The Painted Turtle

What The Painted Turtle does

The Painted Turtle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Paul Newman and Page Adler that operates a year-round medical specialty camp in Lake Hughes, California, serving children ages 6-17 with serious medical conditions and their families. The organization delivers programs completely free of charge, removing financial barriers for families already burdened by medical costs. Its core product portfolio includes week-long Summer Program sessions, Family Weekend programs, the Outpost in-hospital program serving 23 California hospitals, a Leadership Program for teens, Virtual Camp activities, and an annual Holiday Gathering. The underlying infrastructure includes a 6,000-square-foot state-of-the-art medical facility (the Well Shell) with 6 hemodialysis stations, 24-hour on-site physician coverage, and a 1:2 staff-to-camper ratio enabling care for over 120 different medical conditions.

The Painted Turtle is a member of the SeriousFun Children's Network, the global community of 30 camps founded by Paul Newman in 1988, but operates as an independent nonprofit with its own board, finances, and governance. Its go-to-market is community-led, with camper recruitment driven by direct partnerships with major California hospitals (Cedars-Sinai, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Rady Children's, UCLA Mattel Children's, Lucile Packard Children's at Stanford) and disease-specific foundations (Epilepsy Foundation of Greater LA, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California). Families apply through a CampSite online database, with admissions gated by medical criteria reviewed by the Medical Director. The organization is funded entirely through individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, fundraising events (Harvest Moon concert, Tour de Turtle, Bingo at The Roxy), planned giving, and in-kind donations. Annual outcomes include 3,000+ on-site camp experiences and 22,000+ in-hospital experiences, supported by 800+ volunteers donating 35,000+ hours annually.

The organization is led by Executive Director April Tani, with a Board of Directors chaired by co-founder Page Adler and including senior figures from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Oaktree Capital, Ares Management, Simpson Thacher, Trader Joe's, and UCLA. In January 2026, former CEO Christopher L. Butler was charged with 15 felonies for allegedly embezzling over $5 million between 2018 and 2025, prompting a significant governance remediation: a new Controller, reconstituted Audit Committee (now chaired by former Trader Joe's CEO Dan Bane), new external auditor, segregation-of-duties controls for payments, and a focused one-year roadmap to strengthen financial practices and transparency.

Name

The Painted Turtle

Legal name

The Painted Turtle

Website

https://thepaintedturtle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Painted Turtle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, year-round camp and in-hospital programs for children ages 6-17 with over 120 serious medical conditions, operating from Lake Hughes, California, as part of Paul Newman's SeriousFun Children's Network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Medical Specialty Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Medical specialty camp
• Pediatric illness support
• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Family camp services
• Nonprofit children's programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Hughes

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, monthly recurring gifts (Fireside Friends program), and major gifts. Donations fund all camp programs and operations.
2. Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Corporate sponsors and foundations provide financial support through event sponsorships, grants, and programmatic partnerships. 2025 supporters include major corporations and foundations such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Amgen, Disney, Oaktree Capital, and many others.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Harvest Moon concert, Tour de Turtle, BBQ Hoedown, Bingo at The Roxy, and peer-to-peer fundraisers generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy giving programs allow donors to include The Painted Turtle in estate plans through bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and other planned giving vehicles.
5. In-Kind Donations: The organization receives in-kind donations including vehicles (through CARS program), wish list items, and pro bono services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Painted Turtle provides free residential and outreach camp experiences for children ages 6-17 with serious medical conditions and their families. Programs include week-long summer sessions, family weekends, an in-hospital Outpost program across California hospitals, a teen leadership program, virtual camp activities, and holiday gatherings, all delivered in a medically safe environment with on-site physicians and condition-specific programming.

Product overview

The Painted Turtle is a medical specialty camp organization offering year-round programs for children with serious medical conditions. The core portfolio includes the Summer Program (week-long residential sessions), Family Weekend Program (spring/fall multi-day family camps), The Painted Turtle Outpost (in-hospital outreach program), Leadership Program (for teens), and Virtual Camp (remote activities). All programs are provided completely free of charge to campers and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Painted Turtle Outpost: In-hospital program that takes the magic and fun of camp to hospitals and medical community events throughout California. The program is endowed by the Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation.
• The Well Shell

Products and services

• Summer Program Week-long residential camp sessions for children ages 7-16 with serious medical conditions, offering activities such as horseback riding, swimming, boating, arts and crafts, and ropes courses in a medically safe environment with 24-hour physician coverage.
• Family Weekend Program Spring and fall family weekends serving children ages 6-17 with serious medical conditions and their immediate family members, featuring traditional camp activities and parent support discussions.
• The Painted Turtle Outpost (In-Hospital Program) In-hospital and outpatient clinic program that brings the camp experience to children too sick to attend camp, serving 22+ hospital sites across California and delivering creative camp activities in hospital playrooms and at community events.
• Leadership Program Week-long leadership training program for campers ages 17-18, teaching skills in communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, public speaking, and role modeling.
• Virtual Camp Online activities and resources for campers and families to enjoy at home, including crafts, games, cabin time activities, and camp spirit activities.
• Holiday Gathering Annual holiday event at camp for campers and families to enjoy camp activities during the winter season.
• Turtle-Grams Care packages sent to hospitalized or bedridden campers containing camp activities, games, and projects to provide comfort during medical treatments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 248,000+ camp experiences delivered since 2004
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delta Zeta SororitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Since 2006, Delta Zeta collegiate and alumnae chapters have adopted The Painted Turtle as their National Service Project. Thousands of Delta Zeta volunteers host events, make crafts for campers, and volunteer as counselors and medical volunteers. The Volunteer Program is endowed by Delta Zeta Sorority.
• SeriousFun Children's NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988The Painted Turtle is part of the SeriousFun Children's Network, a global community of 30 camps and programs founded by Paul Newman. The network has delivered over 1 million camp experiences to children and families from over 50 countries. Each camp is an independent nonprofit organization serving children free of charge.
• Direct ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect Relief supports The Painted Turtle as part of their partnership supporting summer camps for children living with diabetes, hemophilia, and asthma. Direct Relief has been a long-term supporter providing both funding and awareness.
• Children's Hospital Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding hospital partner providing pediatric specialists, medical equipment, camper referrals, and ongoing support for camp programs. Part of the Medical Advisory Board.
• Cedars-Sinai Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering hospital providing pediatricians, nurses, and medical supplies to The Painted Turtle. Part of the Medical Advisory Board.
• UCLA Mattel Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering hospital providing pediatric specialists and camper referrals. Dr. Jorge H. Vargas serves on The Painted Turtle's Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board.
• Rady Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering hospital providing medical staff and camper referrals. Sponsors outpost visits bringing camp experiences to patients.
• Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner health organization providing expertise, medical staffing, camper referrals, and funding. Co-hosts the Epilepsy Family Weekend program.
• Muscular Dystrophy AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner health organization providing support, expertise, and funding for campers with muscular dystrophy and related conditions.
• Hemophilia Foundation of Southern CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner health organization providing expertise, medical staffing, and support for campers with hemophilia and bleeding disorders.
• Fanconi Cancer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner health organization providing support and funding for campers with Fanconi anemia and their families.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Boggy Creek: A SeriousFun Children's Network medical specialty camp in Florida serving children with chronic/serious medical conditions free of charge. Most direct comparable — same operating model, same founder network, same pediatric hospital referral pipeline, with residential camp + family weekend + in-hospital program structure.
• Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: The original SeriousFun Children's Network camp founded by Paul Newman in 1988 in Connecticut. Directly comparable mission, free programming, residential + outreach model, and brand lineage — and a natural sibling organization within the SeriousFun ecosystem.
• Roundup River Ranch: A SeriousFun Children's Network camp in Colorado serving children with serious medical conditions. Comparable free residential camp model, hospital referral pipeline, condition-specific programming, and family weekends.
• Victory Junction: A SeriousFun-affiliated camp in North Carolina serving children with chronic medical conditions and disabilities. Directly comparable free programming model, condition-specific sessions, and family outreach.
• Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times: A medical specialty camp serving children with cancer and their families in Southern California, free of charge. Closest non-SeriousFun direct competitor with overlapping hospital partnership model and condition-specific programming.
• Camp Sunshine: A retreat camp in Maine serving children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Comparable year-round residential programming, family weekends, and condition-specific sessions delivered free of charge.

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Foundation: A much larger national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. Overlapping beneficiary population (children with serious medical conditions) and hospital referral pipeline, but a different service model (one-time wish vs. ongoing camp experience) and substantially greater scale.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: A national nonprofit delivering programs (including in-hospital entertainment and distraction) to seriously ill children. Comparable hospital-channel distribution, pediatric beneficiary base, and condition-specific programming, though broader and not camp-focused.

Others

• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals: A national nonprofit fundraising partner of pediatric hospitals, including several of The Painted Turtle's hospital partners (CHLA, Rady, Lucile Packard). An ecosystem ally rather than a competitor, with overlapping donor base and hospital channel.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): A national health nonprofit supporting individuals with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases. Active partner organization funding and referring campers, overlapping beneficiary population and condition-specific expertise, but operating a broader research/service model rather than a camp.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PaintedTurtleCamp
• Facebookfacebook.com/thepaintedturtlecamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-painted-turtle
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepaintedturtlecamp
• Xx.com/PaintedTurtleCA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Painted Turtle