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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2018 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
5/26/2018 to 6/1/2018
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
Antioch, Tennessee
TX
6/2/2018 to 6/9/2018
Camp For All
Burton, Texas
CA
6/3/2018 to 6/9/2018
Apple Canyon Center
Mountain Center, California
AZ
6/3/2018 to 6/8/2018
Whispering Hope (age 13-17)
Payson, Arizona
OH
6/10/2018 to 6/15/2018
Recreation Unlimited Farm 1
Ashley, Ohio
PA
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Variety Club Camp 1
Worcester, Pennsylvania
SC
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Bethelwoods Camp & Conf.
York, South Carolina
VA
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Airfield 4-H Conf. Center
Wakefield, Virginia
WI
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Wonderland Camp
Camp Lake, Wisconsin
AZ
6/10/2018 to 6/15/2018
Whispering Hope (age 8-12)
Payson, Arizona
MN
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
True Friends (age 8-12)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
NE
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Calvin Crest Camp
Fremont, Nebraska
IL
6/9/2018 to 6/15/2018
Timber Pointe Outdoor 1
Hudson, Illinois
CA
6/10/2018 to 6/16/2018
Grizzly Creek Ranch
Portola, California
CA
6/10/2018 to 6/16/2018
Camp Harmon 1
Boulder Creek, California
LA
6/15/2018 to 6/21/2018
Camp Grant Walker
Pollock, Louisiana
MN
6/16/2018 to 6/22/2018
True Friends (age 13-17)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
MD
6/16/2018 to 6/22/2018
Camp Fairlee 1
Chestertown, Maryland
MI
6/16/2018 to 6/22/2018
Sherman Lake YMCA
Augusta, Michigan
MO
6/16/2018 to 6/22/2018
Pinecrest Camp
Fredericktown, Missouri
OH
6/17/2018 to 6/22/2018
Recreation Unlimited Farm 2
Ashley, Ohio
PA
6/16/2018 to 6/23/2018
Variety Club Camp 2
Worcester, Pennsylvania
TX
6/16/2018 to 6/22/2018
Camp John Marc
Meridian, Texas
CO
6/17/2018 to 6/22/2018
Rocky Mountain (age 8-14)
Empire, Colorado
MI
6/22/2018 to 6/29/2018
Camp Cavell Conservancy
Lexington, Michigan
MD
6/23/2018 to 6/29/2018
Camp Fairlee 2
Chestertown, Maryland
NM
6/24/2018 to 6/29/2018
Manzano Mountain Retreat
Torreon, New Mexico
OH
6/23/2018 to 6/29/2018
YMCA Camp Campbell Gard
Hamilton, Ohio
CO
6/24/2018 to 6/29/2018
Rocky Mountain (age 12-17)
Empire, Colorado
NY
6/23/2018 to 6/29/2018
Rochester Rotary Sunshine
Rush, New York
WA
6/23/2018 to 6/30/2018
Camp Seymour
Gig Harbor, Washington
IA
6/23/2018 to 6/29/2018
Camp Courageous of Iowa
Monticello, Iowa
CA
6/25/2018 to 6/30/2018
Camp Cuyamaca
Descanso, California
GA
6/30/2018 to 7/6/2018
Camp Twin Lakes
Rutledge, Georgia
IL
7/7/2018 to 7/13/2018
Timber Pointe Outdoor 2
Hudson, Illinois
OK
7/7/2018 to 7/13/2018
Canyon Camp & Conference
Hinton, Oklahoma
TX
7/7/2018 to 7/13/2018
Camp Aranzazu
Rockport, Texas
CA
7/8/2018 to 7/14/2018
Irvine Ranch Outdoor Ed.
Orange, California
OR
7/14/2018 to 7/20/2018
Macleay Christian Retreat
Salem, Oregon
IN
7/22/2018 to 7/27/2018
Bradford Woods Camp
Martinsville, Indiana
NC
7/29/2018 to 8/2/2018
Victory Junction
Randleman, North Carolina
ID
8/4/2018 to 8/10/2018
Quaker Hill Camp & Conf.
McCall, Idaho
PA
8/4/2018 to 8/10/2018
Camp Kon-O-Kwee
Fombell, Pennsylvania
SC
8/5/2018 to 8/10/2018
Pleasant Ridge Camp
Marietta, South Carolina
FL
8/4/2018 to 8/10/2018
Elks Camp
Umatilla, Florida
NJ
8/12/2018 to 8/18/2018
Happiness is Camping 1
Hardwick, New Jersey
CA
8/14/2018 to 8/19/2018
Camp Harmon 2
Boulder Creek, California
NJ
8/19/2018 to 8/25/2018
Happiness is Camping 2
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:

16+ years of age (18 years of age at some camp facilities)

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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