Diabetes Camps

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The American Diabetes Association is proud to be the largest provider of camps for children with diabetes in the world. Each year, more than 10,000 children benefit from camping programs provided through ADA funding.

Join in the summer camp fun for children with diabetes near you! You may want to consider a camp that specializes in an activity of interest to you, or one that is in another state.

Camps on this site are accredited by the American Camping Association or have met basic safety standards (for those camps ineligible for ACA accreditation due to length of program or site). Both resident and day camps are offered andcamps are classified as either operated by the American Diabetes Association, or marketed and financially supported by the Association. Camps and activities are listed in state order.

What's Great About Diabetes Camp?

Camps provide:

• Fun!
• Opportunities for children and teens with diabetes to meet others who face the same challenge
• Respite for the family from the daily demands of diabetes
• Experienced, professional medical staff
• Safety
• The chance to learn or improve the camper’s diabetes self-management skills in a supervised setting
• Opportunities to make lifelong friends

Suddenly, you're not so alone

Kids with diabetes are in the minority ... except at diabetes camp. At camp, kids with diabetes are surrounded by people just like them -- both kids and adults who share their day to day challenges and triumphs managing diabetes. Diabetes camp gives kids the opportunity to meet and learn from adult counselors with diabetes who have gone through many of the things the campers are experiencing, and can share the ways they coped with the problems and pitfalls of having diabetes. The number one benefit both kids and their parents express is the ability to feel part of a group where everyone has diabetes and the feelings of isolation are eliminated.

Safety -- Our number one priority

Kids with diabetes and their parents have a pretty extensive list of health and safety concerns. Parents' concerns range from nutrition to proper medical care and supplies, to learning how to manage diabetes during strenuous activities. Teams of competent diabetes health care professionals staff each camp, and have the answers for all these situations and many more.

At diabetes camps, many of the counselors have diabetes themselves, and if they don't, they have been thoroughly trained to handle any emergency that may arise. By keeping a close eye on nutrition, glucose checking, and exercise, camps work to effectively manage their campers' blood sugars and avoid blood sugar emergencies.

Some of the safety features you will find at diabetes camp include:

• Well-trained and knowledgeable staff, usually including counselors who have diabetes
  
• Onsite medical team
  
• Medical facilities, equipment and supplies
  
• Tailored nutrition information and guidance
  
• Closely monitored and administered glucose testing, insulin injection and pump maintenance
  
• Activity schedules that accommodate the needs and concerns of someone with diabetes
  
• Overall focus on safety

The overall goal of camp is to provide a safe, recreational experience for children with diabetes.  Due to the increased physical activity at camp, the medical team may need to adjust your child's diabetes management routine.  This could include increasing the number of carbohydrates or reducing the amount of insulin. This is typical of all diabetes camps and is necessary to avoid diabetes emergencies and to allow kids the ability to safely engage in a wide range of traditional camp activities. The medical team at the camp you select will provide information about their medical philosophy and what you can expect from them at camp.

Diabetes education at camp

It's almost guaranteed that campers are going to come away from diabetes camp knowing something about diabetes that they didn't know before. Some camps do make diabetes education classes a part of the camper's schedule. However, all camps incorporate a "learning by doing" or "teachable moments" approach. Staff work with each camper individually as each new situation presents itself.

Parents should realize that their campers are not going to return from a one- or two-week overnight camp completely ready to take care of themselves. Self-care takes time to master, and kids learn it at the age and pace that is right for them.

Recognizing that each child is different, camps use a variety of methods to share age-appropriate diabetes knowledge and skills that help kids feel more confident and self-sufficient. Camps are most influential in providing an atmosphere where kids feel safe to risk new things and try different diabetes skills in a closely monitored setting. Whether or not your campers come back with solid knowledge, it's a pretty safe bet they'll return with more self-confidence and a willingness to accept more responsibility for themselves. This is the biggest step toward self-care.

Further Reading . . . Getting the Most Out of Diabetes Camp This book provides tips for selecting the right camp, ways to determine if your child is ready for camp, and step-by-step help with the application process. Also, it includes a sample application packet, packing lists, and more. For more books on treatment & self care, click here.