Diabetes Summer Camp
By BETH GRANT
Manager of Marketing and Communications, American Diabetes Association
Camp John Warvel offers traditional camp activities as well as constant medical assistance for children living with diabetes. It is for children ages 7 to 17 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Older teens with previous diabetes camp experience may participate as counselors-in-training.
This year’s camp will run from June 7 to 13. More than 175 campers are registered to participate in Camp John Warvel, which takes place at the YMCA Camp Crosley facility in North Webster.
“I encourage all my young patients living with diabetes to go, camp allows them the opportunity to see other children just like them living with diabetes. My son came home and started using new injection areas. There are education points, learning daily life skills, teambuilding and encouragement. It’s about setting life goals – not just diabetes goals. It’s a great way to get information on diabetes, have a lot of fun, and build friendships that last forever,” said Christina Pogue, nurse practitioner and mother to camper.
Children living with diabetes face unique daily challenges, including frequent finger sticks to check blood glucose levels, injections to replace the insulin that their bodies cannot make or process and daily vigilance to prevent complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputations and early death.
Previous camper, Rachel McLaughlin, shares, “Camp is what made me the person I am today. Camp is where I learned to take care of myself on my own, but was still under phenomenal supervision!”
Diabetes education is the main focus for children attending Camp John Warvel. Camp activities such as water sports, rock climbing, high ropes courses, horseback riding and more teach children how to manage their blood glucose levels during physical activity. Campers also learn a variety of techniques for managing their diabetes, including counting carbohydrates at meals. Camp John Warvel offers a nearly one-to-one ratio of camp staff to campers.
Since 1955, Camp John Warvel has helped change the lives of thousands of children with diabetes by teaching them to manage their disease so they can live independent and fulfilling lives. Camp John Warvel is just one of many American Diabetes Association affiliated camps across the U.S.
To help send a child with diabetes to camp this year, contact Carol Dixon, Senior Manager of Programs and Camp John Warvel for the American Diabetes Association – Indiana Area, at (888) 342-2383, ext. 6732, or [email protected].