The Painted Turtle

this place is truly amazing my sister has spinabfida and she doesnt always get to do things that other kids do and is constantly stared at in the real world but here this place feels le home to her she loves being here and not looked at with a disability but with something that makes her stand out to be the amazing person that she is, she lovesthe painted turtle and so do we!

Painted Turtle is truly amazing. The camp is well run and completely runs on private donations. My son looks forward to camp all year, where for three days he feels special and lucky. Thank you, as always for this amazing camp.

At the risk of tooting my own horn, I’m going to try and write a review for this incredibly magical place without blowing too much smoke (as I’m a former summer staff and current volunteer).
From the moment I drove though the gates on Lake Hughes road, I knew I was in for an amazing experience. After an emotional roller-​coaster of a day driving from my last day of student teaching to my first day as a camp counselor, I was immediately embraced and welcomed by the incredible staff. The compete joy, excitement, care, and dedication was emanating from each of them as they made me feel at home.
As the summer raged on, we repeated this process eight times from some of the most incredibly amazing and inspirational campers on the face of the planet. The campers lived with chronic and/​or terminal illnesses ranging from kidney and liver problems (and transplants), to Crohn’s and Colitis, skeletal dysplasia (little people), rheumatic diseases and arthritis, to hemophilia and limb deficiency. Not only did we give them the summer camp adventure of a life time, we gave it to them in a way that made them feel normal (a testimony I received from quite a few of my campers).
You see, here at the Painted Turtle, the campers are able to spend the week with 100+ campers who share their same illnesses and experiences in an environment tailored to enable them to do what «the normal kids do» and SUCCEED in doing so. Wheelchair bound and want to go up on the high ropes course? No problem! We’re trained and able to accommodate your in your new adventure. Afraid to get messy and dirty or eat without using your hands? No trouble at all! We host a weekly Silly Olympics aimed at covering everyone in paint and goop, and don’t forget no-​hands spaghetti dinner! Love to dance? You got it!!! We end every meal with a crazy dance party!
The Well Shell is a fully equipped medical center that can handle anything and everything, only it’s disguised as a jungle, under the sea, and Sponge Bob and staffed by an incredible nursing team.
Giving the campers the environment and chance to succeed is an incredible and empowering experience. They spend a week challenging themselves to try new things, pushing themselves to the extreme in a safe environment. Telling them «yes you can» and then watching them prove that they can is heartwarming and life-​changing.
We often get told stories of how camp impacts the campers’ lives over the week, but it doesn’t end there. For most, camp is a memory to reflect back on, a warm-​fuzzy to go back to at school or in the hospital. The true power of camp comes out during Family Weekends when the whole family attends camp and gets to experience the magic together. Parents and siblings get to have the time of their lives too. Being able to talk to the parents and revisit friendships with the campers is an awesome experience, its camp compressed into a weekend!
This camp is truly an incredible place. One of my camper’s mother shared this with me, «[my son] was at his worst a year ago. We were afraid to even think of the future, ultimately knowing what it may hold. The was a glimmering light of hope at the end of the tunnel, and it was a turtle. Camp memories lined the walls of his hospital room. Camp songs lifted his spirits. Visits from the camp staff brought camp into the hospital room. CAMP SAVED HIS LIFE.»
I could literally go on for days about how amazing this place is, but I urge you to check it out for yourself by volunteering for a Family Weekend during the year of a full week of camp during the summer. You won’t regret it!
GOTTA LIVE THE MAGIC!!!

one word: *MAGICAL*.
Discovered this camp a while ago but was «too busy» in life to apply to volunteer. New Years came around, put volunteering on my to do list, and made it happen. I wouldn’t call the volunteer application process brutal, but they screen well and ensure that all staff are up to date on health shots, vaccines, mandate references, etc, etc, It’s worth it, and more.
I signed up to volunteer at Crohn’s and Colitis family weekend, unsure what to expect, knowing not a soul, and came away with the utmost gratifying experiences in my life. For those who know me, my life is already full of reward.
The Painted Turtle is part of Paul Newman’s hole in the wall camps for seriously ill children. You can’t understand the *MAGIC* unless you are there. As fate would have it, met a young girl last week randomly who said she still text’s her friends from camp daily. Imagine an invisible disease that no one in your family, or school, or life has, or understands, or can see. That is what camp offers. A place to bond with others just_​like_​you, the very same place where you do normal camp activities like every other normal child, because in the end, you ARE normal.
A place where I subjected myself to balls being thrown at me during carnival night. Oh the look of satisfaction in the eyes of some girls and boys, I get to throw these velcro balls at a counselor. Great night.
I could go on and on about my experiences, the kids experience, but it would not do this place justice. What culminated the weekend for me was on the last day when children and parents were saying goodbye, a grown man, shaved head, stocky muscular guy, teared as he expressed his gratitude. That moved me.
If you’re looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, check out the website. But if you’re like me, you won’t get it. until you volunteer… see you in 2011 Painted Turtle!

well, i love it.
not all the kids are TERMINALLY ill.
they are SERIOUSLY ill… there is a big difference

Jumping off of the mean and cynical bandwagon for a moment, I did some volunteer work up here and loved it.
This place is a camp for terminally-​ill children and is absolutely wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about it. If you’re ever interested in a worthwhile place to give your time, consider this place.
Nothing I can write can do justice. Not only is it a beautiful concept, but it’s also simply stunningly beautiful, in general!