Family Camp registration is CLOSED and the program is full. Please contact the front desk if you would like to be placed on the waiting list.

Family Camp is a magical week for parents and children to spend together with old friends and new in the beautiful rolling green hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom at Karmê Chöling.

Family Camp is a program that mixes meditation practice, fun activities, outdoor time, and lots more. For parents, the morning is a time for meditation practice. Meditation instruction is given on our first morning together. There are morning talks, with discussion, given by our Family Camp Teacher in Residence, with a focus on mindful parenting. New practitioners have the opportunity to meet with a meditation instructor. There will also be spaces dedicated for practitioners to do their personal practice in a group setting during the morning session.

Children are in a morning program from 9:15-12:15, 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 crafts projects, time outdoors, hikes in the woods, group games, songs and music. The Rites of Passage program, the heart of Family Camp, will be offered again this year for children ages 8 and 10 as well. This week long program includes bow and arrow making, bow and arrow practice, calligraphy, poetry writing, and exploring the land. It culminates in a ceremony marking the passage from early childhood into the greater independence of late childhood. All morning programs are taught by our dedicated adult staff and teen counselors.

Afternoons are dedicated to family time, with both structured and spontaneous activities at Karmê Chöling and 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. Songs and stories by the campfire are part of the tradition. You'll find days are both spacious and quite full.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 15th. Space is limited.

Rates are as follows:
Adult: $395 per adult. Children: $200 per child for the first two children of the family and $100 for each additional child (beyond the first two). No other discounts apply to children in this discounted category. Otherwise, income discounts apply and additional scholarships are available for those in need. For more information, see the financial assistance section of our website.

All meals and one family-sized tent on a platform are included in the cost of the program. You may put in a request for a second tent using the registration form. Karmê Chöling can offer second tents, if available, at a cost of $20 per night. You may also bring your own tent. A limited number of private rooms are available at an additional cost. Please contact us if you're interested in a private room. Advance reservations required.

If you have any questions, contact Donna Stephens at 908-431-9617 or ddstharpa@comcast.net or Dan Glenn at 802-633-2384 x161 or dan@karmecholing.org.

To download the registration form for Family Camp, click here.

To download a Counselor Application form, click here.

Click here to download the release waiver for parents who will not be at Family Camp (child must be over 15 and a surrogate parent must be designated).



Program Price: $395

Please Note:
Price includes meals but not accommodations.

Scholarship and Financial Aid resources are available to make dharma accessible to people in all circumstances. We offer different ways for overcoming financial obstacles here.