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Care Beyond the Clinic: Volunteer Your Expertise

Use your medical skills to help children with serious illnesses embrace the joy of camp, confident that they’re safe, supported, and free to simply be kids.

Get Involved / Volunteer – Healthcare

Your Skills,
Their Joy

At SeriousFun, the health and safety of our campers is our top priority. As a healthcare volunteer, your specialized skills ensure that children with serious illnesses can participate fully in camp activities, from zip-lining to swimming, without compromising their health. Your presence not only provides peace of mind for campers and their families but also allows these children to experience the joy and freedom of camp.

What You Give and Gain

Your time and skills help children with serious illnesses receive the care they need while you gain professional experience and personal fulfillment. Here’s what you can look forward to.

Hands-On Clinical Experience

Volunteering with us offers you the opportunity to apply your medical expertise in a unique, hands-on environment. From routine health checks to emergency response, your work will directly impact the well-being of children with serious illnesses.

Participating in Transformative Practices

Participate in innovative and impactful care approaches tailored to unique medical populations. Our camps integrate therapies, recreational activities, and emotional support, offering professionals a chance to be part of life-changing, multidisciplinary practices.

Networking with Medical Experts

You’ll collaborate with healthcare professionals from various specialties, expanding your professional network and learning about the latest advances in pediatric and specialized care.

Personal Fulfillment

Your contribution will provide children with the care and confidence they need to enjoy their camp experience. The joy you’ll witness from helping children overcome medical challenges will be a source of personal reward and fulfillment.

Expanding Cultural Competence

Camps often serve diverse communities, providing exposure to varied cultural backgrounds and unique patient perspectives, enhancing a professional’s ability to deliver inclusive and culturally sensitive care.

Working Beyond the Clinical Setting

Step out of the traditional clinical environment and engage with patients in a supportive, non-hospital setting. This fosters a deeper, more holistic understanding of patient needs and enhances adaptability in diverse care contexts.

Example Roles For Medical Volunteers

Doctors

As a doctor at camp, you’ll oversee the medical care of campers, manage chronic conditions, and respond to any health concerns that arise. Your expertise ensures that every child can safely enjoy all that camp has to offer.

Responsibilities

  • Perform routine health checks
  • Provide first aid and respond to emergencies
  • Coordinate with camp staff on health-related issues

Nurses

Nurses play a crucial role in the day-to-day healthcare of campers. You’ll be on the front lines, providing treatments, administering medications, and offering comfort to children when they need it most.

Responsibilities

  • Administer medications and treatments
  • Monitor campers’ health throughout the day
  • Provide first aid and respond to emergencies

Therapists

(Physical, Occupational, Respiratory)

Therapists help campers with mobility challenges, breathing difficulties, or other specialized needs to fully participate in camp activities. Your support can make all the difference in their camp experience.

Responsibilities

  • Assist campers with mobility and accessibility needs
  • Provide therapies to ensure campers can participate in activities
  • Offer support in adapting activities to meet campers’ needs

Hear from Other Healthcare Volunteers

Discover the profound impact volunteering has on their practice and personal lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about volunteering at SeriousFun camps and programs. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, we invite you to reach out to your camp(s) of interest directly and speak with their volunteer coordinator.

Every camp or program has specific needs and each requires the appropriate training and qualifications to meet them. Some common medical volunteer opportunities at SeriousFun camps and programs include:  
 
— Physicians (Fellows/Attending) 
— Physician Assistants 
— Nurse Practitioners 
— Nurses 
— EMTs  
— Paramedics 
— Respiratory Therapists 
— Physical Therapists  
— Pharmacists 
— CNA and Nursing Students 
— Medical Center Front Desk (medical experience not required) 
 
We encourage interested medical volunteer applicants to seek out more information about the camp or program they want to apply to on that camp or program’s own website. 

Each SeriousFun camp and program is responsible for meeting a range of unique needs for all of our campers so that campers are able to experience the carefree joy that every child deserves. Medical volunteers do this under the scope of their professional practice. In order to ensure that volunteers are able to support fully “medically-sound” experiences for campers, applicants are required to be interviewed by our medical staff and asked to provide proof of license and qualifications as well as other documentation. 
 
Applicants must: 
— Complete an online application  
— Provide proof of a current license in order to serve in a medical capacity  
— Provide medical background/immunization documentation  
— Be fully vaccinated  
— Attend a volunteer orientation prior to camper arrival (either virtual or in-person) 

While additional requirements may vary from camp to camp, the medical team at the camp will provide all medical volunteers with diagnosis-specific information and education prior to the beginning of camp sessions. All medical volunteers will also participate in a full volunteer training prior to camp arrival. 

Camps run weeklong sessions, family weekends, and all other sorts of events both during and after the summer camp season. They rely on a variety of different volunteers to keep programs running year-round, so chances are good that you’ll find a volunteer opportunity that works for you!  Reach out to your camp of interest for more information. 

This depends on the position. Some roles are non-residential (sometimes known as “day volunteers”) and do not require the volunteer to be onsite at all times, while other roles do – in which case meals and lodging are provided. Volunteers are expected to commit to the entire length of time required by their specific role. We encourage you reach out to the camp you are interested in volunteering at for more details. 

Safety is the top priority of every SeriousFun camp and program, so volunteers are expected to be able to address the specific medical needs of every camper at all times. Above all else, volunteers are expected to approach their work with the same level of care that they would provide while treating a child in a hospital or clinic setting. The medical volunteer’s work is often done “in the background” of camp activities, so that campers may engage in the fun while knowing that they are being cared for.

Medical volunteers work as part of a medical team comprised of other volunteers and full summer staff. Volunteers will always have someone available to answer questions and provide guidance.

This depends on the specific role but generally, medical volunteers are expected to provide a welcoming place for campers to receive ongoing or temporary care as needed. Medical volunteers are responsible for performing their assigned duties at all times, whether that be daily care, administering medications, or providing one-on-one attention as needed. 
 
For physicians: 
Volunteer physicians provide medical care for campers, families, volunteers, and staff. Doctors are available onsite during all camp sessions to triage, evaluate and provide treatment for all camp participants.  
 
For nurses: 
Volunteer nurses provide essential nursing care, administer medications and assist with preventative care for campers, families, volunteers, and staff. Nurses are assigned to cabins of 8-10 campers and provide care to their designated group during the camp session.  
 
Camps typically follow a set schedule every day in order to maintain a consistent level of care.  When not performing medical duties, our goal is for the medical teams to have fun and spend time with the campers! 

Ready to Volunteer?

Find a Camp or Program that works for you and go directly to their website to learn more about available opportunities and apply.

Find Camp or Program

Your Hospital Can Make a Difference

As a healthcare volunteer, your impact extends beyond camp. Did you know that the hospital where you work can also partner with us? By partnering with us, your hospital can offer life-changing experiences to more children with serious illnesses, providing them with the joy, healing, and community that our camps offer.

Learn More