AAD’s Camp Discovery gives kids with chronic skin conditions a life-changing summer camp experience. Campers make friends, find acceptance, and are free to be themselves. Camp Discovery provides these children a sense of community and fun, at no cost to their families.
Camp Discovery - providing life changing experiences
5 Sessions of free camp for those with chronic and severe skin disease
6,151 Happy campers since 1993
4,498 Volunteer opportunities
You help make a difference
Impact stories
Your support of Camp Discovery makes an impact on the lives of children with chronic skin conditions. Learn more about the impact of this summer camp experience by reading these stories.
“This was my second summer going to Camp Discovery. My dermatologist, Dr. Lacey Kruse, first told me about camp and my parents sent me that next summer. I had so much fun and made new friends who I now look forward to seeing every summer. It was cool to meet other kids with skin conditions and the counselors are really nice too. Everyone supports each other there. I really like all of the fun camp activities. My favorite thing at camp is tubing and wake surfing!
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─ Maddie G., Camp Discovery camper
“Our daughter Nina was born with a port wine stain on her face and has had countless laser treatments. She was offered the opportunity to attend Camp Discovery and it was a life changing experience.
As a first time sleep away camper, she was so nervous, but by the time Camp Discovery ended she didn't want to leave. Camp provided Nina with a safe space and allowed her to thrive. She found her voice and used it to meet so many beautiful souls from all over the world. This camp fostered something inside our daughter that made her feel so confident in her own skin, and we will always be grateful for this priceless gift.
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─ Erica Svitak, Camp Discovery parent
“I am in sixth grade in Anchorage, Alaska. I have hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. It is a skin condition that causes me to sometimes overheat, and I can't sweat very much. I went to Camp Discovery in Minnesota in the summer of 2022. It was my first time attending! I flew down by myself for the first time. My grandma picked me up and took me to camp. At Camp Discovery they accommodated my skin care needs and made my experience fun. There was horseback riding, archery, tubing, and so much more! I made a lot of good friends and I hope I will get to come back to Camp Discovery next summer.”
─ Emily Brubaker, Camp Discovery camper
“So much thanks for all that was done to organize camp. Mia's experience continued to cement the importance of this camp in her life. We are so very grateful!”
