Camp YOLO is a special place for teens who are being treated for life-threatening illnesses at Texas Children’s Hospital. Each spring and fall, for one weekend, we take approximately 100 teens, ages 13-18, to a beautiful camp facility called Camp For All near Brenham, Texas. Here, they can experience all the fun of camp without having to feel unusual or different in any way. Our teens eagerly await camp each time and every year it is more exciting and better than ever. Campers and volunteers do not pay to attend camp. The Periwinkle Foundation raises the necessary funds to bring all campers and volunteers to Camp YOLO free of charge. For two weekends each year, these young people have a chance to rejuvenate with others who understand their struggles, anxieties, and fears. Campers learn teamwork and leadership skills and by the end of a fun packed and emotion filled weekend, they leave knowing they are not alone, and they have what it takes to keep fighting their illness and face the challenges that life sends their way.

Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22, 2024

• Camp YOLO Volunteers must be at least 21 years old.
• Enthusiasm, ingenuity, and a love for teenagers
• No camping experience or medical knowledge is not required.
• ALL campers, volunteers and staff members will need to be fully vaccinated to attend camp.
• Attend the volunteer orientation – Date TBA

To submit your application, please click the link below. Your application will not be considered, and we will not reach out to you until it is fully completed. Your application will only be considered complete if the following criteria are met:

1. Answer all the questions to the best of your ability.
2. Fill out two reference forms and follow up with your references to confirm they’ve completed the reference.
3. Upload a current photo of yourself.

Camp YOLO is organized and staffed by volunteers with the help of the staff at The Periwinkle Foundation. Volunteers serve in many ways at Camp YOLO, and the two most common positions are cabin counselor and arts & crafts member. Counselors spend the weekend with a cabin of teens, who are all about the same age. Each air-conditioned/heated cabin has 8 to 12 teens and three or more counselors, depending on the age of the campers. Counselors attend all activities with their teens, including arts & crafts. The arts & crafts team impacts every single YOLO camper, helping each camper to create their own masterpiece to take home as a treasured memory from Camp YOLO. Campers also enjoy other activities, including swimming, horseback riding, a ropes course, fishing, archery, canoes and more. The camp facility has qualified instructors to teach us all how to safely participate in the fun. Texas Children’s Hospital physicians and nurses will be at camp to care for any medical issues that arise.

All campers, volunteers and staff will be required to have completed a primary COVID vaccination series and are highly encouraged to have the bivalent Omicron COVID booster. In addition, all campers, volunteers, and staff must take a rapid COVID test, when they arrive at bus loading/camp.