From the Clinic to the Cabin: Physical Therapist Meghan Park Reflects on Volunteering at MDA Summer Camp

For the past six years, Meghan Park, a licensed physical therapist with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, has been a familiar and trusted face at Easterseals Central Illinois. Her days often involve working across locations—supporting specialty clinics, early intervention sites and the Easterseals Learning Academy, and treating pediatric clients at the Bloomington and Peoria Service Centers. When she’s not with clients, she’s catching up on documentation, following up with parents, and collaborating with fellow clinicians to support each child’s progress.

Meghan first became interested in physical therapy through her own experience as a young athlete.

“I initially got interested being in sports growing up. I got hurt, had to go to PT, thought it would be a cool career,” she shared. “But I always knew I wanted to do something where I’d be serving and helping others.”

This summer, Meghan brought that spirit of service to Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, where she volunteered as a cabin leader for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Summer Camp.

Located on the shores of Lake Bloomington and operated by Easterseals Central Illinois, Timber Pointe offers fully accessible camp experiences for children and adults, both with and without disabilities and chronic medical conditions. In addition to its own programming, Timber Pointe hosts partner camps, like MDA Summer Camp, which bring their own campers and support staff for a week-long stay. MDA Summer Camp serves children and young adults living with neuromuscular diseases—conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness and impact mobility—such as muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Meghan’s connection to MDA Summer Camp actually began a decade ago, in the summer of 2015, when she first volunteered while applying to PT programs.

“That was right before my senior year of college,” she recalled. “This year, I got interested again. I felt called to do service outside of my day-to-day job. I thought, why not return to camp and help out? It’s right in my wheelhouse. I’m familiar with those diagnoses and I work with a lot of kids who have similar diagnoses.”

As a cabin leader for a group of boys ages 8 to 11, Meghan led a team of four counselors in coordinating the campers' daily routines and care needs. Together, they supported the campers with morning and nighttime routines, encouraged participation in all activities, and ensured each camper felt safe, included, and cared for throughout the week. As the cabin’s point person, Meghan also collaborated with the MDA Camp Directors in ensuring the needs for each cabin were met and played an essential role in resolving any issues or conflicts that arose.

One of the most meaningful moments for Meghan came on the zipline.

“A couple kids were pretty hesitant to go on the zipline,” she said. “One in particular was flat out refusing. But, once he saw other campers do it, he ended up doing it and loved it! I loved seeing him push through his own doubts, and have so much fun doing everything he wouldn’t necessarily have access to in his daily life.”

That theme of personal growth and independence was woven throughout the week.

“One camper, the youngest in the cabin, experiencing his first time ever at camp, said to me, ‘I’m so glad I came to camp because it made me more independent,’ ” Meghan shared. “That’s awesome—the whole point of camp is fostering those independent skills and pushing limits and encouraging them to try new things—these are all life skills they’ll continue to use as they get older.”

Volunteering at camp also gave Meghan a new perspective as a clinician.

“I have so much more empathy and understanding of our client families and what their day in and day out looks like—being the primary caretaker for a child with disabilities,” she said. “I have a much better understanding from the parent perspective after stepping into that role for a week.”

Meghan also has a deep appreciation for Timber Pointe itself.

“It’s magical,” she said. “In the middle of the woods, on the lake, and everything is fully adaptable. The staff—[Camp Director] Lydia, [Program Manager] Frankie, everyone—they’re a ball. They are so committed and fun. They pour their heart and soul into every camp.”

What sets Timber Pointe apart, Meghan explains, is that every camper can participate—regardless of ability.

“All the facilities and activities are 100% accessible. That’s a big deal, especially for kids with neuromuscular conditions or complex medical needs who may not always have the chance to experience outdoor adventures.”

Meghan encourages anyone who has the opportunity to visit or volunteer at Timber Pointe to take it.

“You don’t have to be a therapist or have clinical experience—you usually just have to be 17 or older, willing and able to provide care to campers, and have a good attitude. My first time volunteering, I was a college senior with no experience, and it changed my life.”