Family Camp 2026

Registration is Closed : If you would like to be placed on a waitlist, please contact kclfamilycamp@gmail.com Family Camp is a magical week for parents and children to spend together with old and new friends in the beautiful, rolling green hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom at Karmê Chöling. [Image: re-link pending] Family Camp is a week-long program that combines meditation practice, outdoor time, and the warmth of family and community. For parents, the morning is a time for meditation practice, dharma talks and group discussions. There will also be spaces dedicated for practitioners to do their personal practice in a group setting. For children we offer daily programs: 9:15 am—12:15 pm, grouped by age Tigers (3-5) Lions (6-7) Garudas (8-10) Dragons (11-12) Explorers of the Phenomenal World (13-15) Rites of Earth Warriorship (16+) Activities are varied and often include meditation, craft projects, time outdoors, stories, songs, hikes in the woods, and group games. Afternoons are dedicated to family time, with both structured and spontaneous activities. 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. Rites of Passage The Rites of Passage program, at the heart of Family Camp, 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 nature. 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. All morning programs are taught by our dedicated adult staff and supported by our teen counselors, many of whom have themselves grown up within Family Camp. Rites of Earth Warriorship After last year's successful first Rites of Earth Warriorship program, we are excited to offer this program for 16 and 17 year-olds again this year. Here our young adults learn greater independence and responsibility as they receive wisdom from our lineage and find their respected place within our family camp society. This program serves as the bridge from Explorers towards advanced warriorship training and being of service as counselors and support staff. 2026 Program Pricing Note: The price that is showing in the sidebar is the deposit only. You will be contacted after you register with your total price based on the number of adults and children in your party. Adult: $700 per adult Children: $350 per child for the first two children of the family 3+ Children: $175 for each additional child (beyond the first two) Children 2 years old and younger are free Rites of Passage: $85 materials fee for each child participating in this Program $100 discount for bringing your own tent Special Instructions & Dates Friday, February 13th - Registration opens via this website! A $200 deposit is due at the time of registration For now, register only one family member per family In the "Requested Roommate" box, list the names and ages of all your other family members expected to attend Family Camp In a few weeks, we will send you a link to where you can complete your registration. Friday, April 24th - Registration closes! May 1st - Confirmations and invoices sent to families. June 19th - Payment in full due Housing A family-sized Karmê Chöling tent is included in the cost of the program. If you prefer, you can bring your own tent for a $100 discount on family tuition! Our priority for assigning housing in the Karmê Chöling tents located nearest the main house is for families with young children and/or mobility challenges. We have a limited number of rooms in the main house. Regular accommodation rates apply for housing in the main house and at our offsite location, Ashoka Bhavan. 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. An 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 reality. It is important that all people feel invited, especially those underrepresented within the larger Shambhala community. Scholarships Scholarships are available for those in need. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must first register your family and make a deposit ($200) online. Once you have done that, contact Garrett Heaney to request a scholarship: scholarships@karmecholing.org . The deadline to request a scholarship is April 12th. No other discounts apply. Please do not hesitate to contact us at   kclfamilycamp@gmail.com   if you have any questions about the process. Deposits and Refunds Deposits are due at the time of registration. All additional payments are refundable up to two weeks prior to the program start date, minus a $30 cancellation fee. After the two week deadline, Karmê Chöling will deduct a $30 cancellation fee and retain the rest of your deposit as credit towards another program. This credit will expire after two years. Any payments over the deposit will be refunded. Getting Here Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling including our Rideshare board.