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About the Foundation

Mission and History

​​The Camp Harkness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, works to promote and support Camp Harkness, a recreational facility owned and operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, and its constituent camping programs through the development of financial and other resources. 

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Join us in our efforts to continually improve this accessible and inclusive space for individuals with disabilities. Visit Camp Harkness for any of our annual events, volunteer for projects to improve the grounds, or donate to help provide passholders and campers with enhanced outdoor experiences.

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Together, we will make an impact that will last lifetimes.

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Camp Harkness was originally part of the Harkness family estate. The owners, Edward and Mary Stillman Harkness, were philanthropists, who gave an estimated $120 million to a variety of charities in their lifetimes. As part of their good works, the Harkness family set aside some of their estate in Waterford to provide a summer retreat for children recovering from polio.​

A group of people around a campfire, one standing, one sitting, one in her wheelchair.

After her passing, Mary Harkness willed the property to the state with the provision that it be used for "public health". The property was then under the care of the Department of Environmental Protection until, in 1977, Governor Ella Grasso dedicated a portion of the land to be cared for by what would later become the Department of Developmental Services. ​

 

While the camp has been under the care of the state, there have been many volunteers involved in making necessary improvements, and beginning in 2004, the Camp Harkness Foundation came about through community action. By 2008, the Foundation was a recognized 501(c)(3) organization and has continued to support Camp Harkness ever since.

Team

Foundation Members

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