Drawing on the experiences of medical specialty camps worldwide, Richard Meier and Partners designed The Painted Turtle to provide every child, regardless of medical condition, the opportunity to participate in every aspect of the camp program. This seemingly traditional summer camp has been built with each of our prospective campers in mind. Everyone enters our whale-shaped pool from its ramped tail and the entire facility is wheelchair accessible. The specially heated pool also allows children with sickle cell disease to swim in 88 degree water and then dry off in a warming hut specifically designed to prevent sickle cell crisis. The cabin village is equipped with draining systems in the cabin floors that allow children on peritoneal dialysis to receive their treatment in their bunks overnight in the company of their friends and counselors. The organic orchard, pizza patch garden, and other landscaping features were designed to decrease allergens for these children.

“I wish there was a camp like this in every city in every state in every country of the world.” — Hole in the Wall Gang Camper

The Painted Turtle’s medical clinic is known as the Well Shell. It is a 6,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility fully equipped for necessary routine and emergency procedures. It has a comfortable waiting room, large pharmacy, numerous treatment rooms, two home rooms for overnight stays and six hemodialysis stations with beautiful views of the lake and trees outside. You’ll find its roof is in the shape of a round shell and its interior walls decorated with natural textures and soothing ocean colors.