Kids with Diabetes Come Together at Camp Leo

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Submitted by Dr. Diana Yu

Camp Leo 2 Imagine waking up every morning and having to poke your finger, then getting a shot before you eat.  Imagine having to do that before lunch, dinner and before going to bed.  Imagine being told that you cannot eat cake or have candy.  Imagine not being invited to birthday parties because you can’t have sweets.  Children who have type I Diabetes gets to deal with this everyday of their lives.  When they go to school, they are often the only kid in school with diabetes and the school teachers, staff and nurse may not know how to help them through their school day.  Often the lack of understanding means the diabetic child is restricted from participation in normal childhood activities.

Modern technologies have made some changes so that some kids are now using insulin pumps, so they do not get shots before each meal.  What has not changed is the need to carefully monitor blood sugar levels, dietary intake and physical activity to grow healthy, happy kids.

For over 23 years Camp Leo for Children with Diabetes has been around to provide a setting where children with diabetes can come together to be just like any other camp leo 3child, enjoy a summer overnight camping experience in a safe environment and learn about taking care of themselves and staying healthy.  Most of the volunteer staff for Camp Leo are themselves diabetic, or have family members with Diabetes.  Last year, at the evening campfire for middle school camp, we estimated the total number of diabetes year experience among those present was a collective 815+ years.

The setting for Camp Leo is at Camp Berachah in the foothills of Mount Rainier, near Enumclaw.  Three separate camp sessions are fully staffed with medical and non-medical volunteer, diabetic educators and other camp staff to make sure the summer camp is fun and educational, yet safe.  Cabin staff is 1 staff for every 8 kids but more often with all the volunteers and other activity staff, the ratio is closer to 1:4.   Activities are like many other summer camps: swimming, hiking, rock wall climbing, archery, zip line, laser tag, camp fire, bunk time and camp fire songs.  Incorporated into the program are learning opportunities during meal times and “educational” games.  Camp sessions are divided by age groups for kids entering: Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

At camp, diabetes is the “normal.”  Scholarships are generous and available due to generous support from the Lion’s Club of Western Washington.  Registration is going on now.  Check it out, this may the year for your child with diabetes to have a fun, summer experience with new lifelong friends.  www.campleo.org  You can also find information on how to volunteer for camp.

 

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