HDYO, HSC and HDSA are excited to host the fourth North American HD Youth Camp. The goal of camp is to offer young people the chance to meet other young people impacted by HD, to learn about HD through educational workshops, to share experiences through sharing sessions and to have plenty of fun participating in the many on-site activities, such as swimming, ropes courses, paddle boarding, archery and much more. We hope young people attending camp will benefit by feeling less isolated, more supported, as well coming away from camp with an improved understanding of HD and strong peer connections with other young people in similar situations. There will be an experienced HD team of professionals and volunteers on-site to support young people at all times.

Who can attend: Young people ages 15-23 that live in the United States or Canada and are impacted by HD.

How many spaces are available: There is the capacity for about 50 young people to attend the camp.

When will it be: Arriving Saturday, August 11, 2018 and Departing Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Where will it be: Camp Cedar Glen in Julian, CA (about an hour and a half from San Diego International Airport)

Cost: Free!!!! The camp, food and travel costs are all covered. Campers will be responsible for any cost associated with baggage fees and campers should have some money for airport snacks and incidentals.

Want to be a part of the 2018 North American HD Youth Camp? Apply here

Not sure if camp is right for you? See highlights from last year’s camps:

Application Process: Applications can be submitted from February 1, 2018 until April 30, 2018. Applications will be reviewed by the camp team during the first two weeks of May 2018. If there are more applicants than places we will prioritize those young people who may not have a lot of support in their local community. Notifications of application acceptance will go out no later than May 25th, 2018. If you are selected to attend camp, a staff member will reach out to you and your family with details about moving forward and details about planning travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I/my child get to San Diego?

If you are selected to attend camp, we will arrange travel for you. If you are within driving distance, we ask for your assistance in driving you child to camp or the San Diego area.

Who is running the camp?

There will be staff from HDYO, HSC and HDSA supervising the camp, HD professionals from around the country, and a trained and trusted group of young adult volunteers from the HD community in North America to form the volunteer support team. All camp activities are supervised by certified staff that are employees of Camp Cedar Glen.

• Insurance: All campers are required to have medical insurance. You should check your policy for travel coverage. The camp is fully insured and there will be extra event coverage organized by HDYO as well.
• All families will be required to sign a release alleviating HDYO, HDSA and HSC of responsibility in the case of an accident or injury.
• Medical Treatment: Qualified first aiders and trained medical professionals will be on-site as part of the staff & volunteer team.

What experience do the staff have with supporting young people and camps?

HDYO Staff will be overseeing the camp, with support from HDSA and HSC staff members as well as HD professionals from the region. HDYO has a number of years of experience providing camps and other events for young people impacted by HD around the world.

What will each day look like?

The days will start with breakfast as a group. After that, depending on the day, there will be a mix of recreational activities, educational sessions and some sharing sessions. A full agenda will be provided to each family prior to the start of camp.

What support is available to my child before and after camp?

The HDYO youth worker, Chandler Swope, will be scheduling at least one call prior to camp to discuss the family’s situations, get a sense of any concerns and begin to build a relationship with the young person. The youth worker will also work with the associations to ensure that any available support in their region is identified. The youth worker will be holding calls with the family post-camp as well. HDSA will also be providing follow-up support for young Americans and HSC will be providing support post-camp for all young Canadians attending camp and ensure that young people are aware of all the support available to them locally.

Have a question/query about the camp that isn’t answered above?

Contact HDYO’s Youth Worker, Chandler Swope

This camp is supported by:

• HDYO
• HDSA
• HSC

• James E "Jake" Hoffman Memorial Fund

• Gimbel Family Scholarship

A special thank you to Teva for providing significant funding in support of the camp