General Volunteer Days
The Painted Turtle will hold one Saturday general volunteer day at camp during the spring season.  This volunteer day will take place on the following Saturday from 10am-3pm.

February 23, 2008

Spaces are limited.  Reservations must be made via email to our volunteer coordinator, Corinne Dorfman at corinned@thepaintedturtle.org.

The Painted Turtle expresses its sincere gratitude to all those
who have supported the sewing projects for our campers.

The response has been so extraordinary
that we have enough afghans to last throughout the
year!

We are in need of bed quilts, lap quilts, and full-sized aprons (ages 7-17) for the arts and baking centers!
If you are interested in that project, please find those details below.

We thank you sincerely for your interest in our mission and your offer to lend your time,
talents, and creativity. We hope you will be in touch again soon.

Each camper bed is covered with a handmade quilt, and each camper returns home with a stuffed turtle pillow and lap quilt or afghan as mementos of their time at The Painted Turtle. We are extremely grateful for the time and talents of our volunteers who generously contribute these items.  Below is a letter from a camper parent:

"I just wanted to thank you all. My son and daughter had a wonderful time.  They have not stopped talking about their fun time at camp. My daughter actually asked if she was going to get to go back next year. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to hear this from my child who struggles with selective mutism on top of her muscular issues.  Camp has really given her the confidence to talk in strange situations.  We are so grateful to you all! Please thank all the people it takes to run, fund raise, and keep up such an awesome camp, including those wonderful people who take their time to make the pillows and quilts for each child!!!!!  My son and daughter both treasure those from camp and they hold a special place with them on their beds. Their quilts always go with them to the hospital, a bit of camp fun memories for them and a reason to get better because camp is coming again. They both say a special prayer each night for the maker of their quilts and pillows that they will remain happy and healthy, and also for their wonderful counselors as well. I know words can't express my gratitude for what Painted Turtle means to our family!"
 
-- the family of two campers with muscular dystrophy.

Dimensions and instructions for the various items are listed below.

Aprons (ages 7-17)

  • We need full aprons (with bibs) to protect clothing during messy and fun activities. We need aprons sized for adults and older campers age 10 and up.
  • Aprons should be machine-washable.

While at camp, each child rests in a bed covered with a handmade quilt. And they will return home with a stuffed turtle pillow and lap quilt or afghan as mementos of their time at The Painted Turtle. As we serve 100 campers at each of our week-long sessions over the summer months, we are extremely grateful for the time and talents of our volunteers who generously contribute these items. Dimensions and instructions for the various items are listed below.

Quilts for the Beds (ages 7-17)

  • The size of the quilt should be 60 inches wide by 80 inches long
  • Please feel free to be creative! We will need patchwork quilts to decorate every twin size bed in our cabins
  • Please make sure these quilts are machine washable and are not too heavy or too warm

Afghans or Lap Quilts for the Campers (ages 7-17)

  • The size of the afghans and lap quilts should be 35-40 inches wide by 45-50 inches long
  • The afghans can be knitted or crocheted

Turtle Pillows for the Campers (ages 7-17)
We use a standard pattern to ensure all turtles are consistent in shape and size. If you are interested in making a turtle pillow and would like a pattern, please contact us next fall at 310.451.1353 or info@thepaintedturtle.org to see about our need for more of these camp mementos. Check out our INSTRUCTIONS for these wonderful turtle mascots.

Lend a Hand or Skill to the Camp
Let us know if you are interested in committing your time and energy to gardening, housekeeping, maintenance or other ongoing work projects at The Painted Turtle. Please contact Jackie Ramirez at 661-724-1550 or jackier@thepaintedturtle.org.

If you would like to volunteer in our office, kitchen or help us make the campers’ beds, please contact Corinne Dorfman, Volunteer Coordinator, at corinned@thepaintedturtle.org.