Empowering Kids with Diabetes Through Camp Support
Year-round Donations to Fund Programs and Activities
November 2022
Camp Kudzu, Atlanta, GA
For more than 23 years, Camp Kudzu has provided inspiring year-round programming that empowers families, children and teens living with T1D to gain confidence, make connections with their peers and increase knowledge about living a healthy life with diabetes. As Georgia's largest provider of diabetes self-management education and support services, Camp Kudzu fills an important need for children aged 5 to 18 living with insulin dependent diabetes.
More than 6,000 young Georgians live with T1D. Each year, 600 children in Georgia are diagnosed with this lifelong incurable autoimmune disease. Camp Kudzu’s year-round programming integrated with unique approaches to diabetes education, helps provide support for children and their families after diagnosis while providing a lifelong community of friends and mentors. Camp fees should never get in the way of a child benefiting from a Camp Kudzu experience, and thanks to donors and corporate partners, we can subsidize 75% of the overall expense of camp.
March 2023
Camp Ho Mita Koda, Newbury, OH
Since 1929 Camp Ho Mita Koda has been helping children living with Type 1 Diabetes grow in mind, body, and spirit through an outdoor camping experience that strengthens their confidence and creates a community of peers.
Camp Ho Mita Koda’ philosophy is that in today’s hectic and high-tech world, a back-to-basics approach to outdoor recreation and plain ol’ fashion “fun” is crucial to building a child’s positive self-image. Therefore, they offer activities such as canoeing, kayaking, arts & crafts, soccer, swimming, archery and outdoor survival, and so much more. A quality summer camp experience provides education, challenge, achievement, and acceptance. Camp Ho Mita Koda's unique atmosphere allows children to learn in a fun and safe environment that encourages independence while nurturing lasting friendships.
Accredited by the American Camp Association and a member of the Diabetes Education and Camping Association, Camp Ho Mita Koda is dedicated to meeting the highest standards in the camp industry. It's programs inspire campers to try new activities, build independence, make friends and take home memories that will last a lifetime. .
June 2023
Camp Hertko Hollow, West Des Moines, Iowa
Since 1968, Camp Hertko Hollow has provided a positive camping experience for over 15,000 children with diabetes. Named after it's founder, Dr. Edward Hertko, who took a special interest in diabetes after growing up with a diabetic mother and brother, the Camp has grown from serving 37 children to serving over 400 children and their families.
The first camp session was held at the 4-H Camp in Madrid, Iowa and was temporarily called Elm Camp. In 1972, the camp changed its name to Camp Hertko Hollow and moved to a more suitable location at the Y Camp in Boone, Iowa where it has been held ever since.
In 2001 there was record 255 campers plus a volunteer medical staff of 65 in addition to the YMCA staff of 50. At that point Camp Hertko Hollow had exceeded the capacity at the Y Camp facility and so camp was split into two sessions beginning in 2002 (one week for children ages 6 – 12, and another session for teens ages 13 – 17).
Camp Hertko Hollow is dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth who have diabetes. The goals at camp are: Recreation, Education, Regulation and FUN! Campers enjoy the traditional camp activities while learning about living with diabetes. Meeting other youth and counselors who have diabetes is also a great benefit of the experience.
September 2023
Camp Sweeney, Whitesboro, TX
Since 1950, Camp Sweeney has been blessed to serve over 35,000 children and is regarded as one of the largest, most effective diabetes educational facilities in the world. Its mission is to help children acquire the skills necessary to live without diabetes complications and participate in an outdoor experience.
While many programs provide medical training, recreational experiences, or motivational techniques, Camp Sweeney is a rare program that combines all three to provide comprehensive life changing, rehabilitative care. Campers participate in recreational activities, medical lectures and group “family” time. Campers are motivated to make healthy food and lifestyle choices they will continue throughout the year. Daily utilization of these skills makes it possible for these children to grow into adults and live longer healthier lives. From blood tests and insulin injections to activity level and diet, everything is carefully programmed to lead to perfect control in a normalized world with other children just like them. .
November 2023
Camp Conrad Chinnock, Angelus Oaks, CA
As a nonprofit organization, Diabetes Camping & Educational Services (DCES) is dedicated to helping children of all ages and their families better understand and manage their diabetes. DCES serves over 2,500 families in the Southern California area in partnership with the region’s leading hospitals and educational institutions.
Every family we work with has a child who is faced with a lifetime of blood glucose monitoring, insulin injections or pump therapy, and the constant threat of acute and chronic complications. Our programs, which include support groups, education sessions, family retreats and youth camping programs, are designed to see that each and every child develops critical diabetes management skills to reach a new level of confidence and self-esteem. After a diagnosis that has no cure it can bring about immense loneliness, especially for children and adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes, which is why we are doing everything possible to keep our programs at Camp Conrad Chinnock available to all, particularly during these challenging times.
March 2024
Camp Hope, Casper Mountain, WY
Founded in 1979, Camp Hope provides a residential retreat/camp experience for children with diabetes, ages 7 to 18 years. The camp is conducted at a site leased from the Lions Club of Wyoming, located atop Casper Mountain south of the city of Casper, Wyoming. It’s program is primarily focused on education in all aspects of diabetes self-management including medication, diet, exercise, and psycho social issues.Other activities provide opportunities for creative expression, the learning of social skills, and peer interaction.
The goal of Camp Hope is to reduce the impact of diabetes on the individual child and the health care system. In teaching children diabetes self-management, they are prepared to avoid the negative effects of the disease. The Camp Hope philosophy centers around peer association and the learning of life skills that are not driven by diabetes, but make room for control of diabetes in each day. Campers learn that the world is full of obstacles to success, and diabetes need only be a fact of life, not a stumbling block or impassable barrier.
When asked what Camp Hope means to them, campers responded that it was a place "where memories are made and lives are saved".
June 2024
Camp Hendon, Louisville, KY
Many organizations are dedicated to finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, but few offer support in the interim. Camp Hendon provides life-altering experiences to children with diabetes, without the promise of a cure, but with the guarantee of an experience that makes diabetes manageable until that cure is found.
Camp Hendon is a community for children with diabetes, and their families, to get to know others who face the same challenges. The number one benefit of Camp Hendon's programs that both children and their parents express is the ability to feel part of a group and feelings of isolation are eliminated. Camp Hendon plans and operates two, all-volunteer weeklong residential camping programs for approximately 165 children with diabetes between the ages of 8-17. Camp Hendon also provides retreat-style weekend camps including a Teen Retreat for campers ages 13 - 17, and Family Camp for children with T1D ages 5 - 12, siblings of any age, parents, and other caregivers.