Camp JOA 2024

August 4th - 8th, 2024
Timber Pointe Outdoor Center
Hudson, Illinois

Registration is closed.

MDF is launching an away camp experience for adults ages 18+ living with juvenile onset (JOA) myotonic dystrophy! (This camp is exclusive to juvenile-onset adults: those with symptom onset in childhood and diagnosed by age 21). Our JOA community is invited to Easterseals' Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Hudson, Illinois, on beautiful Lake Bloomington for 5 days and 4 nights beginning August 4th. Join other MDF JOA community members as we canoe, kayak, and paddleboard, try out the zipline and giant swing, do archery, enjoy a pontoon boat ride, roast marshmallows, sing and dance, and enjoy a terrific summer camping experience.

About Camp JOA & the Timber Pointe Outdoor Center

• Camp is free for attendees!
• Timber Pointe Outdoor Center is an alcohol and tobacco-free facility.
• The beautiful 170-acre facility is located on Lake Bloomington in Hudson, Illinois. Timber Pointe Outdoor Center is designed to offer specialized, inclusive, and adapted programming to meet the needs of individual campers.
• All cabins are climate controlled. Showers are equipped with shower chairs and hoyer lifts are on-site.
• Campers will be supervised at a 4:1 camper-to-counselor ratio. This means four campers per one camp counselor.
• Camp begins Sunday, August 4th and concludes Thursday, August 8th. Campers are responsible for airfare if necessary. Transportation costs from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to the camp at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center are included as a part of the camp experience.
  • Campers must be able to travel on their own to O’Hare Airport (ORD), be able to navigate from their gate to the designated pick-up location to be taken to camp.
  • Parents or guardians will be allowed to travel with their child, however they will not be allowed to attend camp. Parental travel and accommodation for the duration of camp will be at the parent’s expense. Financial assistance is not available for parental travel.
• Travel Financial Assistance for registered and accepted campers is available through Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. Campers must complete the Financial Assistance Form to be considered. Learn more below!
  • Financial assistance will be given on a first come, first service basis, based on need, and limited to the camper only.

Financial Assistance

MDF is providing an opportunity to request financial support to attend Camp JOA 2024! MDF's Camp JOA Financial Assistance Program can award up to $750 in travel reimbursement (including airfare, rideshare, parking, or mileage reimbursement) to support the campers travel to and from the designated pick-up location at the O’Hare Airport in Chicago, IL (ORD). Priority will be given to applications for first-time campers. MDF will review returning campers applications after all the first-time camper financial assistance has been awarded. Download the full MDF Camp JOA Financial Assistance Program policy to learn more about allowable expenses.

Applications will be received until midnight on Friday, July 15th, and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Applicants must both be registered and accepted to camp before applying for financial assistance.

Questions?

For more information and to register contact MDF's Program Director at mindy.buchanan@myotonic.org or by phone: 415-800-7777.

You can also view Timber Pointe's Overnight Camper Handbook. While not all the information applies, it gives a good idea of the camper experience, and provides a helpful packing list!