Event Description
Nestled in the hills on the southern edge of Charlottesville, Camp Holiday Trails offers children with chronic health conditions what few camps can – the opportunity to enjoy the experiences of summer camp in an environment that meets their individual health needs. It is one of very few camps in the country that is able to integrate and care for so many different health conditions in one setting.
Campers between the ages of five and seventeen attend two-week residential sessions, each of which can accommodate up to sixty children. In 2021, Campers between the ages of five and seventeen will have the chance to participate in a day camp, an online camp AND a traveling pop-up camp. While at camp, each child is provided the chance to grow and develop through activities such as horseback riding, athletics, swimming, ropes course, nature and science, and many more. The goal is to help these chronically ill children develop self-confidence, experience the outdoors, socialize with one another, and become more aware of their abilities. Through this organized camping program, Camp Holiday Trails is able to better prepare these children for the challenges they face every day in their home communities.
Each year Camp Holiday Trails relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers, individual donors, health organizations, civic groups, foundations, churches, and corporations to meet their financial obligations. During the weekend of April 9th-11th, the University of Virginia School of Medicine will host the 38th Annual 5k Benefiting Camp Holiday Trails in the form of a Trail-A-Thon to keep participants safe during the pandemic. The Trail-A-Thon will be held at Ragged Mountain Nature Area and will debut a brand new trail made by the City of Charlottesville. You can run, hike, or walk it (and even take a picnic break at the top of the mountain if you'd like!) If you are not currently in Charlottesville and would like to participate, we encourage you to walk or run a 5K distance wherever you are currently living. All proceeds will help children with special needs attend the summer camp program.
As added incentive to participate: all Camp Holiday Trails Trail-a-thon participants will receive either a CHT mug (if you live in Charlottesville) or a disabilities advocate lapel (if you're running remotely), as well as some awesome custom stickers! Additionally, all participants will be entered into a lottery to win prizes from the Ragged Mountain Running shop: i.e. water bottles, shirts, and hats!
[Please stay tuned for details on carpool options (for UVASOM students) in the weeks to come.]
