Camp holiday trails provided a great, relatively inexpensive place to stay for extended family. They seem to be taking COVID19 pretty seriously with 3 days of dead time between guests. It was a lot of fun to be able to walk down to the ragged mountain hiking trails.
Only bummer was that the cabins have a shared deck, which would honestly be a lot less of an issue if we didn't currently live in the apocalypse.
Went here for a wedding and it was beautiful. Nice cabins and just a nice campground in general.
"It's trash don't go there!!!!!!!!!!" -unnamed trashy-looking guy. Homesickness can be hard.
Though an alumni, I can understand the stereotype that looking back at a fond memory distorts perception of the real event. However, having finished my fourth and final year at Camp Holiday Trails about two weeks ago, I think now would still probably be a safe time to tell the world how special of a place this was for me, and the 300 other campers I've seen there since I started (with the exception of the occasional obnoxious-type antisocial you find in every crowd...come to think of it, I think I recognize Trashy Guy from his profile pic.
This camp is like every other camp in that it hosts camping, and canoeing, and arts and crafts, and fishing, and quirky stuff such as messy art and Color Wars; I'm not going to list it all because you can probably figure it out. It's a summer camp!
But what sets this camp apart is something you probably already know from the description; that it's creates an iconic and fun environment accessible by people of any health difficulties, from peanut allergy to cystic fibrosis. And I don't mean "they put a wheelchair ramp to the dining hall and have the number for 911 handy." I mean that they've created an advanced medical system supporting a very normal-feeling experience. Before I got there my first year, I honestly thought it would feel kind of awkward, with all of us very different seeming people with disabilities trying to have a normal time, but CHT has created a literal miracle, and it became a true home-away-from-home.
The day we had the closing ceremony, there was a lot of emotion as my friends and I were leaving a place that had affected us like none other, and how some of us who had been there for many years realized that they were singing their last camp song. But what I noticed different from all the other crying I've been around and/or done is that it all was happy as well as bittersweet. This place had impacted us, and has personally taught me a lot.
The med staff and counselors always went above and beyond trying to make everybody's summer a blast, and there was more life in the air than I've seen anywhere. I m not going to individually praise every aspect of camp, but considering how difficult it can be for people with conditions such as cerebral palsy (as well as easier-functiong but still medical-attention-dependent people like me who have things like seizures), I thought I should mention it. And that's why this kind of situation is great. EVERYBODY needs a total vacation, and whether you have eczema or cancer they can get one here.
I'm turning 18, and Camp Holiday Trails has been the highlight of my childhood. If a camp can do that to someone (and the others I've kept up with online who feel the same), then it sure as hell isn't trash.
It's been a long time since I've gone here (Almost 27 yrs) and what great memories ! ! I don't know what it's like now but, back then (Late 80's and 1990) it was fun . I learned how to canoe here and actually loved it, to my pleasant surprise . I tried fishing but, wasn't too good at that . I also enjoyed the swimming pool and there were things to do every day (Arts & crafts, Archery, Cooking, etc.) . And, I got three meals a day . I'm just now writing a review because I didn't know that this place still exists . I just so happen to type it in and it popped up . It was definitely a great experience, gave me a chance to get away from the city for a week, and I met some good friends there . Definitely worth checking out .
I'm a firefighter & I've Cooked for several campers & counselors... Central Virginia burn camp. Cabins are clean and everything works. I've been going there for almost 20 yrs. I've seen it get way better over the years. The kitchen has definitely improved. The folks that manage or work their are all super polite and sometimes we feed them too hard workers to make sure everything is right on I love the place.
I clean the camp. It is a camp for Christian children.
Both of my children have attended this camp for years, it's an absolutely amazing experience and they always want to go back. My daughter has aged out, but my son will be attending again this summer! Staff is great and I never have to worry!
Went to the nearby creek, and the owners were nice enough to stop by to let us know that we were welcome to camp in the area. Being a traveling person with autism spectrum disorder who is so used to being chased off, misunderstood what they we're saying. Sadly, after asking what is wrong with camping, they let me know that they were saying I COULD camp but that it was too late. That I had spoiled it and I "was done". I think that camp holiday trails seems like a great thing. Really hurt my feelings that I spoiled a good thing that I had never experienced before over a misunderstanding, but may God bless those kind people for all of their good works.
This is an amazing, magical place that has made the world of difference for my son. They are so caring and do a fantastic job!
campholidaytrails.org
