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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2020 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
5/23/2020 to 5/29/2020
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
Antioch, Tennessee
TX
5/30/2020 to 6/5/2020
Camp For All
Burton, Texas
CA
5/31/2020 to 6/6/2020
Apple Canyon Center
Mountain Center, California
AZ
5/30/2020 to 6/5/2020
Whispering Hope (age 13-17)
Payson, Arizona
OH
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
Recreation Unlimited Farm
Ashley, Ohio
VA
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
Airfield 4-H Conf. Center
Wakefield, Virginia
WI
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
Salvation Army Wonderland Camp
Camp Lake, Wisconsin
AZ
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
Whispering Hope (age 8-13)
Payson, Arizona
MN
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
True Friends (age 8-12)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
NE
6/6/2020 to 6/12/2020
Calvin Crest Camp
Fremont, Nebraska
CA
6/7/2020 to 6/13/2020
Grizzly Creek Ranch
Portola, California
MD
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Camp Fairlee
Chestertown, Maryland
MN
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
True Friends (age 13-17)
Maple Lake, Minnesota
NJ
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Happiness is Camping 1
Hardwick, New Jersey
MI
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Sherman Lake YMCA
Augusta, Michigan
MO
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Pinecrest Camp
Fredericktown, Missouri
PA
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Variety Club Camp
Worcester, Pennsylvania
TX
6/13/2020 to 6/19/2020
Camp John Marc
Meridian, Texas
CO
6/14/2020 to 6/19/2020
Rocky Mountain (age 8-12)
Empire, Colorado
NM
6/20/2020 to 6/26/2020
Manzano Mountain Retreat
Torreon, New Mexico
CO
6/21/2020 to 6/26/2020
Rocky Mountain (age 13-17)
Empire, Colorado
LA
6/20/2020 to 6/26/2020
Camp Grant Walker
Pollock, Louisiana
OH
6/20/2020 to 6/26/2020
YMCA Camp Campbell Gard
Hamilton, Ohio
WA
6/20/2020 to 6/26/2020
YMCA Camp Seymour
Gig Harbor, Washington
IA
6/21/2020 to 6/26/2020
Camp Courageous of Iowa
Monticello, Iowa
CA
6/22/2020 to 6/27/2020
Camp Harmon 1
Boulder Creek, California
CA
6/22/2020 to 6/27/2020
Camp Cuyamaca
Descanso, California
MI
6/27/2020 to 7/2/2020
Camp Cavell Conservancy
Lexington, Michigan
WV
6/28/2020 to 7/3/2020
Camp Cedar Lakes
Ripley, West Virginia
NY
6/27/2020 to 7/3/2020
Rochester Rotary Sunshine
Rush, New York
CA
6/28/2020 to 7/3/2020
Robert & Marjie Bennett Foundation Summer Camp
Lake Hughes, California
GA
7/4/2020 to 7/10/2020
Camp Twin Lakes
Rutledge, Georgia
TX
7/4/2020 to 7/10/2020
Camp Aranzazu
Rockport, Texas
IL
7/11/2020 to 7/17/2020
Timber Pointe Outdoor
Hudson, Illinois
OK
7/18/2020 to 7/24/2020
Canyon Camp & Conference
Hinton, Oklahoma
IN
7/18/2020 to 7/24/2020
Bradford Woods Camp
Martinsville, Indiana
NC
7/25/2020 to 7/30/2020
Victory Junction
Randleman, North Carolina
PA
8/2/2020 to 8/7/2020
YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee
Fombell, Pennsylvania
ID
8/1/2020 to 8/7/2020
Quaker Hill Camp & Conf.
McCall, Idaho
NJ
8/1/2020 to 8/7/2020
Happiness is Camping 2
Hardwick, New Jersey
SC
8/2/2020 to 8/7/2020
Pleasant Ridge Camp
Marietta, South Carolina
MO
8/2/2020 to 8/7/2020
Wonderland Camp
Rocky Mount, Missouri
FL
8/1/2020 to 8/7/2020
Florida Elks Camp
Umatilla, Florida
NJ
8/8/2020 to 8/14/2020
Happiness is Camping 3
Hardwick, New Jersey
CA
8/10/2020 to 8/15/2020
Camp Harmon 2
Boulder Creek, California
OR
8/15/2020 to 8/21/2020
Mount Hood Kiwanis Camp
Rhododendron, Oregon
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 at-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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