There are multiple ways to volunteer.  You may volunteer your services during our spring, summer, and fall sessions.  You may also volunteer through our Hospital Outreach Program – The Painted Turtle Outpost.  If you are unable to volunteer during a camp session, you may volunteer your services around the campsite and at The Painted Turtle Office as a Turtle Helper!

Family Weekend Volunteer (Program Volunteer)
Family Weekend volunteers work as either Family Pals or Program Pals. The Family Pal is assigned to work with a family for the duration of the weekend and act as a host, tour guide and friend. Program pals work in a specific program area such as Woodshop, Arts & Crafts, Boating & Fishing or Ropes Course. Volunteers must commit to the full 2.5 days of the weekend, from Friday PM– Sunday PM.

Summer Camp Program Volunteer (Cabin Counselor Volunteer)
During the summer volunteers work as Volunteer Cabin Counselors. The Volunteer Cabin Counselor works in collaboration with our full-time summer cabin counselors to supervise, support and care for campers throughout every aspect of their camp life. Volunteer Cabin Counselors live in a cabin for the full 6-9 days of the session, with 8-10 campers and 3 other adult counselors.

Camp Program Volunteer Contact: Corinne Dorfman, Volunteer Coordinator:  corinned@thepaintedturtle.org

Camp Program Volunteer Requirements:

  • Must be at least 19 years of age
  • Ability to be at camp for full length of the session

Camp Program Volunteer Application Process:

  • Completed online application (www.thepaintedturtle.org)
  • Successful 25 minute phone interview (15-25 minutes)
  • Background Check
  • 3 Reference Checks
  • Physical Form & Medical History Form
  • Proof/Dates of all Required Immunizations  (4-6 total)
  • Volunteer Service Agreement/Transportation Form/Personal Information Form 

General Volunteer & Work Days
General Volunteer Day and other Painted Turtle Corporate Volunteer work days, are held several times a year, usually on a Saturday before or after a camp season (spring, summer, winter). Volunteers help with projects such as cabin cleaning, organizing and sanitizing program areas, boat cleaning, vehicle washing, and turtle-pillow stuffing among others. Volunteers are not required to apply for these day events, however they must e-mail The Painted Turtle to confirm participation. The capacity for Volunteer Days is approximately 150 people.

Turtle Helpers
The Turtle Helpers program is a perfect way to volunteer if you are unable to commit to a full camp session or are under the age of 19.  As a Turtle Helper, you would be able to volunteer your services at both our campsite in Lake Hughes, CA and at The Painted Turtle Office in Santa Monica, CA.  There are many projects ongoing at both locations, including filing, administrative/data entry, mailing projects, and even landscaping/gardening.  To volunteer as a Turtle Helper, click here.

The Painted Turtle Outpost
The Outpost is Painted Turtle’s Hospital/Community Outreach program. Through one-day events and activities, the Outpost brings the magic and fun of camp to hospitals and community partner events throughout California! In order to volunteer with the Outpost program individuals must already have been through The Painted Turtle volunteer process and have volunteered at our campsite during a family weekend or summer session. As an Outpost volunteer you will assist in transforming hospital spaces to look and feel like camp, create camp crafts and projects, sing camp songs, do adaptive camp dances, play camp games, and much more! Training materials on the ins and outs of volunteering in the hospital are sent to you prior to your participation in the program. 

The program runs one day per week, once a month, in each of four Painted Turtle partner hospitals. Outpost programs usually take place Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 9am - 4pm.  Community events periodically take place on weekends with our community partner groups such as the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California or the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

Please contact Mandy Melton, Hospital Outreach Manger (mandym@thepaintedturtle.org or 310-451-1353 x 104), for more information on volunteering with the Outpost program. For more information, click here.

*Please note: you must have prior Painted Turtle volunteer experience at our camp to volunteer with the Outpost.

Specialized Volunteering Opportunities: