Family Weekend Program
Family Weekend Program
Throughout the spring, winter, and fall, The Painted Turtle invites families who are living with the challenges of a medical condition to experience a weekend at camp.
Sample activities for kids and parents include a campfire, carnival, woodshop, fishing and boating, arts and crafts, yoga, ropes course, horses, archery, and stage night. Special teen and parent activities are also offered throughout the weekend. Fall and Spring Family Weekends include parents and siblings in the enjoyment of an authentic camp experience and offer much-needed respite, recreation, and family time. For many families, their weekend at camp is their annual vacation, one they are only able to take because of our on-site medical support.
In addition to fun activities, family camp offers the chance to form friendships with families facing similar challenges. For siblings of children affected by illness, they can sometimes feel “lost in the shuffle.” These weekends provide siblings the opportunity to receive peer support and engage in creative, constructive outlets.
Each session focuses on serving children with one of the medical conditions found most in need of camp opportunities in California. For a list of current medical conditions we serve, please take a look at our Camp Calendar.
Family Weekends are very special to all the families. Everyone, especially the kids, realize they aren’t alone in this battle. —Camper Parent
Memorable Family Weekends
How the Mack Family Found Strength at Camp
Family Weekends at The Painted Turtle are a unique time for children with serious medical conditions and their families to come together and meet others who have faced similar challenges. During these three day sessions in the Fall and Spring, Camper Families build a sense of community while enjoying traditional camp activities.
The Mack family has two daughters with serious medical conditions and began coming to Camp in 2007. “When the acceptance letter arrives, we run around the house. We go nuts! It’s a glorious day every single time,” says mother, Nicte.