Family Camp

August 6 - 14, 2022

Hello Everyone - Family Camp is Filling Up Quickly! 

The annual lottery has closed, but a few spots remain. Please email kclfamilycamp108@gmail.com if you would like to register your family!

NOTE: This page contains information ONLY. 

About Family Camp

Click Here to view the video entitled 'Buddha Camp'. By: Katie Frank

Family Camp is a week-long program that combines meditation practice, outdoor time, and the warmth of family and community.

There will be space for personal and group practice in the mornings. Those who are new to meditation have the opportunity to meet with a meditation instructor. 

Children are in a morning program from grouped by age: Tigers (3-5), Lions (6-7), Garudas (8-10), Dragons (11-12), and Explorers of the Phenomenal World (13-18). Activities are varied and often include meditation, craft projects, time outdoors, stories, songs, hikes in the woods, and group games.

The Rites of Passage program will be offered again this year for children between the ages of 8 and 10.
This week-long program includes bow and arrow making, bow and arrow practice, calligraphy, poetry writing, and connecting with the land. The program culminates in a beautiful ceremony, attended by the entire camp, marking the passage from early childhood into the greater independence of late childhood. 

Afternoons are dedicated to family time, with both structured and spontaneous activities at Karmê Chöling and in the surrounding area. There are many mountain lakes nearby to enjoy. Evenings include a relaxed dinner together, laughter and play on the front lawn, and supervised campfires with songs and stories. You'll find that days are both spacious and quite full.

A Very Important Note:

We recognize that our Camp has historically not reflected the full diversity of society. We are working to be proactive in taking steps to change this so that all groups feel invited. Therefore, within each category, there are positions set aside for applicants who self identify as diverse, meaning underrepresented within the Shambhala Community. These special positions within each category will also be assigned via lottery. To enter this “lottery within a lottery”, click the “diversity” check box that appears within each category.

Family Camp begins on Saturday, August 6th and ends on Sunday, August 14th at Noon. Please plan to stay until Noon on the 14th.

Program Pricing:

Each Family will pay TWO separate Fees:

ONE: KCL 'Base Camp' Fee
Each family will have a fee that covers meals, basic accomodations (tent platform with tent in campground) and KCL's support costs.  The Base Camp Fee has increased in price this year due to the sharp increase in food costs.

Adult: $575 per adult.
Children: $305 per child for the first two children of the family.
Additional Children: $152 for each additional child (beyond the first two).
Children 2 years old and younger are free.

This year we are inviting families to bring and use your own tent if you wish to receive a $50 discount on family tuition!

TWO: Family Camp Tuition Fee
This Fee covers the costs of developing and running the Family Camp program itself, including teaching and non-teaching staff honorariums, and a portion of their travel expenses. KCL Family Camp is supported by many dedicated staff personnel!

Choose ONE payment (per family) at one of the three levels:

1) $275 – Hummingbird (Beautiful Keepers of Magic)
2) $325 - Raven (Protector)
3) $375+ - Garuda (Fearless Proclaimers of Truth)

​Each family should choose the TUITION FEE LEVEL that best fits their budget; please consider the level your family can afford. Your generosity supports the teachers and staff who offer so much of themselves to our children, and ensures that we can bring experienced teachers to our Camp. 

Payments

KCL Base Camp Fee: If you are accepted to Family Camp, you will receive a private registration link that will allow you to officially register, place a deposit and pay the KCL Basecamp Fee. You will need to place your $200 Deposit by April 23rd to hold your spot. 

Family Camp Tuition Fee will be payable directly to Shambhala Families & Children (a 501c3 legal entity of Shambhala), and will be collected in full during the registration process. If you are selected via the Lottery, you will recieve instructions on how to do so.

Payment plans are available and may be discussed with KCL Guest Services AFTER you have registered and paid your $200 Deposit. 

Scholarship assistance remains available. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must first register your family and make a deposit ($200) online. Once you have done that. After making your deposit, apply for a scholarship on the KCL scholarship application page. 

If you have any questions about the scholarship process, contact Ella Reznikova scholarships@karmecholing.org

Regardless of payment plan or scholarship status, ALL Base Camp Fees and Tuition must be paid in full by July 15th. 

Housing

We have a VERY limited number of rooms in the main house and regular accommodations rates apply. Our priority for assigning accommodations in the main house is for families with young children and/or mobility challenges. Please note: accommodations are assigned in the order of when the program deposit is made.

Family Camp begins on Saturday, August 6th and ends on Sunday, August 14th at Noon. Please plan to stay until Noon on the 14th.

Would You Like to Stay Longer than One Week? 

On April 10th at 2pm EDT, JT will co-host a Q&A for those interested in an extended stay at KCL through the KCL Residency program. The link for this zoom call is provided below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84161493592
Meeting ID: 841 6149 3592

For additional information:

General questions about Family Camp schedule or curriculum, please email Tracy Suchoki, Family Camp Coordinator:
kclfamilycamp108@gmail.com

CLICK HERE for information about Rite of Passage program. 

Family Camp Counselor applications: Teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 who have previously attended Family Camp are invited to apply to serve as a counselor in one of the classrooms. Please complete the application & references and return by May 15, 2022. 

For children 15 years old or younger who will be attending Family Camp with a surrogate parent or guardian: the parents of those children must complete a release of liability form. The surrogate parent or guardian must submit this completed form at the time of check-in at Family Camp in order for the children to be allowed to stay. One child per extended family.  

Prerequisites:

NOTE: This page contains information ONLY. 

The annual lottery has closed, but a few spots remain. Please email kclfamilycamp108@gmail.com no later than April 23rd to let us know if you would like to register your family!

Those who apply via the Lotter or Wait List will recieve a private link to register. Links will be sent beginning Monday, April 11th. 

Online registration is not currently open.