Medical Criteria

Overview

Find a Session by Medical Condition

In order to be considered for Camp, each child must meet the below criteria and have one of the medical conditions listed below. 

Requirements and Eligibility

  • Age Requirements:
    • Family Weekend: Between the ages of 6-17
    • Summer Camp: Between the ages of 7-16
    • Have a minimum developmental age of 5 years
  • Be able to function and participate in a group setting
  • Able to communicate needs independently
  • Can be without family members for a limited period of time (overnight retreats and family weekends) or the duration of the camp session (summer camp)

Please be advised that no child is guaranteed to be accepted to camp. Applications are reviewed and acceptance is based upon health care needs, space, and staffing ratios..

Search for Medical Conditions by Program Type 

Family Weekend

15 Q 24 Micro-deletion Syndrome

22q Deletion Syndrome

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)

Alport Syndrome

Angelman Syndrome

Apert Syndrome

Ataxia

Beal’s Syndrome

Cerebral Palsy

CHARGE Syndrome

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPO)

Cleft Lip and/or palate 

Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Craniofacial Differences

Craniosynostosis

Crohn’s Disease

Crouzon Syndrome

Cystic Fibrosis

Dialysis: Peritoneal

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE)

Epilepsy

Fanconi Anemia

General Nephrology-decreased kidney function

Hemangiomas

Hemodialysis

Hereditary Angioedema

Hydrocephalus

Intractable Epilepsy 

Kabuki Syndrome

Kidney Disease and Transplant

Limb Loss and Deficiency

Liver Disease-noncommunicable

Liver Transplant

MEPAN Syndrome

Microcephaly

Moebius Syndrome

Noonan Syndrome

Neuromuscular Diseases

Paraplegia

Pierre Robin Sequence

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Primary Immunodeficiency

Pulmonary Hypertension

Rare Genetic Conditions

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

Seizure Disorder 

Short Gut Syndrome

Small Bowel Transplant

Smith Magenis Syndrome

Spina Bifida

Stickler Syndrome

Sturge Weber Syndrome

Thalassemia

TPN Dependent

Tube Feeding Dependent

Ulcerative Colitis

VACTERL

Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome

Weidemann-Steiner Syndrome

Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome

Summer Sessions – Camper Only

Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Aplastic Anemia 

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Cystic Fibrosis

Diamond-Blackfan anemia

Factor Deficiency in Females

Friedreich’s Ataxia

Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN)

Hemophilia

Hemophilia with inhibitors 

Hemophilia/von Willebrand Disease

Muscular Dystrophy

Myasthenic Syndromes

Myopathies

Myotonic Dystrophy

Rare Genetic Platelet Disorders

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Thalassemia

Search for Programs by Medical Condition

If you do not see the medical condition you are looking for in the dropdown, there aren’t any upcoming sessions serving that condition.  

Campers & Families Apert Syndrome Craniofacial Conditions Cleft lip and/or palate Craniosynostosis Crouzon Syndrome Hemangiomas Hydrocephalus Moebius Syndrome Pierre Robin Sequence Stickler Syndrome Sturge Weber Syndrome Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome

Fall Family Weekend: Craniofacial
Camper Application Deadline: October 27, 2026
Volunteer Arrival: November 6, 2026

Campers & Families Aplastic Anemia Cystic Fibrosis Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Factor Deficiency in Females Hemophilia Hemophilia with Inhibitors Hemophilia/von Willebrand Disease Rare Genetic Platelet Disorders Thalassemia

Summer Session: Hemophilia/vWD and Thalassemia
Camper Application Deadline: June 25, 2026
Volunteer Arrival: July 22, 2026

Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California LogoWe are thrilled to welcome campers with Hemophilia, vWD, or Thalassemia to this five day summer session! 

Campers & Families Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Friedreich’s Ataxia Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN) Muscular Dystrophy Myasthenic Syndromes Myopathies Myotonic Dystrophy Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Summer Session: Muscular Dystrophy & Leadership
Camper Application Deadline: June 12, 2026
Volunteer Arrival: July 11, 2026

Muscular Dystrophy Association logoWe are thrilled to welcome campers who have Muscular Dystrophy as well as Leadership Campers (ages 17 & 18) to this five day summer session. 

For information on Leadership program please click here: Leadership Program – The Painted Turtle

Campers & Families Fanconi Anemia 15 Q 24 Micro-deletion Syndrome 22q Deletion Syndrome Alport Syndrome Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) Angelman Syndrome Beal’s Syndrome CHARGE Syndrome Kabuki Syndrome MEPAN Syndrome Noonan Syndrome Microcephaly PKU (Phenylketonuria) Rare Genetic Conditions Smith Magenis Syndrome VACTERL Urea Cycle Disorder Weidemann-Steiner Syndrome Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome

Summer Family Weekend: Fanconi Cancer and Rare Genetic Family Program
Camper Application Deadline: May 22, 2026
Volunteer Arrival: June 20, 2026

Fanconi Cancer Foundation
Campers & Families 15 Q 24 Micro-deletion Syndrome 22q Deletion Syndrome Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) Alport Syndrome Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Angelman Syndrome Apert Syndrome Aplastic Anemia Ataxia Beal’s Syndrome Cerebral Palsy Charcot Marie Tooth Disease CHARGE Syndrome Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Cleft lip and/or palate Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) Craniofacial Conditions Craniosynostosis Crohn's Disease Crouzon Syndrome Cystic Fibrosis Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) Epilepsy Epilepsy-VNS Factor Deficiency in Females Fanconi Anemia Friedreich’s Ataxia General Nephrology - Decreased Kidney Function Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN) Hemangiomas Hemodialysis Hemophilia Hemophilia with Inhibitors Hemophilia/von Willebrand Disease Hydrocephalus Intractable Epilepsy Kabuki Syndrome MEPAN Syndrome Kidney Disease and Transplant Limb Loss and Deficiencies Liver Disease - Noncommunicable Liver Transplant Microcephaly Moebius Syndrome Muscular Dystrophy Myasthenic Syndromes Myopathies Myotonic Dystrophy Neuromuscular Conditions Noonan Syndrome Paraplegia/Hemiplegia Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Pierre Robin Sequence PKU (Phenylketonuria) Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD) Pulmonary Hypertension Rare Genetic Conditions Rare Genetic Platelet Disorders Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Seizure Disorder Short Gut Syndrome Small Bowel Transplant Smith Magenis Syndrome Spina Bifida Spinal Muscular Atrophy Stickler Syndrome Sturge Weber Syndrome Thalassemia TPN Dependent Total Parenteral Nutrition/Gastrointestinal Tube Feeding Ulcerative Colitis VACTERL Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome Weidemann-Steiner Syndrome Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome Arthrogryposis Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Kidney Disease and Transplant Kidney Transplant Mitochondrial Disease Urea Cycle Disorder

Holiday Gathering
Lake Hughes, CA

Campers & Families Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) Crohn's Disease Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) General Nephrology - Decreased Kidney Function Hemodialysis Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Kidney Disease and Transplant Kidney Transplant Liver Disease - Noncommunicable Liver Transplant Mitochondrial Disease Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD) Pulmonary Hypertension Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Short Gut Syndrome Small Bowel Transplant Total Parenteral Nutrition/Gastrointestinal Tube Feeding TPN Dependent Ulcerative Colitis

Spring Family Weekend: Liver Disease & Transplant and Kidney Disease & Transplant, PIDD, TPN, IBD, and Pulmonary Hypertension
Camper Application Deadline: April 17, 2026
Volunteer Arrival: May 1, 2026

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Turtle-Grams

All Turtle-Gram requests must meet each of the following qualifications:

  • Child has previously been a camper at The Painted Turtle
  • Child is under the age of 18
  • Child will be hospitalized, undergoing a procedure, or on bed rest for an extended period of time (three days or greater)
  • OR child has to miss their scheduled Camp session due to illness/hospitalization 

In addition to bringing camp cheer to hospitals and medical community events, The Painted Turtle Outpost also offers “Turtle-Grams” to campers who are hospitalized, getting surgery or a procedure, on bed rest, or just needs a little Painted Turtle to lift their spirits, we invite you to request a Turtle Gram. Our Outpost team will send your camper a box filled with Camp activities, games, and projects to keep them busy and as a reminder that we’re thinking of them. An optional virtual visit can also be requested alongside the Turtle Gram. “Turtle-Grams” deliver a healthy dose of camp cheer and aim to offer some comfort and fun to our campers even while they’re not physically at camp!

If you are a parent or guardian and feel that your child would qualify for a “Turtle-Gram,” please fill out the request form and our Outreach Manager will contact you. Please note participation in this program does not in any way affect your child’s future admission to a camp session at The Painted Turtle.

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Additional Resources

There are many additional resources for children with serious medical conditions while they’re not having a blast at The Painted Turtle! Check out the list below to explore other ways to empower your child outside of Camp.  Additional information and resources will be added regularly.