[The Painted Turtle] – We are thrilled to announce the reopening of camp in 2014 and share with you the 2014 Camp Calendar!We wish to thank you for your patience and support over the last several months as we’ve navigated our way back from the damage caused by the Powerhouse Fire. We know how disappointing it was to have summer and fall without camp, but we learned quickly that camp is always alive in our hearts and that we can create the spirit of camp wherever we are. Camp on the Move proved this!

Thanks to our dedicated facilities crew, we’re making good progress, but we still have a ways to go with the fire remediation at camp. In the coming months we will begin replanting the landscape and hillsides. There is still a mountain of work to do, but with your continued support we will be ready to come back with all the laughter and hope and care that has become the trademark of The Painted Turtle. We know that 2014 will be our best year ever as we prepare to celebrate our 10th Anniversary! That’s right, The Painted Turtle has a big birthday coming up. We hope you will help us celebrate!

Running for the Kids

Talk about runner’s high. Although training for the 13.1 mile leg of my two-person LA Marathon Charity Relay team wasn’t a walk in the park, the incredible feeling I had after I’d crossed the finish line made it all worth it. Not only had I taken on a significant physical challenge and achieved it, but much more importantly I had helped send some pretty amazing kids to The Painted Turtle while doing it! My teammate April, The Painted Turtle’s Camp Director, and I ran together for several months in preparation for the half-marathon, and as we trained we would psych ourselves up for those long runs by talking about camp and the kids who would be changed forever by the experience.

The minor aches and pains we experienced along the way were nothing compared to the challenges so many of the kids face on a daily basis. As I ran through the streets of Los Angeles, people saw my jersey and cheered, “Go Painted Turtle! You can do it!” I felt energized by the support of the people around me and I imagined that must be how kids who come to camp feel: that the fun and encouragement they experience at The Painted Turtle, as well as the knowledge that other people believe in them, helps them feel stronger, braver and able to keep moving forward every step of the way. Join a Painted Turtle 5K, Half Marathon, or Marathon Team in 2014 and make a difference in yourself and in the lives of some incredible campers.

Celebrate Giving Tuesday on December 3rd

You’ve heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – now there is Giving Tuesday, a national day that celebrates giving back to our communities. If you are looking for a thoughtful holiday gesture, consider making a gift in honor of someone special. We will send them a card on your behalf, and you can feel good that your donation is giving children a place that helps them reach beyond their illnesses to find hope, self-confidence, and courage. Give on Tuesday, December 3rd – or give now!