Give Your Child
“the Best Week of the Year”
at MDA Summer Camp

Frequently Asked Questions

• 

  Can my child attend camp?

  This unique residential camping experience is available to kids and young adults with neuromuscular disease who are members of the MDA community and are between 8 and 17 years of age*. Campers may attend one week of MDA Summer Camp, either in-person or virtual. Families can choose to apply for the session that best suits them.

  When making your decision about applying for camp, please carefully consider your child’s readiness to be away from home, their desire to go to camp and their ability to participate in and fully enjoy the camp experience.

  * To inquire about individual situations with birthdates affecting specific weeks of camp, please email camp@mdausa.org.

• 

  Application Requirements

  For your child to be considered, MDA must receive a completed application in UltraCamp no later than six (6) weeks prior to the start of the camp session. A completed application consists of:

  • A recent photo of your child

  • An electronically signed Camper Application and MDA Legal Agreements and Camp Policies form

  • A copy of your child’s insurance card (front and back)

  • Your child’s immunization record and COVID-19 vaccination card (if separate)

  • The MDA Camper Physical form, completed and signed by your child’s physician

• 

  What immunizations are required to participate?

  The MMR, Varicella & DTaP/TDaP vaccine are required in order to attend MDA Summer Camp. The COVID-19 vaccine is strongly recommended. Please contact camp@mdausa.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child's immunization records.

• 

  Who will take care of my child's medical needs during camp?

  Each MDA Camp includes a volunteer team of dedicated medical professionals that can include physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and more. The camp Medical Team will review your child's application and noted medical needs prior to camp and will meet with you to discuss your child's needs on the first day of camp. During the camp week, the Medical Team administers medications, provides first aid, and monitors the overall health of all camp participants.

• 

  How do I know my child will be safe at camp?

  MDA is committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all camp participants. MDA staff and volunteers receive comprehensive training about the unique needs of kids and young adults with neuromuscular diseases. All activities are closely monitored, overseen by qualified personnel, and designed to accommodate each campers' individual needs and abilities. Additionally, each Camp includes a dedicated team of qualified medical professionals who monitor the overall health of all camp participants.

• 

  How are volunteer counselors selected and what do they do?

  Volunteers must be at least 17 years old and of sufficient ability to lift and care for campers and assist with campers' personal care. Parents can be assured that camp volunteers are thoroughly screened in a process that includes a formal application, criminal background check, health and reference checks, and a personal interview. MDA follows all state mandates for volunteers who work with children.

  At MDA camps, volunteer counselors are by campers’ sides day and night so that they can do all the fun activities that summer camp offers. Volunteers may assist campers with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and feeding, provide assistance and encouragement during activities, and help ensure the safety of each camper.

  MDA Summer Camp is an opportunity for children to learn that others are there to help support them. Siblings and other family members are welcome to apply to serve as volunteers, but we typically do not place family members in the same cabin. Campers' parents are not eligible to be volunteers at the same camp where their children are in attendance unless it is as a member of the volunteer Medical Team.

• 

  Can I receive application support?

  If you need any support with the application process, including translation support, please contact camp@mdausa.org.

• 

  When will I know if my child is accepted to camp?

  Once the established application deadline has passed, applications submitted in full are evaluated by MDA Staff and the session’s volunteer Medical Team to determine whether the program is a fit for each child and to confirm the number of volunteers required to support the camp community.

  Please note that applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and the number of campers accepted to a session is often based on the number of volunteers available to support. Help us ensure that all eligible applicants can attend MDA Summer Camp by joining us in our volunteer recruitment efforts! MDA Staff will extend acceptance notifications in writing once all application reviews are complete and volunteer needs have been met.

  Submitting an MDA Summer Camp application and/or prior attendance does not guarantee acceptance in any given year.

• 

  How can I best prepare my child for camp?

  While considering an application for your child to participate in MDA Summer Camp, consider that it can be an adjustment for any participant to adapt to such a unique experience. Camp communities embrace many people that have different abilities and care needs as well as unique personalities and preferences. The camp environment can be equally unfamiliar, with a shared living and sleeping spaces, new routine, the possibility of schedule changes, new environments, a range of new interactive programming, new foods, new or unexpected sounds, and the absence of familiar comforts like family or friends. It is recommended that you prepare the child for MDA Summer Camp by discussing all of the ‘new’ they may face, as all of it directly contributes to the camp magic that can foster their independence.

• 

  How is MDA helping with transportation to camp?

  Transportation to camp is the responsibility of the campers' families. We don't want transportation to be the barrier to prevent a child from attending "the best week of the year." If you are in need of financial transportation assistance, please complete this form.

Thank you again for your interest in MDA Summer Camp! If you have any further questions, please contact us at camp@mdausa.org.

MDA strongly supports the American Camping Association’s mission of enriching the lives of children, youth, and adults through the camp experience. To facilitate this relationship, Muscular Dystrophy Association has integrated and is committed to ACA’s established standards. The standards ensure that campers are being provided with a safe and secure environment, as well as purposeful experiences.