Long a haven for families living with HIV/AIDS, the Birch Family Camp (now the Birch Family Alliance) has been providing support, respite and advocacy programs to families since 1989.  Staffed by hundreds of volunteers from across the country and around the world, camp offers 80 families each summer the opportunity to have fun, to talk about their issues in a safe place and to begin the journey out of isolation.

Birch Family Alliance is a place for families to talk openly about HIV/AIDS and to receive desperately needed support in doing so.  It is a place where teenagers can speak freely about their dreams, and to get support in taking the steps needed to achieve them.  For families who've so long lived in shame, isolation and fear, the camp is a place to grow, to experience new things and to find a sense of community and hope.

With only a small number of paid administrative positions, the camp is staffed by volunteers who take a week of their summer holidays to be counselors, activity leaders, doctors, nurses and social workers.  The staff range in age from 16 to 75, and the diversity of their age, occupations, nationalities, ethnicities and life experiences makes for a vibrant and rich core to the program.

Camp operates for two weeklong sessions in late August, and is funded by donated time, goods, services and money.  We rent a facility an hour north of New York City, called Clearpool Education Center and provide year round respite and support programs in New York.

2010 Camp Dates

August 15-21 Session I

August 22-28 Session II