Kids diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes have to deal with managing a serious condition for the first time, and it can be an intimidating process for a young person. The D-Camp program, run by the Canadian Diabetes Association, has been designed to give kids a chance to learn how to manage their diabetes in a fun and comfortable environment.
Ted Lockie, Camp and Youth Programs Manager (Western Canada) at the Canadian Diabetes Association says there are four key goals for the camp programs, and the first is to teach independent health management of diabetes. A medical team with doctors, pediatric endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators and dieticians will be at the camp, teaching kids about their diabetes and help them with things such as taking insulin and managing diabetes in their daily life.
A second goal of the camp program is to get kids to meet others who also have diabetes, whether it’s other campers or campers.
“Type 1 Diabetes is relatively rare, so a lot of these kids would not have met someone else with type 1, whether in the school, in the community, on their baseball team... It gives them an opportunity to meet kids with the same condition, feel connected to a community and reduce any feelings of loneliness or isolation they might have. We capture that in our goals by saying we nurture friendships and increase self esteem.”
The camp has been operating since 1956, almost as long as the Diabetes Association has been in operation, Lockie says. That has lead to a cycle with the camp, many former campers going on to become councillors or even go on to be part of the administration. Lockie notes that he has type 1 Diabetes and so does the full time coordinator, and both went through the camp program when they were young, and much of the staff has also gone through the D-Camp program back when they were kids.
“We can identify how camp affected us and set us up for success in life, so it’s really nice to be a part of that and see that investment happening in another generation.”
There have been changes for 2016. This year the camp is at Quest at Christopher Lake, moving from Camp Easter Seal near Watrous. Lockie says that with a waiting list for kids, they decided it was a priority to get to a larger location that could accomodate more campers.
While the educational part is a major part of the D-Camp program, it’s still a week-long summer camp, and it’s the fun that makes it a memorable experience for kids. Lockie says that the new waterfront is the most exciting part of the camp, with a climbing wall, rustic cabins, and a new waterfront area for canoeing and kayaking.
“We are excited to see all of our kids maximize that facility and enjoy their time there.”
