D

Camp Discovery

In the manual since June 29, 2020

The department recognizes the benefit of Camp Discovery to all participants and supports this activity for second and third year residents once during their residency as an optional away elective and will allow for an excused absence from clinical activities for the week.  Attendance cannot conflict with other individual or residency group responsibilities.

If interested in participating, please review the following information below for full instructions on starting this process. We recommend initiating this process at least 6 months in advance when possible to ensure adequate time for obtaining approvals.

*At the bottom of this guide is additional information on how you can also refer your eligible patients to Camp Discovery.

How to Volunteer for Camp Discovery as a Resident

Camp Discovery: A Unique Opportunity to Learn, Serve, and Grow

Camp Discovery is a week-long summer camp organized by the American Academy of Dermatology for children ages 8–16 with chronic skin diseases. While its mission is to provide campers with a safe, stigma-free environment and unforgettable experiences, the benefits extend far beyond the children themselves.

Medical volunteers consistently report profound professional and personal growth through their participation. One study found that 97% of volunteers encountered skin conditions they had never seen before, and 93% ranked it among the best experiences of their careers.

Volunteering at Camp Discovery offers residents the chance to:

  • Expand clinical knowledge of complex dermatologic conditions
  • Gain experience in a multidisciplinary care setting
  • Build lasting mentor–mentee relationships
  • Network with dermatologists and other healthcare professionals nationwide
  • Make a tangible difference in the lives of children and their families If you would like to consider volunteering, please first read through the important information below and follow the step-by-step guide for how to gain departmental, GME and AAD approval:

What positions can I serve in as a volunteer?

As a resident, you will be eligible to serve either as a camp counselor or a member of the medical staff:

Camp Counselor: As a counselor you will be paired with a small group/cabin of 3-10 campers and serve as their primary support throughout the week. You will share this responsibility with 2-3 additional counselors + a member of the medical staff and your responsibilities will include:

  • Building rapport and fostering a positive group dynamic
  • Assisting campers with daily routines, including skin care regimens as instructed by medical staff
  • Supervising and participating in camp activities such as swimming, boating, arts and crafts, sports, nature exploration, etc
  • Ensuring camper safety by following all camp guidelines and promptly communicating concerns to the medical team
  • Collaborating with other counselors, medical volunteers, and camp staff to maintain a welcoming, supportive atmosphere while serving as a role model for respect, empathy, and resilience

Medical Staff: As a member of the medical staff, you will be assigned to a small group/cabin of 3-10 campers and serve as their primary medical contact throughout the week, working closely with your group’s camp counselors to ensure a safe camp experience. You will also work with attending physicians, residents, nurses and other health care professionals to provide continuous medical supervision for all campers. Your responsibilities will include:

  • Familiarizing yourself with each of your assigned camper’s medical regiments and needs and administering prescribed treatments, medications, and wound care as needed
  • Managing acute medical needs and addressing any health concerns that arise during camp; you will be asked to provide a daily report on each camper during a joint medical staff meeting.
  • Monitoring campers during activities to ensure safety and prevent medical complications *All volunteers, regardless of the selected position, are expected to be present for the entire duration of the camp (Saturday to the following Friday), unless otherwise arranged with the Camp Discovery director, Janine Mueller, and the regional camp director for the location at which you are volunteering.

When can you volunteer?

The department recognizes the benefit of Camp Discovery to all participants and supports this activity for second and third year residents once during their residency as an optional away elective. You will not be asked to use your vacation time in order to attend.

You will be excused from clinical activities for the week. Attendance cannot conflict with other individual or residency group responsibilities.

Will I be responsible for any costs associated with volunteering?

There is no cost to volunteer! All expenses, including transportation, are covered by the AAD through generous donations from members, industry partners, and individuals.

When should I start this process if I am interested?

The deadline to apply to be a volunteer is usually during the first week of April each year. We recommend initiating the process at least 6 months in advance to ensure adequate time for obtaining approvals; both departmental as well as GME

Note: If you would like to serve as a member of the medical staff, some camps require you to obtain a temporary medical license for that state (Example: Burton, TX & Crosslake, MN). This process typically can take up to 6 weeks to complete and will be started after you receive notice of your acceptance as a volunteer.

Applying for Camp Discovery, Step-by-Step Guide:

If you would like to volunteer for Camp Discovery, Janine Mueller, the Director for Camp Discovery, recommends reaching out with a brief email to introduce yourself and indicate your desire to participate with as much advanced notice as possible. This will allow her to account for your potential participation while coordinating staff for all of the camps. This will also establish a line of communication to help you navigate the approval process at our institution. This can and should be done prior to starting the formal process outlined below.

Her email address is: [email protected]

Step 1: After notifying Janine Mueller of your interest in volunteering, the resident must then inform the current chief resident(s), the residency program coordinator, and the PD/APD of their intent to volunteer via email.

Step 2: As long as the resident is in good-standing, the PDs will request a brief letter of intent, outlining

  • The dates of your desired camp
  • The location of your desired camp
  • Why you would like to participate in camp and/or what you hope to gain from the experience *Note: Letters of intent should be no more than one page in length.

Step 3: The PDs will share your letter of intent at the following monthly faculty meeting for departmental approval. If approved, you will be notified via email and asked to notify GME institutional coordinator, Missi White-Luster, ([email protected]) of your intent to volunteer for Camp Discovery as an elective away rotation.

Step 4: Email Missi White-Luster stating that you have been granted departmental approval for participation at Camp Discovery along with the anticipated dates of your desired camp. She will supply you with a PAR application (Program for Away Rotations) which includes several forms that are to be completed by the resident, the program coordinator and the PD/APD and sent back to the GME office for approval. The PAR application will require you to obtain signatures from Janine Mueller as well as the regional medical director (via fax/email) for the camp you wish to attend. Although Camp Discovery is not a traditional “away rotation” it is categorized as such by the GME. Therefore, the GME requires the regional medical director to serve as your “evaluator” for the purposes of the application. Although no formal evaluation is required, the regional medical director will need to sign off as your evaluator on that portion of the application. Janine Mueller will provide you with the contact information for the regional medical director at your desired camp and signatures from both Janine as well as the regional medical director should be obtained after all other requested information in the application has been completed. Once signed by all necessary parties, the completed application forms should be shared with the program coordinator and the PD/APD who will send then to the GME office for final approval.

*Note: Please CC the program coordinator and the PD/APD in all your communications with the GME office.

Step 5: Once the GME has granted you approval to participate, they will notify the program coordinator and/or the PD/APD. Once approved you will then need to complete the online Camp Discovery application at https://www.aad.org/public/public-health/camp-discovery/volunteer.

*Note: The online Camp Discovery application will require a Letter of Recommendation from your program director or another faculty member.

Step 6: If you are accepted to serve as a counselor or medical staff member you will be notified in late April or early May. At that time you will need to complete a time away request form: Time Away. Your time away request form should be shared with the chief resident(s), the program coordinator, and Paula Turdo so that all necessary clinics (senior or resident) may be closed and schedules can be adjusted as needed.

Step 7: Along with your acceptance email, Janine Muller will share with you the next steps regarding the final onboarding process. Additionally, you will receive requests to complete additional requirements in the weeks leading up to camp, these will include:

  • Completing an online mandatory training session
  • Filling out dietary restrictions & a waiver for the specific camp site you will be attending
  • Completing a background check for the state within which your camp is hosted
  • Completing the requirements for obtaining out of state licensure (if applicable)
  • Contact information for the individual(s) who will help arrange your flight/travel accommodations *Additional information regarding camp operations, final travel details, and packing lists will also be shared closer to your date of departure.

Step 8: Have a FANTASTIC time at Camp Discovery!

If you have any questions throughout the application process do not hesitate to reach out to Janine Mueller, the PDs, or Missi White-Luster depending on the nature of your inquiry.

For questions regarding what it’s like volunteering at Camp Discovery please feel free to contact Cory Jonak, MD, our last SLU Dermatology Resident to volunteer for camp in Burton, TX in the summer of 2025. He can be reached via email at [email protected] and is happy to share the details of his experience.

Referral Information for Providers    \This information is up to date as of Spring 2026

While providers have previously been encouraged to submit applications on the patient’s behalf there is now a more simplified and streamlined process for families to register their children online.

Step 1: If you would like to refer a patient from your clinic to Camp Discovery all you need to do is share this link with them to the UltraCamp website which is included in the SmartPhrase “.CAMPDISCOVERYCJ”:: https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=385&campCode=aad&idSession=476852

Step 2: One to two weeks after the family has registered their child online through the UltraCamp website, the AAD will notify families that their registration was received. A few weeks later, families will receive a second email confirming their desired camp location. Following that, families will receive an email that includes details about travel, forms to be completed, and a reminder to return to the UltraCamp website to upload and submit:

  • A camper photograph
  • Immunization records
  • *Physician forms *Parents are responsible for providing the child’s dermatologist with a form to complete on the child’s behalf. This form asks providers for their approval that a child is fit to participate in camp, briefly outlines their medical needs/treatment regimen and inquires on any medical, dietary or physical restrictions. Once complete, the parent is responsible for uploading this form, along with the other requested information, to the UltraCamp website.

Eligibility Requirements for Potential Campers

  1. Age: Camp Discovery is designed for children between the ages of 8-16. While most camps host children of all ages within this range, some camps are specifically designed for ages 8-12 and others for ages 13-16. You should encourage families of prospective campers to view the list of camps and their associated age ranges on the AAD website as these are updated annually.
  2. Diagnoses & Conditions: Camp Discovery is designed for children living with any moderate to severe, chronic skin condition; including those with sun sensitivity. Although not an exhaustive list, some conditions that have been represented at Camp Discovery Include: Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Alopecia areata, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Ichthyosis, Vascular anomalies, Large Congenital Nevi, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Pigmentary Disorders, Severe Acne/Acne scars, Xeroderma Pigmentosa, Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, Erythropoietic Protoporphyria & Other rare or chronic skin disorders.

Camp Locations & Estimated Dates

Each year camps run from mid-June through mid-August depending on the camp location. Specific dates are posted to the AAD website by the first of the year. There are currently five locations where Camp Discovery takes place:

• Crosslake, Minnesota • Prescott, Arizona • Burton, Texas • Millville, Pennsylvania • Andover, Connecticut

Note: Although prospective campers are encouraged to attend the camp nearest to their home in an effort to reduce associated travel costs, potential campers may attend any camp of their choosing. However, the AAD currently does not fly campers to the Arizona or Connecticut locations given the long distance to camp from a regional airport and recommends that attendees at these to these camps live within driving distance. The AAD will however provide reimbursement to families for gas when driving their children to camp just as with all other camp locations.

Camp Discovery is constantly looking to expand and offer new camps in an effort to provide this opportunity to as many children as possible, especially those that may live further distances away from the current locations offered. We encourage providers to visit the Camp Discovery page on the AAD’s website to stay updated on the most current selection of camps offered each year. Selections are usually updated annually around late fall to early winter.

Questions?  For further details on Camp Discovery please visit their website at: https://www.aad.org/public/public-health/camp-discovery

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact Janine Mueller, Camp Discovery Director via email: [email protected]