Teaches families life skills that resource both parents and children to resolve conflicts, and build trust, harmony, and more long-lasting, meaningful family connections, in the present moment and into adulthood.
Come learn with us in a space where everyone’s needs matter!
Family HEART Camp
“Attention is the most basic form of love. By paying attention we let ourselves be touched by life , and our hearts naturally become more open and engaged.”
― Tara Brach
Wisconsin
June 23-29, 2025
Maryland
August 11-15 2025
California
July 7-12, 2025
Ohioana
August 3-9, 2025
Learn More
Learn More
Stay Tuned!
Stay Tuned!
Community Sourced Programming (CSP)
Our camp sessions are structured using Community Sourced Programming (CSP), an adaptation of Open Space Technology (OST), which allows both staff and campers to contribute to creating the schedule of activities for the day.
Sessions offered by our Program Team infuse the community with a rich experience of the values at the core of Family HEART Camp, while sharing the communication skills that help us all realize those values.
The great benefit of Community Sourced Programing is its flexibility to meet the needs of each camp community, recognizing that everyone — children included — contribute to the community.
Engaging Conflict
We believe that conflict is a natural part of our human experience. NVC offers many practices to support us in relating to conflict with integrity and care as we try to understand the tension and restore connection and trust.
We Co-create a restorative system that will serve the camp community for the week, and learn tools for conflict resolution for all ages.
Meals
Our intention is to provide healthy, enjoyable meals that satisfy the dietary needs and preferences of a large variety of campers. We are usually able to accommodate omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan diets, with provisions for gluten free and dairy-free meals.
Lodging
Lodging varies at each of our venues and ranges from tent camping to hotel-like accommodations. Please check the specific program you are interested in to learn about the lodging options.
Why Family Heart Camp?
HEART stands for Harmony, Ease, Authenticity, Respect, and Trust, important family values that Nonviolent Communication supports us in living, both at camp and in the wider world.
Who Comes To Camp?
Our camp families come in all shapes and sizes, and range in age from from 3 months to 80 years. Families at camp may span multiple generations or be a single person. What all of our families have in common is curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a longing for more connection and harmony, in their family, their community, and in the world.
The camp community is contained, meaning only staff and registered families participate. Sessions are not open to members of the public who have not pre-registered for camp.
What happens at FHC
Our programs are designed to provide non-stop opportunities for adults and youth to learn Nonviolent Communication in settings that are highly conducive to their specific age, learning style and individual level of prior NVC training.
Sessions range in structure from didactic teaching to the more immersive learning experiences of play, creativity and exploration as families learn together.
Morning Circle
This is a morning gathering of the entire camp community for connection, and learning.The activities may include games, music, and skits, along with Awareness Practices, Making Agreements, and creating a Restorative System as we learn how to engage conflict together.
Awareness Practice
Exploring how we each experience Safety, Trust and Respect in the world, and how our choices to meet these needs may impact others.
Camp information
"What can I say? Perfect week... I only have positive thoughts and memories. Inspiring experience. So many powerful meaningful moments. Thank you so much everyone who helped make it happen. Looking forward to seeing you again next year..."
- Ori Alon
“Family Heart Camp is a time and place where the kids are completely safe to explore, have fun, push the edge all the while of being in a loving, caring environment created by kids and adults. Wow, its that same for parents. That’s why we come back year after year.”
- Renee Panetta
“Our family had a very enriching experience. The selection of sessions was great and allowed for intellectual as well as kinesthetic interactions. The facilitation team was compassionate, skilled and caring. Many thanks for this experience!”
- Caroline Altmann
“Between camps I started paying attention to my kids and also paying attention to my needs. When I was tired and hungry I had to figure out a way to handle the situation differently. That can be hard. But I was learning how to understand their needs and wants and learn mine as well. It takes a village to raise a family, not a kid, a family. People need to know that.”
- Karen Ezirim
