One Family’s Decades of Dedication to MDA Summer Camp

Craig Helget and his brother, Terry Helget, at MDA Summer Camp in 1985.

The Helget family has been volunteering at MDA Summer Camp for more than four decades. It all started with Craig, who lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, attending camp for the first time in 1984. Nine-year-old Craig returned home from his first week at camp and regaled his parents and siblings with tales of his adventures and the joy that he had found. Over the next years, his siblings signed up as volunteers, eager and enthusiastic to add to that joy. It has been a rite-of-passage for the family ever since.

Now, more than forty years later, the Helget family’s commitment to lending their time and talents to MDA Summer Camp is woven into the tapestry of their family – and serves as a heartfelt way to honor Craig’s life and legacy. Maddy Helget, Craig’s oldest niece, reignited the summer camp spark in 2011 when she turned sixteen and volunteered with her friend, Rachael, for her first summer.

A family tradition

“Volunteering and giving back has always been an emphasis in my family,” Maddy says. “It is important to think about others and help however you can – whether it is time or financial – it is all valuable and all adds up. It is important to be appreciative of the blessings you have and to share those with the world. It has always been instilled in us that we don’t have to volunteer at camp, but that we can step into that opportunity and embrace how humbling and rewarding it is to be part of this life changing week for campers and their families.”

Since Craig’s first summer at camp, fourteen Helget family members have served as volunteers, many returning year after year to culminate in a total of 92 camp sessions between them. Maddy’s uncle Darrin holds the record with 17 summers spent contributing to the magic of MDA Summer Camp. Between 1985 and 2003, five of Craig’s siblings and numerous cousins served as camp counselors.

When a second generation of Helgets came of age starting in 2011, Craig’s nieces and nephews began volunteering at camp as well. Now nine of them have been camp counselors, inspiring their parents, Terry, Kelly and Darrin (Craig’s siblings) to dust off their old camp T-shirts and jump back into their volunteer roles.

Craig’s nephew, Jay Helget, and brother, Darrin Helget, at MDA Summer in Camp in 2022.

And the Helgets aren’t just volunteering for one year. Nine of the fourteen family members have served as camp counselors for at least five or more years: Darrin (17), Kelly (11), Maddy (11), Terry (9), Jay (8), Erik (8), Caitie (7), Mallory (6) and Greg (5). The Helgets have also encouraged some friends and significant others to join in the camp fun as volunteers, adding to their family’s impact.

“My grandparents, Marlin and Carol, speak so highly of camp and are so proud of the many family members who have continued to honor Craig through volunteering. I never met my Uncle Craig, but I feel like I know him by going to camp each year,” says Maddy. “It’s a powerful way to honor him. He only had 14 years on this earth, but it’s amazing to think about the way that his life has impacted so many other kids because of the legacy that he started in our family with MDA Summer Camp. It’s a way to continue to honor him and to be part of something so special that he loved.”

“And it’s a great week for our family to spend together,” she adds. “It’s such a wonderful connection and bonding opportunity for my family. We get to spend a full week giving back and making a positive impact.”

Having attended the same camp year after year, Camp Courage in Maple Lake, Minnesota, the Helget family especially enjoys swapping stories about how camp has changed over the years and what traditions remain the same.

While much has changed over the decades, one thing remains constant: MDA Summer Camp is a place where campers find joy, independence, and newfound freedom as they try new things, forge new friendships, and embrace a week where the world is fully accessible, and everyone is empowered.

The magic of MDA Summer Camp

Craig’s sister, Kelly McGauley, with camper Andrew at MDA Summer Camp in 2023.

As a veteran volunteer, two of Maddy’s favorite things about being a counselor at camp is the opportunity to help campers experience a new level of independence and to witness their pride and sense of accomplishment when they do. Camp offers a week for youth living with neuromuscular disease to have access to many adaptive activities that they might not have had access to before – swimming, boating, fishing, zip-lining, adaptive sports, bonfires, talent shows, and more. Each camp across the country has a variety of different activities, and all of them are completely accessible. For one whole week, campers don’t have to worry about barriers and can just have fun and experience new things, a freedom that fosters independence.

“As a counselor, it’s really about trying to encourage campers to try new things, without pushing them beyond a place that they feel safe, which is something that they can bring back to their life outside of camp. That it is okay to be unsure, but it’s also okay to try new things,” Maddy says. “We’ve had kids that are terrified to go on the zip-line and then they conquer that fear, and they are so proud to show a video to their parents at the end of the week. Oftentimes they feel like they have to sit on the sidelines, but this week is for everyone to be able to do things. Showing them that there are activities that they can pursue and enjoy, introducing them to new activities, and helping them gain confidence and independence is so important”

One of Craig’s favorite things about camp was the opportunity to go swimming every day. He loved the sensation of feeling free and weightless in the water. His other favorite part of camp was building friendships and creating incredible connections that grew stronger each year. He had a special bond with his counselor, a volunteer named Tracy who was with Craig for five of his six summers at camp and became a big part of Craig’s life. He also met his best friend, a camper named Tony who happened to have the same birthday (June 14, which often landed right in the middle of camp week) and was in his cabin every year. Tony and Craig wrote letters throughout the year and counted down the days until they could spend the week together again each summer.

“Those bonds that he made were highlights in his life,” Maddy says. “And when you start thinking about all the connections that we make as volunteers, both campers and volunteers, the impact is just incredible. And those bonds, experiences, and memories that you are making with people you have grown to truly care about, make you want to keep going back every summer.”

Memories that last a lifetime

Volunteering at MDA Summer Camp, spending an entire week providing personal care, ensuring safety, and facilitating activities for campers living with neuromuscular disease, is certainly a big commitment and responsibility. Albeit hard work, it is also undeniably rewarding and full of fun. Camp serves as a backdrop for both campers and counselors to share incredible adventures and create amazing memories that last forever.

Craig’s niece, Mallory Helget, receives a “pie-in-the-face” from camper Mason in 2018.

As a returning counselor year-after-year, some of Maddy’s favorite memories revolve around small but special traditions practiced each summer, both across the camp and within her own cabin.

One such tradition that most cabins participate in at Camp Courage is earning certificates that can be redeemed by campers to smash a pie in a counselor’s face. One year, Maddy’s camper, Mason, earned more than 20 certificates. She laughs remembering how much fun he had lording his power over the counselors, with playful jests and friendly threats to “pie” them. “The kids certainly enjoy the pie zone more than the counselors, but you can’t help but be on board with it after seeing how excited they get with pie certificates in hand.”

Another fun tradition is where the camp nurses hide lawn flamingoes each morning and the campers hunt for them to earn a prize. Maddy, who is a cabin leader for the youngest boys’ cabin, loves how excited the boys get as they work together to decide where to look to find the flamingoes.

“It’s also really fun to watch the ‘Stan Can’ Floor Hockey Championship each summer. The campers really get into it and compete all week for a chance at summer camp immortality with the winning team’s names getting engraved on the Stan Can trophy, which dates back to the 80s,” Maddy shares.

“In my cabin every year, we also have the tradition of having a movie night ‘sleepover’ in the common room of our cabin,” she continues. “We pull all of the mattresses onto the floor, vote on a movie, and pop popcorn. The campers go back to their beds to actually sleep, but the whole thing feels like a sleepover. Every year at least one camper says, ‘I never get to do sleepovers,’ and its emotional as an adult to be able to create this atmosphere that just lets them be kids doing kid things.”

Craig’s niece, Maddy Helget, finds a hidden flamingo with her camper at MDA Summer Camp in 2023.

The powerful impact of volunteers

As a cabin lead, Maddy is also responsible for training, guiding, and assisting fellow volunteers throughout the week. The role has personally allowed her to develop more confidence, strong leadership skills, and valuable problem-solving skills. It also allows her to watch new volunteers blossom and grow in the role.

“Most new volunteers come in the first day feeling a little apprehensive about all that the role entails. It’s so rewarding to be there as a support and to provide the training and then watch them grow into their role – and especially rewarding to see them come back the next summer,” Maddy says. “My family and so many other folks come back year after year and it makes my heart so happy to see that they had a good experience and that they want to continue to give their energy and time to camp.”

The Helget family has found a source of joy and connection in their commitment to volunteering at MDA Summer Camp and they cherish being able to honor Craig’s life and legacy by making a difference in the lives of others living with neuromuscular disease. Maddy’s advice to anyone who might be considering volunteering at an MDA Summer Camp is simple: just give it a try.

“My family motivated me to try it and now I am going back for year twelve,” she says. “It changed my life. Even if you feel uneasy or outside your comfort zone at first, the veteran staff of cabin leaders, nurses, and MDA camp directors will help you succeed and feel empowered to take on the challenge. You have to go to truly know the power of that impact, on the campers, on their families, and on your own life. It’s the best week of the year – join us!”