the painted turtle rises

By Jessica Santos, Development Specialist, The Painted Turtle, California

Since the Powerhouse Fire swept through The Painted Turtle campsite last June, we have learned to appreciate the true meaning of resilience. Over the past nine months, we have undergone the extensive process of reclaiming the site: repairing damaged structures, replacing lost equipment, and restoring the grounds, buildings, and ventilation systems to a level that ensures the high degree of safety required for the medically fragile children we serve.

The extreme property damage and the intensity of the recovery efforts necessitated the difficult decision to cancel thirteen camp sessions last year. But that did not mean there was no camp!

Within weeks of the fire, The Painted Turtle developed and launched a brand new Camp on the Move initiative that brought the power of our programs to campers in different geographic locations throughout California—children who had been denied the summer and fall camp experiences they had been looking forward to. If they couldn’t come to camp, then camp would come to them!

Although Camp on the Move proved that it isn’t the buildings that hold the spirit and heart of the camp experience, we were still very excited to return "home." On March 14, 2014, The Painted Turtle reopened its gates and welcomed campers and their families to a newly restored campsite.

It was thrilling to be back at camp with so many eager families at our Special Diagnoses Family Weekend. The Dining Hall was alive with laughter and music, the lake shores echoed with shouts of delight as fish were caught (and kissed and released!), and children smiled with new friends beside the new growth and emerging landscape. It was evident that the spirit of camp had returned, stronger and more full of life than ever.

This year—our 10th Anniversary —we look forward to a full calendar of programs as 2014 proves to be the biggest and best year yet. Since opening our doors in 2004, more than 30,000 campers and their families have discovered hope and laughter and learned to reach beyond their illnesses. Please join us in celebrating our return to camp, our joyful past and promising future, and the remarkable children whose laughter and love are at the very heart of The Painted Turtle.

Thank you to all who helped The Painted Turtle rise again, and please come see what we’re up to at http://www.thepaintedturtle.org/.