About Camp Holiday Trails
Our Mission: Camp Holiday Trails creates a community that empowers children and teens with medical needs to thrive.
Camp Holiday Trails (CHT) is a year-round nonprofit camp in a natural setting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central VA. CHT was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1973 and, since that time, has provided over 10,000 kids with medical needs the opportunity to experience a positive camp experience. Our Campers, and their siblings, aged 6-17, are welcomed from throughout the United States, with the majority coming from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Our History
In the mid-1960, three successful pediatricians, Dr. Peter Houck, Dr. Elsa Paulsen, and Dr. Robert Selden, all from the University of Virginia, had a vision: a camp for children with medical needs that provided exposure to the outdoor environment with safety of round the clock medical supervision. Originally, each physician operated their own camp, and early facilities included local schools, churches, and the backyard of a hospital. In 1973, with considerable community support and 75 acres of land donated by local property owner David Goodwin, Holiday Trails, Inc. was founded. The first buildings were built by volunteer hands and by 1974, Camp Holiday Trails became one of the first camps in the region to welcome children with many diverse medical diagnoses. Camping in cabins, fishing with real worms, and learning camp songs – the focus is no longer on the illness but on the child.
Our Culture: We Believe in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our Culture: Camp Holiday Trails is a community of acceptance. We welcome different abilities and know that our differences are what make the world a more exciting place.
We value every job and every role. We strive for equity in our language, hiring, activities, and culture. We honor transparency in our communication.
We include, we adapt, and you are in a safe place to be your best self.
“Camp is not the real world, but it’s what the real world should be.”
Our Campers and Our Communities
Community Profile
Our Campers come to us from across the country but are predominantly from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Our Campers join us from:
25% Tidewater/Coastal Virginia
23% Central Virginia
23% Northern Virginia/DC Area
14% Maryland
9% Southwest Virginia
Camper Profile
Age: Our campers range in age from 7 to 17.
Who can come to camp? Campers with qualifying diagnoses, and their siblings.
Diagnoses: Many campers have multiple diagnoses including cancer, diabetes, sickle cell, hemophilia, juvenile arthritis, or are recipients of transplants; 47% also have mental health diagnoses.
Economic background: Over 70% of our campers qualify for free and reduced lunch in their communities; CHT subsidizes camp expenses for more than 90% of families.
Our Grounds
