25 Facts About Paul Newman's "Hole In The Wall Gang Camp"

The kids at hole in the wall are not defined by their illnesses, and certainly don’t let them slow them down. They are kids like every other – looking for fun, friendship and the chance to “raise a little hell.”

1. "The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families throughout the Northeast, free of charge."

Via holeinthewallgang.org

Kids who can't attend other summer camps for medical reasons can attend this one!

2. Children with various medical disorders such as cancer, hemophilia and sickle cell can attend,

Via charities.org

Some of the list is:

*Immunology

*Cancer

*Serious blood diseases (including sickle cell disease, hemophilia, thalessemia, aplastic anemia, etc.)

*Hereditary and acquired immunodeficiency

*Metabolic diseases.

+Siblings in the last session

3. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded in 1988 by Paul Newman.

Via holeinthewallgang.org

It was founded with one simple premise in mind: that every child, no matter their illness, could experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp.

4. The Hole in the Wall camp is based on Paul Newman's famous movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

Via holeinthewallgang.org

Featuring lots of western themed buildings, such as the arts and crafts room.

5. The Camp serves more than 25,000 seriously ill children and family members annually – all free of charge

Via interactive.wttw.com

Each year, 2,500 children and family members take part in year-round programs at the Camp in Ashford, CT, and tens of thousands more experience Hole in the Wall fun through various outreach activities across the Northeast.

6. The Camp accepts children 7-15 years of age

Via angieslist.com

After that, you can become an LIT (leader in training) and then a counselor.

7. There are 100 – 120 campers at each summer session!

Via holeinthewallgang.org

Imagine running a summer camp with that amount, let alone campers with difficult medical needs!

8. The pool is zero entry and wheel chair accessible.

Via holeinthewallgang.org

A.K.A like a beach.

9. Speaking of which, it's heated to 90° F, medically appropriate.

Via holeinthewallgang.org

Kids with sickle cell cannot swim in cold water, or they may have acute pain episode.

10. Campers stay in a cabin with heat, air conditioning, and semi-private restroom facilities with other campers.

Via 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.

The cabins are divided by age and gender, not disease.

11. Hole in the wall accepts volunteers with disabilities.

Via holeinthewallgang.org

The staff does not exclude volunteers with disabilities. However, because work as a counselor can sometimes be strenuous, they expect that any person working at Camp will have the ability to supervise and provide for the safety of the campers.

12. The camp day goes from 7:00 (for early risers) to 10:00 (for the oldest)

Via holeinthewallgang.org

The schedule is usually:

7:00 a.m. - Rise and Shine (early morning activities)

8:30 a.m. - Breakfast

10:00 a.m. - Cabin Cleanup

10:30 a.m. - Morning activities

12:45 p.m. - Lunch

2 p.m. - Rest time

3:30 p.m. - Afternoon activities

5:30 p.m. - Dinner

7:00 p.m. - Evening program (Camp Fire, Stage Night, Carnival, Silly-o (a time to chuck food at a chosen counselor)

9:00 p.m. - Younger campers head back to the cabins for cabin chat/lights out

10:00 p.m. - Older campers head back to the cabins for cabin chat/lights out

13. Campers come from everywhere!

The majority of the summer campers come from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, but some come from as far away as Ireland or Germany!

14. The campers enjoy a full range of adaptive programs.

Via i.ytimg.com

Each camper enjoys a full range of activities that include

*boating & fishing

*swimming

*camping

*performing arts

*arts and crafts

*horseback riding

*group games

*dancing and singing

The activities are managed so that all campers can participate and none will fail. All participation is by choice.

15. Programs at Camp run year-round.

Via holeinthewallgangcamp.org

In addition to the signature summer program, they offer a full schedule of weekend programs in the non-summer months featuring family weekends, camper reunions, parent retreats and programs for the community. The Hospital Outreach Program brings the healing and joy of Camp programming to the bedsides of seriously ill children in hospitals from Philadelphia to Boston all year long, while CampOut brings Camp magic right to campers in their homes and communities.

16. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp receives funding from 25,000 donors.

Via wordpress.com

Paul Newman and Newman's Own Foundation have generously supported The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

17. It cost $12.75 million in 2015 to run the camp, all of which is from fundraisers and donors.

Via image.pbs.org

If only your fundraisers could be this successful.

18. 95% of parents said their child's sense of appreciation and possibility increased after going to camp.

They also improved on friendship skills and interest in social activities, to name a few.

19. Some other statistics:

Going from top right to bottom left:

*95% said their children's sense of appreciation increased after camp.

*97% said their children's sense of possibility increased after camp.

*Parents and Caregivers describe camp as: Awesome, fun, inspiring, amazing, great, special and caring.

*90% said their child emphasizes with others.

*89% said their child helps others to have fun.

*89% said their child listens to other kids.

*87% said their child makes friends.

*80% of campers increased in maturity and 99% of campers increased or had no change in maturity

There are other things not on this list. To see the full list, go here.

20. In 2015, the camp brought SCUBA gear for the campers to SCUBA dive in the pool.

Via takethefamily.com

They played underwater checkers and tic-tac-toe!

21. All Profits from Newman's Own go to charity, not just THITWGC

Via forthemommas.com

Keep on buying that ranch dressing and lemonade.

22. For adolescents too old to participate in the summer program, they offer Hero’s Journey.

Via holeinthewallgang.org

This seven-day wilderness adventure program teaches self-reliance, positive communication and teamwork through a variety of exciting challenges. Participants experience adventure, empowerment and deep connections, learning to become “the hero of their own story.”

23. THITWGC is part of a network of camps called "Serious Fun"

Via seriousfunnetwork.org

SeriousFun Children’s Network spans the globe with a thriving community of 30 camps and programs that have served children from over 50 countries and throughout five continents. Designed around the principle of purposeful play, creative staff members and volunteers ensure that every child experiences success and gains the confidence to try new and exciting things in a supportive environment.

24. SeriousFun Children’s Network spans the globe with a thriving community of 30 camps and programs that have served children from over 50 countries and throughout five continents.

It's mine

The list of camps can be seen here.

Some of the camps are:

*Camp Addis, Ethiopia

Camp Addis serves orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV. Highlights of the camp sessions include: a talk show about living with HIV; a crazy costume photo shoot; daily sports; arts and crafts; and a very special banquet dinner and awards ceremony on the final night of camp. Camp Addis is operated through a partnership between SeriousFun Children’s Network and Worldwide Orphans Foundation.

*Camp Colors of Love, Vietnam

At Camp Colors of Love-South, held outside of Ho Chi Minh City, campers have the opportunity to camp in platform tents, splash on slip and slides, paddle in canoes, and enjoy a festival night. After three successful years of camp in the South, a second camp was started in the North outside of Hanoi. Camp Colors of Love is operated through a partnership between SeriousFun Children’s Network and the Worldwide Orphans Foundation.

*Camp Rainbow, India

Camp Rainbow - Chennai was the first Global Partnership Program to serve HIV positive children living in India. At Camp Rainbow, campers are given the opportunity to design beautiful mehndi on their handsat culture night, sing the dosa song before each meal, receive specialized Super Chuttior Muddhina Kanmani awards, play cricket, and learn about living positively with HIV. Camp Rainbow operates in partnership between SeriousFun Children’s Network, Y.R. Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Community Health Education Society (CHES), and Asha Kirana Charitable Trust.

*Double H Ranch, New York
Double H Ranch, which stands for Health and Happiness, is located in New York’s scenic Adirondack Mountains. It sits on 320 beautifully wooded acres that include the fish-friendly Lake Vanare. Double H Ranch provides fun and adventure to children and family members through summer residential camp, family-based programs, and a unique winter adaptive ski program. Hundreds of children with a wide range of physical abilities learn to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe, thanks to the efforts of over 200 volunteer ski instructors and the National Ski Patrol.

*Flying Horse Farms, Ohio

Walking through the barn doors of a 100-year-old restored red barn, you will find Flying Horse Farms, a place where children with serious illnesses go to experience the magic of camp. The camp, built on 200 acres of beautiful farmland with trails, woods and lakes in the heart of the Midwest, offers traditional camp programs such as arts and crafts, woodshop and fishing, but also takes advantage of the cool winter climate with their very own Sweater Camp.

*Over The Wall, United Kingdom

Programs are held at several locations throughout the UK. All of the sites are located on large properties in the countryside with well equipped accommodations, facilities for indoor and outdoor activities, and stunning views. Together, these locations create opportunities for children and families to swim, catch their first fish, dance in the sunshine, perform center stage and create the memories of a lifetime.

*And of course,
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Connecticut

Surrounded by dense forest in northeastern Connecticut, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is designed to feel like an old western town. A tree-lined dirt road meanders around stables, barns and fields and across the camp’s lake stand totem poles, teepees and wigwams, a boathouse and a gazebo. The camp also includes log cabins that circle a wide lawn, a theater, an infirmary (the famous “O.K. Corral”) and a towering dining hall modeled after a Shaker-style barn. A zero entry swimming pool and warming room, a fully accessible tree-house and a wheelchair accessible miniature golf course make camp activities fun for all of the children and families who participate each year. Through the Hospital Outreach Program, camp staff members make visits to children who are hospitalized, bringing camp magic and laughter to additional campers.

25. The Hole in the Wall Gang is the best and only place for sick kids to go. Donate today!

Via holeinthewallgang.org

Go to www.HoleInTheWallGangCamp.org and Donate Today!