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

Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)

Alport Syndrome

Apert Syndrome

Ataxia

Burn Survivors

Cerebral Palsy

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction

Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Craniofacial Differences

Crohn’s Disease

Cystic Fibrosis

Dialysis: Peritoneal

Eosonophillic Esophagitis

Epilepsy

Fanconi Anemia

General Nephrology-decreased kidney function

Kabuki Syndrome

Kidney Disease

Limb deficiency

Liver Disease-noncommunicable

Liver Transplant

Mitochondrial disease

Myopathies

Noonan Syndrome

Neuromuscular Diseases

Paraplegia

PKU

Primary Immunodeficiency

Pulmonary Hypertension

Rare Genetic Conditions

SCID

Short Gut Syndrome

Small Bowel Transplant

Spina Bifida

Thalassemia

TPN Dependent

Tube Feeding Dependent

Ulcerative Colitis

Ventilator Dependent

Summer Sessions

15 Q 24 Micro-deletion Syndrome

22q Deletion Syndrome

Adrenal Insufficiency

Achondroplasia

Alport Syndrome

Apert Syndrome

Aplastic anemia

Ataxia

Cerebral Palsy

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction

Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Craniofacial Differences

Crohn’s Disease

Cystic Fibrosis

Dialysis: Peritoneal

Diamond-Blackfan anemia

Eosonophillic Esophagitis

Epilepsy

Factor Deficiency in Females

General Nephrology-decreased kidney function

Hemophilia

Hemophilia/von Willebrand Disease

Kabuki Syndrome

Kidney Disease

Limb deficiency

Liver Disease-noncommunicable

Liver Transplant

Mitochondrial disease

MPS

Mucopolysaccaridosis

Muscular Dystrophy

Myopathies

Noonan Syndrome

Neuromuscular Diseases

Paraplegia

PKU

Primary Immunodeficiency

Pulmonary Hypertension

Rare Genetic Conditions

Rare Genetic Platelet Disorders

SCID

Short Gut Syndrome

Skeletal Dysplasia

Small Bowel Transplant

Spina Bifida

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia

Thalassemia

TPN Dependent

Tube Feeding Dependent

Ulcerative Colitis

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 General Nephrology - Decreased Kidney Function Kidney Transplant Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Hemodialysis Adrenal Insufficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Fall Family Weekend: Kidney Disease and Transplant
Camper application deadline: October 1, 2025

George Lopez Foundation Logo
Campers & Families Craniofacial Conditions Rare Genetic Conditions Limb Loss and Deficiencies Ataxia Spina Bifida Paraplegia/Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy PKU (Phenylketonuria)

Fall Family Weekend: Neuromuscular and Genetic
Camper application deadline: October 29, 2025

Campers & Families Liver Transplant Liver Disease - Noncommunicable Small Bowel Transplant Total Parenteral Nutrition/Gastrointestinal Tube Feeding Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD) Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) Mild Combined Immune Deficiencies Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Mitochondrial Disease Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE)

Summer Session: Liver Disease & Transplant, PIDD, TPN, and IBD
Camper application deadline: July 18, 2025
Volunteer arrival: July 27, 2025

Connecting to Cure Crohn's & Colitis logoWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!

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

Summer Session: Hemophilia/vWD and Thalassemia
Camper application deadline: July 9, 2025
Volunteer arrival: July 18, 2025

Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California LogoWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!

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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 or on bed rest for an extended period of time (three days or greater)

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.

Campers & Families Muscular Dystrophy Neuromuscular Conditions Myopathies Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Summer Session: Muscular Dystrophy
Camper application deadline: June 19, 2025
Volunteer arrival: June 28, 2025

Muscular Dystrophy Association logoWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!

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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.

Campers & Families General Nephrology - Decreased Kidney Function Kidney Transplant Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Adrenal Insufficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Summer Session: Kidney Disease & Transplant and Adrenal Insufficiency
Camper application deadline: June 3, 2025
Volunteer arrival: June 12, 2025

George Lopez Foundation LogoWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!

Campers & Families Skeletal Dysplasia (Dwarfism) MPS Noonan Syndrome Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Mucopolysaccaridosis

Summer Session: Skeletal Dysplasia & MPS
Camper application deadline: May 23, 2025
Volunteer arrival: June 3, 2025

Little People of America (LPA) District 12 LogoWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!

Campers & Families Liver Transplant Small Bowel Transplant TPN Dependent Short Gut Syndrome Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) Liver Disease - Noncommunicable Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD) Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) Mitochondrial Disease

Spring Family Weekend: Liver Disease and Transplant, PIDD, TPN, and IBD
Camper application deadline: March 18, 2025

Campers & Families Cerebral Palsy Rare Genetic Conditions Limb Loss and Deficiencies Craniofacial Conditions Spina Bifida Ataxia Epilepsy PKU (Phenylketonuria) Cystic Fibrosis

Summer Session: Neuromuscular, Genetic, and Epilepsy
Camper application deadline: July 1, 2025
Volunteer arrival: July 10, 2025

Epilepsy Foundation Los AngelesWe are thrilled to host seven Summer Camp Sessions in 2025, including the return of our Sibling Session!