Camp Jean Nelson at Camp Kindle outside of Water Valley has opened its doors to hundreds of children for a special summer camp this week.
Children aged seven to 15 with type 1 diabetes can enjoy all the fun of an overnight summer camp with the safety of health officials present at D-Camp. Youth 16 and 17 years of age can participate in the leadership development program at the camp to learn leadership skills and prepare to be camp counsellors.
“We do all the same activities that a summer camp would offer and operate with day-to-day – so the kids are doing a high-ropes adventure course, a low-ropes initiative course, swimming in the pool, playing capture the flag, all the things you would expect. The difference is: we have a medical support team who range from pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes educators, insulin pump trainers, registered nurses and dietitians,” said Ted Lockie, manager of camp and youth programs in Western Canada for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Lockie explained the medical staff ensures parents can drop their kids off for camp and know that they will be monitored and taken care of. He said the camp uses a standard diabetes management approach so that the campers can dose their insulin appropriately and get the appropriate support.
This camp provides an important opportunity for kids living with type 1 diabetes because it allows them to meet others in similar circumstances.
“Type 1 diabetes is relatively rare, so many of our campers would not have the opportunity to meet another child living with type 1 diabetes in their school or community. So it gives them the opportunity to come to camp and become part of a community that understands what it is to live with that chronic condition,” said
“That, in turn, reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness,” Lockie continued.
The camp focuses on four key goals – teach independent self-management of diabetes, nurture friendships, improve self-esteem, and accomplish goals in a safe and traditional summer camp environment.
Camp Jean Nelson is one of 12 D-Camps running across Canada. The camp operates two regular sessions in the summer and one family session in the spring and offers free transportation from certain cities within Alberta.
For Austin Rohleder, 10-year old Cochrane resident, D-Camp is an opportunity to learn more about managing type 1 diabetes while having fun with his friends. Rohleder has been to Camp Jean Nelson three times.
“There’s so many fun activities there, my favourite is high-ropes. I’m the only kid in my school that has diabetes and my first year at camp I met a whole bunch of kids that I soon became friends with – there’s so many people that go there,” Rohleder explained.
“I’ve learned a lot of things about diabetes,” Rohleder continued, explaining that he can now help his mom monitor and administer his insulin.
Rohleder would strongly recommend D-Camp to other youths with type 1 diabetes.
“If any kid was scared to go, I’d tell them that there’s so many other kids that are probably as afraid as they are at this very moment. But there’s a whole bunch of people there and nurses that will help them and they’ll make so many friends because everyone is very kind and they’ll have lots of fun,” Rohleder said.
