Camp benefits

My experience with camps for children with diabetes tells me that the value in these camps is really tremendous. I've found it hard to find data/research to quantify the value to the child, family and society in these camps. While I'm not really sure for this vaccuum (my opinion) in hard data addressing benefitsof a diabetes camp, I believe it would be entirely worthwhile work to undertake this research. I strongly feel that comprehensive research on diabetes camps for children would reveal that children who attend camp, on average, manage their diabetes with more clarity and diligence. Often times children will just have a better attitude coming away from camp, and while these factors conspire to relieve some stress and to improve the lives of the entire family, one who better manages their diabetes also helps to lower the cost burden on our societal health care system(s) by reducing their chances of enduring complications from diabetes.

Anyway, here are the top 4 reasons, as listed on our camp website, to send a child with diabetes to camp:

1. Camp enables you to take a break from the endless demands of managing diabetes and allows you to know that your child is in the care of highly qualified, caring and experienced medical staff.

2. Camp enables your child to acquire independence in managing diabetes.

3. At camp, your child enjoys traditional camp activities such as fishing, swimming, low ropes course, arts and crafts and a talent show.

4. Camp allows your child to spend the week with other children with diabetes. This can be the first time a child realizes that he or she is not alone and that diabetes is a consideration, not a limitation.

Jeff

Introduction

Hi,

I am the founder of Camp Possibilities Foundation (www.camppossibilities.org) a camp for children with diabetes from Delaware and Maryland. Our offseason office is in Wilmington, Delaware, and we rent a camp in Darlington, Maryland for our one-week, overnight camp.

We are entering our fifth cmping season - in 2004 we had 22 campers, '05 42 campers, '06 53, and in 2007 we had 57 campers and about 45 children on the waiting list. That's a lot of kids on a waiting list, and beyond Camp Possibilities there is a high demand for camps for diabetes camps.

Anyway, from the origins of the camp - started forming ideas and working on it in 2001-2002 - to where we are today, I plan to share all kids of information about diabetes camps for children on this blog.

Please check back on Friday of this week for my first 'real' post about diabetes camps - most likely to cover the top 3-4 reasons it's such a beneficial experience for the children and their families.

Sincerely,Jeff