Dates, Directions, How to Prepare, and Additional Safety Protocols

Thank you for your interest in visiting Camp! More than 225,000 campers have found courage, strength, and friendship since we opened in 2004. Here are details to prepare for your visit. Please review the information below in full prior to committing to your visit. If you have any questions, please let your staff host know.

In preparation for in-person visits, please see the below information, requirements, and forms:

• The Painted Turtle is a medical specialty Camp for children with serious illnesses. All campers, volunteers, staff, and visitors must fulfill very specific vaccination requirements because many campers are immune-compromised and cannot fight infections.
• All visitors must be immunized for MMR and Varicella by either having had the vaccines or the disease. Exception to this requirement if you are born before 1957. We also strongly recommend either DTap or Tdap vaccines, although this is not required.
• We have an On-site Visitor Release, Medical Reporting, & Hold Harmless Form where we require visitors over 18 years of age to self-report and visitors under 18 years of age to self-report AND provide proof of select immunizations. Please complete this between 2-10 days before your visit.
• If you’ve been sick in the 10 days prior to your schedule visit, we ask that you contact your staff host to reschedule your visit.

On-site Visitor Release, Medical Reporting, & Hold Harmless Form

Summer Visitor Days

• Skeletal Dysplasia and MPS​, Friday, June 6
• Kidney Disease & Transplant and Adrenal Insufficiency/Sibling​, Sunday, June 15th
• Fanconi Cancer Family Program, Monday, June 23
• Muscular Dystrophy​, Tuesday, July 1
• Neuromuscular, Genetic, and Epilepsy, Sunday, July 13
• Hemophilia/vWD and Thalassemia, Monday, July 21
• Liver Disease & Transplant, PIDD, TPN and IBD​/Sibling, Wednesday, July 30

Interested in learning more? Please reach out to us at: info@thepaintedturtle.org

Here is how an in-person visit will go: 

• Your staff host will meet you at 11:00am at the front gate and you’ll take a golf cart tour of Camp in action visiting program areas around Camp.
• You’ll join us for lunch with campers and counselors at 12:30 pm, followed by singing and dancing, and visitor pictures.
• Return to the front gate for departure.
• We encourage frequent hand sanitizing and handwashing while you are on-site.

Map and Directions to Camp:

Click here for directions. We recommend taking Route 2. It takes about 1 ½ hours to get to Lake Hughes from LA.

Dress:

Please dress comfortably for Camp. We do recommend good walking shoes, sunglasses, and a hat.

Weather:

Check out the weather forecast for Camp here. We will provide water and sunblock as well.

Photography:

You are welcome to take pictures of The Painted Turtle site and facility on your tour. To respect the privacy of all participants, we ask that visitors do not take any photos that include any campers or family members.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let your staff host know. We thank you in advance for ensuring our campers and staff stay healthy and well!