The Painted Turtle Camp

Who We Serve

The need for a medical specialty camp

Of the more than one million children in California with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, our needs assessment revealed more than 17,500 are unable to attend summer camp due to their medical conditions.  That is, until we came along!

The Painted Turtle provides these children and their families with an empowering, renewing experience completely free of charge.

The Painted Turtle supporters give these children the gift of a lifetime – a gift of laughter, fun, and personal growth that they may otherwise not experience.

Medical conditions we serve

Our on-site medical support allows us to provide a unique and safe camp experience to children with special medical needs. Recent groups served include children with spina bifida and paraplegia, cerebral palsy and limb deficiency, rheumatic diseases, skeletal dysplasia and mucopolysaccharidosis, kidney disease and transplant, liver disease and transplant, immunodeficiency disorders, total parenteral nutrition, Crohn’s and colitis, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, thalassemia, and severe asthma and allergies. We also have a special session for siblings of children who medically qualify to come to our camp programs.

The Painted Turtle staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and supporters work year-round to give all children in our programs the chance just to be kids and have fun in a safe camp environment specifically built for their needs. Without The Painted Turtle, many of these children would never know the simple yet profound experience of camp, an experience that often has a life-long impact. Thousands of campers and family members have a chance to come together each year to sing, dance, laugh, grow and discover their potential.

The Painted Turtle seeks to reach beyond illness, to inspire children with life-threatening diseases to become their greater selves. It is our mission to provide a year-round, life-changing environment for these children and their families – one that allows children to participate in an authentic camp experience by supporting their medical needs and offers their families care, education, and respite.

Santa Monica (Administrative Offices)

Toll Free: (866) 451-5367
Phone Number: (310) 451-1353
1300 4th Street, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Keywords: Spanish