About Our Camps

Camping Program Goals

Our programs are designed to help campers have fun, gain a better understanding of diabetes, develop confidence in effective diabetes self management techniques, and learn and expand social skills: effective communication, interpersonal relations, social values, independence and group living.

Camp Medical Care

Comprehensive medical care is provided at each camp. Each camper's insulin, syringes and blood testing supplies are provided at camp. Medical personnel includes on-site, full-time physicians and nurses who are available to handle any minor illnesses, emergencies and offer individualized diabetes care.

Cabin Ratios

At resident camp each cabin has 6-10 campers with 2 counselors and 1 nurse. Staff members are trained in the care of persons with insulin-dependent diabetes and include medical students and persons with diabetes.

Camp Fees & "Camperships"

New for 2010: We now require a $50 non-refundable fee at the time of registration to cover the costs of processing your child’s registration and application. Registration forms not accompanied by the $50 Registration Fee will not be processed. This $50 fee will be deducted from the total camp fees for your chosen camp(s).

Please note: No registration fee is due at time of registration for the CIT Program – as this is a competitive program, the camp fee or campership application will only be collected from the 12 teens chosen as CITs.

The United States has been impacted by difficult economic times, and so has the community around the Diabetes Society. Over the last year we have experienced a drop in the number of grants and donations we typically receive from a variety of sources, and as a result we have undergone a fiscal restructuring which forced us to reevaluate our camp programs. This year we won’t be offering all of the camps we’ve offered in previous years, but we’ll still be offering a great variety of educational and fun camping programs for kids, teens, and families living with type 1 diabetes. Much of the support we’ve received in the past was not available this year. Although we are charging far less than our actual costs, we have had to raise our camp fees for 2010.

We want all kids with diabetes to have the opportunity to attend camp, so we are happy to help families arrange payment plans or financial aid packages. Please contact the Camp Department if you have questions.
 

Admission Policy

Since space is limited at each resident youth camp, we have a policy of registering each child for one youth camp, with the possibility of registering for a second youth camp based on space availability. We accept registrations on a first-come, first-served basis until each youth camp is full. If you would like to register your child for more than one youth resident camp, please number your choices for your youth resident camp preferences (example: #1 for Camp de los Niños, #2 for Camp Johnson).

Once we receive your registration form and the registration fee for your first choice youth camp, we will send you an application. If you select a camp as your second choice, your child will be placed on the waiting list for that camp. In the event that your first choice youth camp is already full, we will put your child on the waiting list for that camp and assign your child a space in the second choice youth camp you indicated.

We will return registration fees in the event that a child is only placed on waiting lists. If your child is on a youth camp waiting list, we will notify you as space becomes available, and collect registration and camp fees at that time.

Teens may register for both teen resident camp programs on a first-come, first-served basis. Counselor-in-Training Program at Camp de los Niños: 20 candidates for the CIT program will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. 12 teens will be selected for the CIT program based on a Camp Department committee review of candidates' responses to the CIT Supplemental Questionnaire. We will notify you if your teen has been selected as a CIT.

No registration fee is due at time of registration for the CIT Program – as this is a competitive program, the camp fee or campership application will only be collected from the 12 teens chosen as CITs.

Please contact the camp department office at 1-800-989-1165 or Campdiabetessociety.org if you have any questions about this policy.