Higgy Con Was Just the Beginning
Introducing…
Higgy Camp
A 7-Night Overnight Camp Experience for Girls Ages 8–18 with Scoliosis
Camp Walden
Diamond Point, NY
August 15-22, 2027
Not ready to register, but interested?
Let me know!
$50 refundable deposit to secure your campers spot.
Fundraising and payment plan options available!
Scroll down for more payment information.
Meet Head Higgy Kid, Charlee Ann
Charlee Ann has attended Higgy Con twice.
Like so many girls in our community, she knows what it feels like to walk into a room wondering if anyone else understands.
She also knows what it's like to leave Higgy Con with friendships she never expected to find.
When it came time to explore the possibility of creating Higgy Camp, there was one person I wanted to experience it with me.
Head Higgy Kid, Charlee Ann.
I hopped in the car and drove from Michigan.
Charlee Ann & her Higgy Mom, Janet, hopped on a plane from Atlanta.
And the adventure began…
Once we arrived at Camp Walden..
We met the camp co-owner, Mark.
Mark took us on a tour of camp.
We hopped in a golf cart
and were on our way!
They Have Everything Here!
Gymnastics
The most ADORABLE Arts
& Crafts Building You
Will Ever See
Outdoor Yoga
Movie Theater
Pickleball
Go Carts
They Have a State of the Art Cooking Building
There Is
A Camp Waterfront That Summer Dreams Are Made Of
They Have a
Ropes Course
Charlee Ann Even Got to
Zip Line!
They Have Theater
Dance & Zumba
There Are Sports Complexes EVERYWHERE
They Have a Martial Arts Center
They Have The
CUTEST
Tree House
They even have THREE
Golf Simulators
You Can Find Charlee Ann
On The 18th Green at
Pebble Beach
And the Cabins?
ADORABLE
Thanks Charlee Ann for the Tours!
The Dining Hall Is So Cute
This Is The Food Area
They Have An Outdoor Area With Cute Lights! We Even Met a Camp Counselor Who Also Has Scoliosis.
Charlee Ann Headed Back to Take a Few More Videos For You While
I Went to Talk Business!
Thanks
Charlee
Ann For
The Tours!
Now, Down
to Business!
Mark Introduced Me to His Wife and Camp Co-Owner, Lauren.
When I first spoke with Lauren, I shared the story of Higgy Bears—how, together, we've donated nearly 75,000 Higgy Bears to children around the world facing scoliosis. I told her about the incredible kids who make up our community. I explained what they go through, the challenges they face, and the strength they show every single day.
But at the heart of it all... they're just kids.
They want to laugh, swim, make best friends, stay up too late telling stories in the cabin, and experience the magic of summer camp just like every other child.
For so many of our kids, though, camp doesn't feel magical. The embarrassment of a brace, the insecurity of a curve, or the self-consciousness of a scar can make something that should be exciting feel overwhelming. Over the years, countless kids have shared the same dream with me:
"I just wish there was a camp where I wasn't the only one with scoliosis."
Or even better...
"What if everyone at camp had scoliosis?"
I told Lauren how much I loved the idea of creating that experience, but I also admitted something that had stopped me for years.
I knew how to create Higgy Con.
I knew how to build community.
I knew how to bring hope to families.
But I didn't know how to run a seven-night overnight summer camp.
Every camp we had spoken with was willing to rent us their facilities—but once their own campers left for the summer, they expected us to bring in our own staff and operate the entire camp ourselves. That simply wasn't something we could do.
Then something incredible happened.
When two Laurens come across a problem... we find a solution.
Lauren looked at me and said that because of the mission of Higgy Bears and the extraordinary children we serve, Camp Walden wanted to partner with us.
Instead of simply renting us the camp, they would provide the people who have spent their lives creating unforgettable camp experiences.
Their nearly 200-person team—camp counselors, activity specialists, directors, medical staff, nurses, doctors, and support staff—would run the camp alongside us.
She encouraged me to bring scoliosis nurses who truly understand our kids, along with teen mentors living with scoliosis who could encourage the younger campers. I thought it was the perfect combination.
Camp experts.
Scoliosis experts.
And kids who truly understand one another.
Lauren also reassured me about one concern many families have—comfort. Nestled in the mountains of upstate New York, Camp Walden enjoys much cooler temperatures in late August than many people expect. Many of the buildings are built on concrete slabs to naturally keep them cool, every cabin has fans. Many activity buildings have air conditioning, and Camp Walden has recently even installed additional high-powered fans throughout the cabins to make them even more comfortable for our campers. Every cabin now has an attic fan way up high at the peak of the ceiling that pushes out the hot air and once the sun goes down and the temperature drops to the low 70s or high 60s, the cool air is pulled in through the screens and the temperature becomes quite comfortable for sleeping. This will be perfect for our bracing kids.
The more we talked, the more it became obvious that this wasn't just a partnership.
It was the perfect fit.
Lauren's passion is creating life-changing camp experiences.
My passion is creating life-changing scoliosis experiences.
Together, we realized we could create something neither of us could have created alone.
And with that...
Higgy Camp at Camp Walden was born.
Parents, Here's
Where You
Come In
Higgy Camp is officially happening—but now we need your help to make this dream a reality.
Camp Walden has reserved an entire week exclusively for our scoliosis community, with space for 300 campers. In order for camp to move forward, we need to fill those spots and have camp fully funded by the end of 2026.
To make registration as flexible as possible, we are offering a payment plan option and a fundraising option. With either option, the full camp cost must be paid in full by 12/31/26.
Payment & Fundraising Options
A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your camper's spot.
Payment Plan (No Fundraising): If you choose not to fundraise, your remaining tuition balance will be divided into equal payments to be paid in full by December 31, 2026. You will receive a payment link by email for each scheduled installment.
Fundraising Option: Families who choose to fundraise may reserve their camper's spot with a $50 refundable deposit. A personalized fundraising page will be created through BetterWorld for your camper to share with family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other supporters. The fundraising campaign must be completed within 30 days to continue holding your camper's spot. After your fundraiser ends, any remaining tuition balance may be divided into equal monthly payments, with the full balance due no later than December 31, 2026. You will receive your personalized payment link by email after your fundraiser is complete.
Please note: All funds raised through your personalized fundraising campaign are non-refundable. If your camper is unable to attend Higgy Camp for any reason, the funds raised through the campaign will be distributed equally among the other campers attending Higgy Camp to help offset their tuition costs.
If your plans change and you need to cancel before January 1, 2027, all payments made will be refunded.
What If Camp Doesn't Fill?
While we are incredibly excited and confident that our community will make Higgy Camp a success, we also want families to register with complete peace of mind.
If, for any reason, Higgy Camp does not receive enough registrations to move forward, every dollar you have paid—including your $50 deposit—will be refunded in full. Refunds will begin being processed on January 1, 2027. The deposit is only non-refundable if camp takes place as planned. If camp doesn’t fill, donors will have the option to apply their donation to Higgy Bears donations programs or receive a refund of their donation.
Travel Made Easier
We know many families will be traveling from all over the United States and beyond. To help simplify the journey, we plan to organize group bus transportation from designated meeting locations in New York. Campers will have the opportunity to travel to Camp Walden together, making the trip easier for parents while giving campers the chance to begin making friendships before they even arrive.
Additional travel details and meeting locations will be shared as camp approaches.
Registration Process
All registrations and payments will be securely processed through HiggyCamp.com.
Once you have:
Selected your payment option,
Submitted your deposit or payment,
Reviewed and agreed to the Camp Terms & Conditions,
you'll be connected with Lauren and Mark at Camp Walden to complete all required camp paperwork, including medical forms, health information, emergency contacts, and registration documents.
What’s Included?
Your $2,495 camp tuition includes everything your camper needs for an unforgettable week at Higgy Camp. Tuition covers seven nights of lodging, all meals and snacks, daily activities, crafts, evening programs, and full access to Camp Walden's incredible facilities.
Campers will be cared for by Camp Walden's experienced team of more than 200 camp professionals, including counselors, activity specialists, directors, nurses, and medical staff.
In addition, the Higgy Bears team will provide scoliosis-specific programming, peer support activities, and opportunities for campers to connect with others who truly understand their journey.
Tuition also includes round-trip bus transportation to and from camp from designated departure location(s), a Higgy Camp welcome bag filled with camp gifts and keepsakes, an official Higgy Camp T-shirt, and other surprises throughout the week.
Please note: airfare or travel costs beyond the planned bus drop-off area in New York are not included in the camp cost. The drop-off area will be announced at the end of the year.
Once your camper arrives, there are no additional activity or program fees—everything is included so they can simply enjoy an incredible week of camp.
A Week They'll Never Forget
Our dream is simple.
To create a place where no child feels different.
A place where braces are normal, scars are celebrated, curves are understood, and friendships are built that last long after camp ends.
A place where every camper realizes they are never alone.
We truly believe Higgy Camp will be one of the most meaningful experiences our families will ever have, and we cannot wait to welcome your camper to the very first Higgy Camp at Camp Walden.
So... let's make history together!
Click below to reserve your camper's spot at the very first Higgy Camp at Camp Walden.
If you'd like to learn more about Camp Walden before registering, simply click on the Camp Walden image below to visit CampWalden-NY.com. There, you can explore photos of the beautiful campus, take a virtual look around the facilities, watch interviews with Lauren and Mark, learn more about the camp experience, and see why we're so excited to partner with them.
We truly believe this is going to be one of the most unforgettable weeks in the lives of our campers, and we can't wait to share it with you.
We'll see you at camp! 🏕️💚🐻
Not ready to register, but interested? Join the list for updates.
