Camp JOA 2025
August 3rd - 7th, 2025
Timber Pointe Outdoor Center
Hudson, Illinois
Registration for Camp JOA is full. JOAs who are still interested in attending camp may submit their applications and will be admitted into camp, should spots open up, on a first come first serve basis.
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 3rd. 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. Click here to register for Camp JOA 2025! >>>
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 3rd and concludes Thursday, August 7th. 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. Read more below!
Financial Assistance
MDF is providing an opportunity to request financial support to attend Camp JOA 2025! MDF's Camp JOA Financial Assistance Program can award up to $500 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.
Applications will be received until midnight on Friday, June 2nd, and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Applicants must both be registered and accepted to camp before applying for financial assistance. Click here to learn more about and apply for Camp JOA Financial Assistance!
Apply for Camp JOA Financial Aid!
Questions?
For more information and to register contact MDF's Senior Manager of Community Engagement at lucie.shiffman@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!