Why D-Camps?
“Why would I send my child to a camp where all the campers have type 1 diabetes? Don’t they deal with diabetes enough already?”
Diabetes introduces kids to a new reality, one that often makes them feel different from their friends. For many kids, there is no one else in their school or community who has diabetes and it can be a struggle to acknowledge diabetes openly.
A diagnosis also brings with it a whole new set of skills for kids to learn: how to test their blood glucose (sugar) levels, prime a needle for injection, insert a pump site, count carbs, recognize a high or low blood sugar, and maintain a balance between food, insulin and activity.
At D-Camps however, campers get a break from being different. Camp is one of the few places where everyone just “gets it,” where the world runs on “diabetes time” and nothing has to be explained. Campers will meet other children who share a personal understanding of the challenges that come from living with diabetes, and many of these relationships develop into lifelong friendships. When children leave camp, they will have gained a new level of independence in managing their diabetes and feel empowered to continue the healthy practices they learned at camp.
So, why send your child to a camp where all the campers have type 1 diabetes? Because together, we will take charge of diabetes and never let it define us. We will explore, share, learn and laugh because we’re all in this together.
Check out our video!
Click here to download the 2016 D-Camps Guide.
Click here to download the 2016 D-Camps Poster.