Swimming
Buoyancy reduces gravity — often one of the most enjoyable and accessible activities.
Walking & Active
Camps, Sports & Recreation
Childhood should be filled with more than appointments. Sports, hobbies, camps, music, outdoor adventures, clubs, and friendships all help children grow in ways that medicine alone never can.
Participation may change over time. The opportunity to belong should not.
Why Recreation Matters
More than activity — it's belonging
Sports, hobbies, and camps help children living with Duchenne grow socially, emotionally, and physically. The ride home from practice, the shared joke at lunch, the picture on the team wall — these are the moments that make childhood whole.
- Confidence
- Friendships
- Emotional wellbeing
- Independence
- Physical activity
- Family connection
- Self-esteem
- Resilience
- Childhood memories
Sports & Physical Activities
Many ways to play
These are activities many families have enjoyed. None is right for every child — and that's okay. The goal is finding the ones that bring joy and fit each child's needs.
Adaptive Cycling
Trikes, recumbents, and tandems keep children riding alongside family and friends.
Baseball & Softball
Miracle League and challenger divisions welcome players of every ability.
Soccer
TOPSoccer and inclusive leagues allow modified play where appropriate.
Basketball
Shooting practice, recreational play, or wheelchair basketball as needs evolve.
Bowling
Ramps, bumpers, and lightweight balls make every frame possible.
Golf
Adaptive carts and short courses turn the green into family time.
Fishing
Quiet, low-impact, and full of patience — perfect for shared mornings.
Accessible Hiking
Paved and boardwalk trails open the outdoors to children of every mobility level.
Yoga
Gentle stretching, breathing, and balance — adaptable to any body.
Dance & Movement
Music, expression, and movement at whatever pace feels good.
Martial Arts
With appropriate modifications, builds focus, confidence, and discipline.
Talk with your care team first
Every child living with Duchenne is different. Before beginning a new sport or recreational activity, families should discuss participation with their neuromuscular care team or physical therapist. Recommendations may vary based on age, strength, heart health, bone health, respiratory function, and each child's individual needs. This page is intended to inspire ideas — not replace medical guidance.
Recreation Beyond Sports
Belonging isn't only on the field
Meaningful participation is not limited to athletics. Friendships, creativity, confidence, and belonging are equally important parts of childhood.
Music
Lessons, choirs, and ensembles open lifelong creative outlets.
Art
Painting, drawing, and sculpture build expression and patience.
Theater
Stage and improv welcome every voice — on stage or backstage.
Robotics
FIRST LEGO League and maker clubs nurture curiosity and teamwork.
Scouts & Guides
Inclusive troops welcome members of every ability worldwide.
Photography
A camera turns any outing into a creative adventure.
Gaming
Online communities and adaptive controllers build friendships across distance.
Nature Exploration
Birdwatching, geocaching, and gardening connect children to the world outside.
School Clubs
Chess, debate, science, language — belonging often starts in the classroom.
Volunteer Activities
Helping others builds purpose and confidence at any age.
Community Organizations
Faith communities, libraries, and youth groups often welcome new members warmly.
Camps Around the World
A starting library, organized by region
Many families discover camp is the one week each year their child is surrounded by other kids who simply understand. This list is a starting point — your local muscular dystrophy organization can point you to more.
North America
MDA Summer Camp
United States
Free week of camp for children with neuromuscular disease, with full medical support and 1:1 counselors.
Locations across the U.S.
Visit websiteCamp Promise
United States
Free camp for kids and adults with neuromuscular conditions; East, West, and Midwest sessions.
Visit websiteEasterseals Camps
United States & Canada
Inclusive day and overnight camps for children with disabilities across many states and provinces.
Visit websiteMuscular Dystrophy Canada — Camps
Canada
Provincial summer camps offering accessible recreation and community.
Visit websiteCamp Boggy Creek
United States
SeriousFun network camp in Florida for children with serious illnesses, free of charge.
Visit websiteThe Painted Turtle
United States
Free SeriousFun camp in California for children with chronic and life-threatening conditions.
Visit websiteUnited Kingdom & Ireland
Over The Wall Camp
United Kingdom
SeriousFun network camp offering free residential and family camps for seriously ill children.
Visit websiteMuscular Dystrophy UK — Town Hall Weekends & Trailblazers
United Kingdom
Family weekends, youth events, and the Trailblazers network for young adults.
Visit websiteCalvert Lakes / Calvert Exmoor
United Kingdom
Accessible outdoor adventure breaks for disabled children and families.
Visit websiteBarretstown
Ireland
Free SeriousFun camp for children with serious illnesses and their families.
Visit websiteEurope
L'Envol
France
Free SeriousFun camp for children with serious illnesses.
Visit websiteDynamo Camp
Italy
Free SeriousFun therapy-recreation camp for children with chronic illnesses.
Visit websiteBator Tabor
Hungary
SeriousFun camp offering free therapeutic recreation for seriously ill children across Central Europe.
Visit websiteAFM-Téléthon — Family Respite Stays
France
Family weekends and respite stays organized by the French neuromuscular association.
Visit websiteAustralia & New Zealand
Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia — Camps
Australia
Family and youth camps tailored to neuromuscular conditions.
Visit websiteMuscular Dystrophy Association of NZ
New Zealand
Family days, retreats, and youth recreation programs.
Visit websiteAsia
Muscular Dystrophy Association of India
India
Periodic family meets and recreation events for children with neuromuscular disease.
Visit websiteJapan Muscular Dystrophy Association
Japan
Family gatherings and youth programs through regional chapters.
Visit websiteMake-A-Wish & SeriousFun Affiliates (Asia)
Various
Inclusive recreation experiences offered through regional partners.
Visit websiteCentral & South America
Asociación Distrofia Muscular de Argentina (ADM)
Argentina
Recreation days, family encounters, and youth meetups.
Visit websiteABDIM — Brazilian Association of Muscular Dystrophy
Brazil
Family gatherings and educational events across Brazil.
Visit websiteSeriousFun Network — Latin America
Regional
Affiliated free camps for children with serious illnesses.
Visit websiteAfrica
Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of South Africa
South Africa
Family camps, youth weekends, and community recreation days.
Visit websiteEndeavour Safaris — Accessible Adventures
Southern Africa
Accessible safari and adventure operator that welcomes children and families with disabilities.
Visit websiteFinding Local Opportunities
Where to begin your search
Rather than listing every recreation program worldwide, here are the places families most often find what works in their own community.
Neuromuscular Clinics
Often know the local adaptive programs and trusted instructors.
Physical Therapy Clinics
PTs frequently connect families to community recreation that fits their goals.
Community Recreation Departments
City and county programs often include adaptive sports and inclusive camps.
Adaptive Sports Organizations
Groups like Move United, Disability Sport, and local chapters host year-round leagues.
National MD Organizations
MDA, MDUK, MDC, MDA Australia, and others maintain camp and program directories.
Disability Organizations
Easterseals, Variety, and similar groups offer recreation across many countries.
Schools
Adaptive PE teachers and inclusion specialists know what's available locally.
Parent Support Groups
Other families are often the single best source of community recommendations.
Local Nonprofits
Small community organizations frequently run the most personal, welcoming programs.
Connect with other parents in your community whenever you can. They are often the very best source of local recommendations — and the friendships that follow are a gift in themselves.
Questions to Ask Your Care Team
Conversations worth having
- Is this activity appropriate for my child?
- Are there modifications you recommend?
- Should certain movements be avoided?
- Are braces or adaptive equipment helpful?
- How can we reduce the risk of falls?
- What signs tell us it's time to rest?
- How can we help our child continue participating as their needs change?
What We Wish
Someone Had Told Us
Honest advice and lessons learned from Duchenne families who've been there.
Participation Matters More Than Perfection
When our child was younger, we sometimes found ourselves asking whether they should still sign up. Should they try the sport? Should they go to camp? Would they be able to keep up?
Looking back, we wish someone had encouraged us to ask a different question.
Not: "Can my child do everything exactly like everyone else?"
But: "How can my child still be part of it?"
Sometimes the answer was changing the rules. Sometimes it meant taking more breaks. Sometimes it meant trying a different activity. Sometimes it meant discovering a hobby we never would have considered otherwise.
What mattered most wasn't winning. It wasn't keeping score. It wasn't doing everything exactly the same way.
It was the friendships. The confidence. The laughter. The campfires. The team photos. The inside jokes. The feeling of belonging.
Childhood should never become only doctor's appointments. It should still include teammates. Counselors. Art projects. Fishing trips. Music lessons. Camp songs. School clubs. New adventures. And memories that have nothing to do with Duchenne.
Because those moments help shape who our children become.
The goal isn't to do every activity exactly the same way. The goal is to help every child find places where they can participate, belong, and create lifelong memories.
Related resources
Keep exploring
Keeping Childhood Accessible
Preserving joy and participation during the walking years.
OpenAdaptive Bikes & Trikes
Freedom to ride alongside family and friends.
OpenTravel & Accessible Adventures
Practical resources for exploring the world together.
OpenSwimming & Water Activities
Where gravity lets go and movement feels easier.
OpenStaying Strong & Active
Protecting strength, energy, and participation.
OpenCaring for Your Child & Family
Emotional well-being, confidence, siblings, relationships, and finding community.
Open