As much as camp is a life-changing experience for the children who attend, it is a powerful and rejuvenating opportunity for the medical staff that cares for them. We welcome health care providers to volunteer their time and skills to participate in making the dream of camp a reality for children with chronic conditions.

“Doctors come in treating patients and go away knowing children.” — Paul Newman

The medical volunteers who join us each week usually consist of doctors and nurses who specialize in the illness we are serving that session. If you volunteer as part of the medical team, you will work beside our camp Medical Director and Nursing Director. Medical and nursing students are encouraged to volunteer as cabin counselors and family pals. After reviewing the opportunities below, please access our APPLICATION if you are interested in joining us at camp.

Physicians

For more information on the following ways to get involved, please contact Dr. Ben Meisel, Medical Director, at 661.724.1768 or benm@thepaintedturtle.org :

• Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Weekend Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Camper Referral

Nurses

For more information on the following ways to get involved, please contact Beth Vandenbogaart, Nurse Manager, at 661.724.1768 or bethv@thepaintedturtle.org:

• MEDICAL SUMMER STAFF Opportunities
• Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Weekend Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Camper Referral

The volunteer nurse is part of the camp medical team who facilitates a medically sound and safe camp experience for children with chronic illness and participates in daily camper life to provide nursing care and education to the camp population.
Primary duties:

1. Prepare and administer routine scheduled medications and treatments to campers and staff
2. Provide various levels of first aid
3. Share rotating coverage of the infirmary with physician support
4. Participate in staff health education and serve as a role model to other staff
5. Accompany campers to activity areas and assist in general health screening at camp

Allied Healthcare Professionals

Some sessions require other medical volunteers, such as pharmacists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, social workers, and child-life specialists. For more information on the following ways to get involved, please contact Beth Vandenbogaart, Nursing Director, at 661.724.1768 or bethv@thepaintedturtle.org:

• Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Weekend Program Volunteer Opportunities
• Camper Referral

Medical Students

If you are a medical, nursing, physical therapy, child life or respiratory therapy student not yet licensed, please review our cabin counselor and program specialty staff and volunteer OPPORTUNITIES.