Set in remote Fairlee, Vermont, Camp Ohana is known as the ‘quintessential Vermont family camp.’ During week-long stays, families can disconnect from their daily routines and enjoy quality time together doing activities like swimming, fishing, sailing, arts and crafts, and more.
Though the camp is open to the public, two separate weeks are reserved just for Vermont service members and their families each summer. The Aloha Foundation, Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation (VTNGCF), and a private donor provide funding for those families to attend Camp Ohana completely free.
As of 2021, more than 800 Vermont National Guard service members and their immediate families have been afforded a 5-day, all-inclusive worry-free experience. Priority is given to families that have a parent who is about to deploy or has returned from deployment.
“This is an opportunity, especially when the service member comes back, for the family to reconnect and work on reintegrating their family after separation,” Vermont National Guard Family Readiness & Program Manager Miriam Boyle said. “The location is beautiful and remote which means there are fewer distractions and families can really focus on spending time together and strengthening their bonds through communication.”
“This is a way to say thank you to service members for their sacrifices by giving them an experience that strengthens their family connections and lets them just have fun together,” Natalie Harder, VTNGCF board member, said.
Mason, age 9, Brooks, age 7, and Walker, age 5 enjoyed time at Camp Ohana with their parents. Their dad, Capt. Mike Arcovitch, had recently returned home after deployment.
Capt. Mike Arcovitch, his wife Ashley, and their three boys, of Essex Junction, are one of the families that have experienced a week of camp life at Ohana.
“I found out about the camp a couple of years ago, and I did some research about it through family programs…everyone that knows about it tries to get in every year,” Arcovitch said. “I can’t thank the charitable foundation enough for providing this opportunity for me and all service members that have had the chance to go.”
Arcovitch, who works as the state public affairs officer for the Vermont National Guard, was deployed to Kosovo with the 172nd Public Affairs Detachment from May 2021 to March 2022. He registered for camp when he returned, and he and his family attended in June. Arcovitch says being recently deployed made the experience even more meaningful.
“You have a different perspective when you’re gone for so long on how important this stuff is; having an opportunity to go to a camp where we were with each other all the time is irreplaceable; it’s really special.” Arcovitch reflected, “It’s hard to illustrate when you’re away for so long, and there’s nothing you want more than to be with your family, and then having that time back is powerful.”
Families at Camp Ohana stay in individual cabins and share homemade breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in the camp’s classic dining hall with its grand stone fireplace and wide covered porch overlooking Lake Fairlee. Arcovitch says the variety of activities was impressive, from tennis, hiking, and biking to campfires, music making, tie-dye making, storytelling, and wildlife demonstrations.
“They had a guy who was a nature and wildlife expert, and he had a falcon on his hand and live animals with him, and the kids got to hold snakes, and it was amazing,” Arcovitch said. “It was so well done and so enjoyable for our kids.”
What made the experience even better was connecting with other military families.
“It’s very special and enormously meaningful for service members and their families to have that time together. I would go every year if I could,” Arcovitch said.
In addition to supporting the Camp Ohana experience for military families, VTNGCF also provides financial assistance to military families in the form of grants. Learn more here.
Notes From Military Family Campers About Camp Ohana
“Dear Ohana Staff and generous donors who made this military family week possible, wow! We are so humbly grateful for this amazing experience of having our family of four together for six days without cars, electronics, daily ‘to-do’s,’ and pressures. We have grown as individuals, a family unit, and social network within the air and army guard. We cannot thank you enough!” -The Warren Family
“Thank you for welcoming us veterans, active military, and our families for a week of fun-filled activities and new adventures. We often get wrapped up with the responsibilities of life and forget to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. This week has been a reminder of that.” -The DeMania Family
“Military families rarely have the opportunity to spend this much time together – especially in nature. It is such a gift to end the summer this way. I’m amazed by how quickly Ohana creates such a loving and trusting community…it’s also a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded military families who value community, nature, and being silly!” -Sky, Scout, and Carelee
“My family and I are so thankful for this week. We are a family of 5, and taking a vacation is challenging as everything is expensive. This is the first time in years we have all been able to take a vacation together. I cannot thank Ohana and the donors enough for this experience. We have tried new foods, new things, and have done things as a family instead of individuals.” -Camp Ohana attendee and military family member
“We cannot thank you enough for this experience! It sounds cliché, but this wonderful week has changed our family for the better! I’ve watched my two boys, ages 8 and 5, try new activities, make friends out of strangers and break out of their comfort zones…we hope to come back and experience this magic again. P.S. Please keep this going for military families!” -The Edson Family