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Volunteer at MDA Summer Camp

Make an impact on the lives of children with muscular dystrophy or related diseases during their best week of the year.

Camp can change your life just as it changes the lives of campers.

MDA Summer Camp wouldn’t be possible without people like you. Each summer, hundreds of volunteers serve as counselors and medical staff for up to one week to help make Summer Camp a safe, fun and memorable experience.

As a volunteer, you will be a camper’s “buddy” for the week as you participate in adaptive camp experiences, games, dances, meal time and more. You also will take on the role of 24-hour caregiver, friend and confidence-builder.

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You’re there to help the kids, and you’re also there to help them function independently. If there’s any impact we make, it’s having these kids feel like they have more of an ability to live independently [than they did] prior to camp. As different as we are, we’re not that different.

As far as life decisions go, I cannot think of any other decision I have made that has made such a large impact on my life and career than agreeing to be a part of the MDA camp experience.

Heeren Patel, M.D., medical staff volunteer

At camp, the resiliency of the human spirit is evident all around you. It is a place where “I can’t” becomes “I can,” the “impossible” becomes “possible” and “limited” becomes “limitless.

Kaitlyn Thompson, counselor
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2019 MDA Summer Camps

Camps are held nationwide during the summer months. Use the search below to find a camp near you.

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TN
5/25/2019 to 5/31/2019
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
Antioch, Tennessee
TX
6/1/2019 to 6/7/2019
Camp For All
Burton, Texas
AZ
6/1/2019 to 6/7/2019
Whispering Hope (age 13-17)
Payson, Arizona
CA
6/2/2019 to 6/8/2019
Apple Canyon Center
Mountain Center, California
VA
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
Airfield 4-H Conf. Center
Wakefield, Virginia
WI
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
Salvation Army Wonderland Camp
Camp Lake, Wisconsin
MN
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
True Friends (age 8-12)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
NE
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
Calvin Crest Camp
Fremont, Nebraska
AZ
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
Whispering Hope (age 8-13)
Payson, Arizona
OH
6/8/2019 to 6/14/2019
Recreation Unlimited Farm
Ashley, Ohio
CA
6/9/2019 to 6/15/2019
Grizzly Creek Ranch
Portola, California
LA
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Camp Grant Walker
Pollock, Louisiana
PA
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Variety Club Camp
Worcester, Pennsylvania
MD
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Camp Fairlee
Chestertown, Maryland
WV
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Camp Cedar Lakes
Ripley, West Virginia
CO
6/16/2019 to 6/21/2019
Rocky Mountain (age 8-12)
Empire, Colorado
MI
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Sherman Lake YMCA
Augusta, Michigan
MO
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Pinecrest Camp
Fredericktown, Missouri
TX
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
Camp John Marc
Meridian, Texas
MN
6/15/2019 to 6/21/2019
True Friends (age 13-17)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
CA
6/17/2019 to 6/22/2019
Camp Cuyamaca
Descanso, California
OH
6/22/2019 to 6/28/2019
YMCA Camp Campbell Gard
Hamilton, Ohio
IA
6/23/2019 to 6/28/2019
Camp Courageous of Iowa
Monticello, Iowa
WA
6/22/2019 to 6/29/2019
YMCA Camp Seymour
Gig Harbor, Washington
CO
6/23/2019 to 6/28/2019
Rocky Mountain (age 13-17)
Empire, Colorado
MI
6/22/2019 to 6/28/2019
Camp Cavell Conservancy
Lexington, Michigan
NM
6/22/2019 to 6/28/2019
Manzano Mountain Retreat
Torreon, New Mexico
CA
6/25/2019 to 6/30/2019
Camp Harmon 1
Boulder Creek, California
IL
7/6/2019 to 7/12/2019
Timber Pointe Outdoor
Hudson, Illinois
OK
7/6/2019 to 7/12/2019
Canyon Camp & Conference
Hinton, Oklahoma
TX
7/6/2019 to 7/12/2019
Camp Aranzazu
Rockport, Texas
GA
7/6/2019 to 7/12/2019
Camp Twin Lakes
Rutledge, Georgia
CA
7/7/2019 to 7/13/2019
Robert & Marjie Bennett Foundation Summer Camp
Orange, California
OR
7/13/2019 to 7/19/2019
Macleay Conference and Retreat Center
Salem, Oregon
IN
7/20/2019 to 7/26/2019
Bradford Woods Camp
Martinsville, Indiana
FL
7/27/2019 to 8/2/2019
Elks Camp
Umatilla, Florida
NY
7/27/2019 to 8/2/2019
Rochester Rotary Sunshine
Rush, New York
MO
7/28/2019 to 8/2/2019
Wonderland Camp
Rocky Mount, Missouri
PA
8/3/2019 to 8/9/2019
YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee
Fombell, Pennsylvania
SC
8/4/2019 to 8/9/2019
Pleasant Ridge Camp
Marietta, South Carolina
ID
8/3/2019 to 8/9/2019
Quaker Hill Camp & Conf.
McCall, Idaho
NC
8/4/2019 to 8/8/2019
Victory Junction
Randleman, North Carolina
CA
8/10/2019 to 8/15/2019
Camp Harmon 2
Boulder Creek, California
NJ
8/11/2019 to 8/17/2019
Happiness is Camping 1 (age 8-17)
Hardwick, New Jersey
NJ
8/18/2019 to 8/24/2019
Happiness is Camping 2 (age 8-17)
Hardwick, New Jersey
A picture of a camp counselor and a kid

A volunteer counselor’s role at a glance:

Meet the needs of assigned campers with respect and care

Attend to a camper’s needs, such as dressing, bathing and feeding.

Maintain a clean, orderly and safe environment in cabins

Have fun and participate in daily activities with enthusiasm

Set a high standard of cooperation

Implement procedures to keep all campers safe 

A picture of a camp counselor at camp

Application requirements & time commitments:

18+ years of age

24/7 commitment during the week of camp

Ability to attend mandatory pre-camp training

Of sufficient strength and health to lift and care for campers

Completed camp application with two references and a background check

Physical exam in the past year and up-to-date immunizations

Interview with MDA staff

A picture of a younger camp counselor with a kid at camp

A medical volunteer’s role at a glance:

Supervise and maintain the health and well-being of campers

Dispense medications and perform first aid

Maintain health and treatment documentation

Review all camp applications prior to camp

Be part of the Emergency Decision Team

Maintain equipment and supplies

Please note: Lodging, meals and activities are provided. Transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the volunteer.

Interested in becoming an MDA Summer Camp volunteer?

Complete our volunteer inquiry form. We'll be in touch!

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