All about CHOP's Camp Rock! 

Kids and teens ages 7 to 14 years who have upper or lower limb differences or differences in hand and arm abilities are invited to participate in Camp Rock, a rock-climbing day camp hosted in July by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Orthopedic Center and Center for Rehabilitation. It provides children and teens with a limb difference a chance to learn a new skill while connecting with peers in a fun, supportive environment.

The camp has two sessions. Each one-week camp runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. Campers are supervised by CHOP medical professionals such as occupational therapists, athletic trainers and research coordinators, as well as rock-climbing professionals. There is no cost to attend. Lunch and snacks are provided. 

Who can participate?

Children and teens with:

• Any congenital upper limb difference, including but not limited to: syndactyly, polydactyly, triphalangeal thumb, symbrachydactyly, radial longitudinal deficiency, ulnar longitudinal deficiency, amniotic/constriction band syndrome, macrodactyly, cleft hand, radioulnar synostosis, and longitudinal deficiency.
• Brachial plexus injuries (birth or traumatic)
• Acute flaccid myelitis
• Congenital lower limb differences or acquired lower limb loss.

Campers cannot have an intellectual disability or developmental delay.

Participating in an optional research study 

We invite campers and caregivers to participate in an optional research study to help us understand if camp participation has a positive impact on children and teens with arm and/or hand differences.   

You can opt in or out of this research opportunity at any time. Your child may still attend the camp even if you decide not to participate in the study. If you opt into our research study, you and your child will be asked to fill out online surveys before and after the camp.

How to register  

If you are interested in participating in the camp, please fill out a non-binding interest form. We will contact you after we review your child's eligibility.

If you would like to learn more or have any questions, contact our team at handcamp@chop.edu.

Camp Rock highlights

Interested in learning more about Camp Rock? 

• Watch this CBS News segment featuring our campers!
• Listen to an episode from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Rehab Roundtable podcast where CHOP team members talk about the camp in more detail.
• 'A Limb-it-less Adventure:' Researching Rock Climbing as an Adaptive Therapy