At Camp Holiday Trails, we’ve spent the last 50 years creating life-changing experiences for over 10,000 children and teens with medical needs. Since 1974, our mission has been to empower kids by giving them the chance to be themselves, build confidence, and form lasting friendships in a safe, supportive environment. We’ve seen firsthand how camp experiences for children with medical conditions can change lives—and we’re so grateful for the amazing community of alumni, families, volunteers, staff, and donors who have helped make it all possible.

Our 50th Anniversary Weekend: A Time to Celebrate and Look Ahead

Our 50th anniversary celebration from November 1-3, 2024, was nothing short of incredible. Nearly 200 alumni, families, volunteers, and supporters gathered at Camp Holiday Trails to celebrate our legacy and the lasting impact we’ve had on kids across the Mid-Atlantic. It was a weekend filled with camp traditions, heartwarming moments, and a shared excitement for the future.

Camp Holiday Trails Day Proclamation

Mayor Juandiego Wade and Council Member Natalie Oschrin, both from Charlottesville City Government, issued an official proclamation recognizing Camp Holiday Trails Day. This moment honored the significant impact our camp has had on children and families in the community.

Camp Fun and Traditions

Of course, we couldn’t celebrate without all the classic camp activities that make Camp Holiday Trails so special. We had a blast with CHT Trivia, an ice cream social, crafts, and a moving wishboat ceremony where alumni sent their wishes for the future of Camp floating across the water. Saturday was full of lawn games, arts and crafts, and even a drum circle led by African drummer Whit—adding to the joy and camp spirit. The weekend wouldn’t have been complete without some amazing performances. Left Foot Braking rocked the house with a live performance, and we were treated to a stunning drone light show by Airloom Drone Shows.

Builder’s Brunch & Looking Forward: A Bright Future for Camp Holiday Trails

On Sunday, we concluded our anniversary weekend with our Builder’s Brunch, hosted by Martin Horn. This inspiring gathering brought together supporters, community leaders, and Camp friends to talk about the future—especially our exciting plans for a new Med Korner building. This new facility will help us care for more children with medical needs, and we’re thrilled about the possibilities it brings. We were also honored to have legacy guests with us, including Dr. Robert Selden, one of our founding pediatricians, and Rossie Fisher, wife of Camp’s first director, Sandy Fisher, among others.

Our 50th anniversary weekend was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and how much more we can do. With the continued support of our amazing community, we’re excited to expand our mission and bring transformative camp experiences to more children and teens with medical needs across the Mid-Atlantic. As a year-round camp, we look forward to welcoming more campers for meaningful, empowering experiences all year long. 

Support Camp Holiday Trails’ Mission

We couldn’t do any of this without the generosity of our supporters. If you’d like to be part of our mission to provide life-changing experiences for kids with medical needs, we invite you to make a donation today. Your contribution helps us continue to provide empowering camp experiences and build a brighter future for all of our campers. Learn more and donate at campholidaytrails.org/donate.