The Painted Turtle is excited to announce the creation of it's newest program The Hospital Outreach Program otherwise known as The Painted Turtle Outpost! A program that takes the magic of what we do at our camp-site into local hospitals in Los Angeles.

Every child should have the opportunity to experience the joy and adventure of camp. The Painted Turtle “Outpost” program makes this possible by delivering the spirit of camp right to the children during a time when they may need it most.

The Outpost program allows The Painted Turtle to reach out to hundreds of children who are hospitalized every year giving them a chance to be in an environment where they can “go to camp” and forget about their illness, at least for a little while.

The Painted Turtle is proud to partner with the Child Life departments at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA and Cedars- Sinai Medical Center to deliver this exciting program.

During the in hospital camp sessions, children enter into a creative “camp” environment that is inclusive, supportive, and challenging – just like the one at The Painted Turtle’s camp-site!

With the use of theatrical props and a little bit of camp magic, playrooms or similar hospital spaces are transformed to resemble the look and feel of camp. Children truly feel like they are a hundred miles away, transported to a place where their only worry is deciding which activity to try next.

“This is the most fun I have had since I’ve been in this place” – child

The Hospital Outreach Manager along with a team of trained volunteers who have also volunteered numerous times at the camp-site delivers this exciting and engaging program.

“At one point, as I almost tripped over an IV pole today, I was suddenly reminded that we were in a hospital. The reason I forgot all this was because of the joy, laughter and smiles on their faces.” – Outpost Volunteer

We welcome any questions you may have about the Outpost program. For more information please contact Interim Hospital Outreach Coordinator Mandy Melton at (310) 451-1353 ext. 104