to take for granted. My time at camp was special for yet another reason as well: the many wonderful people that I met there. I had a chance to meet other kids with similar life experiences and see that I was not alone. I also met a series of mentors, young people who had left their colleges or medical schools or jobs to come offer their time to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. I look back upon my time as a camper and realize that I simply cannot imagine what life would have been like without camp. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you had grown up in a different country or been born to different parents? Consider that for a moment. There are some counterfactuals that just can’t be imagined. For me, that is life without the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. And my experience as a camper was not unique. Thousands of children go through the rustic wood gate at the front of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and are forever changed for having done so. Perhaps even more amazing (and almost as transformative) as my time as a camper has been my time as a volunteer. Each time I step foot on camp or help at a camp event, I am struck by the dedication and energy of those who pour their hearts into running the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Try to imagine what is required in taking care of a single child with an illness or disability. Now imagine what is involved in caring for thousands of them, while giving them a normal summer camp experience, and doing it in such a way that never feels intrusive but is always carefully supervised. Each and every time I meet other counselors, I’m always amazed by how much they can pour into that endeavor. Passion, professionalism, and skill are a rare combination, but one that I have consistently observed in the camp staff and administration. A camp counselor once remarked to me that everyone gets more out of the Hole in the Wall Gang camp than they put in. In my seven-year-old wisdom, I questioned how such a feat was possible: where did it all come from? Twenty years later, I still do not know the answer to that question. But I do know that it is the miracle of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

In 1995, my family entered into the incredible world of Paul Newman's The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. My 13 year old son had just completed a year of treatment for bone cancer and although he had survived the horrors of his illness, he was utterly demoralized and debilitated. The Camp gave him back his childhood and gave me and my family courage, optimism, playfulness,hope,extraordinary friendships, and a context from which we could understand how our lives had been changed and how to proceed to fashion his and our recovery. At age almost 27, he is in good health and "on top of the world". A microcosm of total strangers inspired by Paul Newman's vision gave us this extraordinary gift and have become our lifelong friends and second family. The Camp which is in Ashford, CT, has done this for over 17,000 children and enters its 22nd summer season in 2009. Over 1000 children will attend, all free of charge. Cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS and hemophilia are the major medical conditions affecting these children 7-15 yrs of age, but campers with rare disorders who could not attend camp elsewhere are also included.There is a full range of activities including, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, theater, making movies, songwriting and making CD recordings, photography, arts and crafts, woodshop, archery, hot air ballooning,camping out overnight, a climbing wall with a 300 foot zip line, and many more activities. Despite the complexity and severity of their illnesses, the children are able to just have fun and many describe their week at Camp as the best week of the entire year, the time of their life, and better than Disneyland. Although one might expect a somber emotional tone, it is a place of incredible happiness, playfulness, positivity, love, respect,trust, and safety. They can't wait for the next summer's camp experience. Top tier medical care is provided by a large staff of outstanding pediatric specialist doctors and nurses. 2 Big Apple Circus clowns are resident all summer long.We have a full time music director and entertainment director and the dining hall is filled with laughter, music, song, and dancing. The Camp provides year round programming in Ashford and offsite with a special summer session for healthy sibling campers, family weekends at Camp, weekend parent retreats, off-season camper reunions, and website communication. There is also extensive programming for aged out campers. A hospital outreach program staffed by young artists who are former counselors provides thousands of visits to sick children throughout New York and New England. The counselors who are largely college and graduate school age, 1/4 of whom are former campers, are among the most talented, intelligent, intuitive, and compassionate young folks I have ever meet. The senior administrative staff is second to none and it seems that no situation has not been anticipated and fully planned for. The Camp operates a 300+ acre facility with a 40 acre lake and is gorgeous. The architecture is a Wild West motif with fantastic design. My entire family has served as volunteer counselors and my wife and I will return this summer for our 13th consecutive year. My fellow Board of Director members are among the most thoughtful, innovative, capable, and generous people I have ever met with several having served since the inception of Camp. They are a diverse and high-profile group of national leaders and my family and I have been the beneficiaries of their kindness and brilliance. Paul Newman provided unique leadership and vision for all of us and his legacy grows ever larger. Camp has a deeply spiritual dimension as well and is a land of "the ultimate right stuff" where people perform selflessly and at their highest capacity in the name of the children. It is a truly magical kingdom and as a parent, volunteer counselor, and 7 year member of the Board of Directors, it is a great privilege to be associated with this organization.