Nestled in the woods of Ashford Connecticut, there lies a place where all troubles fade and fun is the main goal. Worry free fun, that was Paul Newman’s goal when he opened The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1988, the camp serves children who have been affected by Chronic or serious illness, like Cancer, Hemophilia, AIDs, as well as Sickle Cell Disease. The camp has served children all over New England and also has had International weeks which children from Africa, Italy, Germany, and Spain. The affect of camp has been very wide reaching I got a chance to interview some past campers on the affects.

Paul Newman’s goals have certainly bet met Addie Fishstein from Long Island, New York, started going to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in the summer of 2011 at age 13. I asked Addie what type of effect camp has had on her outside of camp and she “can definitely credit camp with making me a more confident person It allowed me to realize that my past disease wasn’t something I had to pretend never happened.” The councilors and great staff of the Hole in the Wall have affected several people’s lives and many long lasting relationships have been forged in the short week that campers and counselors have together.

The Camp derives its theme from Paul Newman’s Movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Newman founded the camp back in 1988 with a goal to help some children have some fun during the summer no matter their illness or ailment. The camp has been operational now for 26 years and has helped thousands of children find happiness in the darkest of times. The original camp in Connecticut has inspired dozens of sister camps all across the world from Camp Painted Turtle in California to Barretstown in Ireland the camps all work together and are a part of the Serious Fun Camps Network. A network of camps following Paul Newman’s goal of spreading happiness to those who need it.

I volunteered at The Hole in the Wall over this past Summer and I think one quote sums up camp perfectly “ Never doubt that a group of small committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead.