Each summer, American Diabetes Association Camps connect children and teens living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to adventure, education, mentors, fun, and to life long friendships. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we all work, play, and live, and camp is no exception. This year, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) is bringing summer camp to life in the comfort and safety of our campers’ homes through ADA Imagine Camp.
ADA Imagine Camp is an innovative program connecting youth with diabetes to make new friends, build confidence and independence in management, and to join in traditions from camps, partners, and programs across the country.
For many children living with diabetes, they might be the only person in their school or their community dealing with the everyday realities that come with diabetes. ADA Camps provide an opportunity for life-changing experiences. “We know that camp reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness for children living with diabetes, and provides education and support for managing diabetes,” said Kelly Mueller, Vice President of Consumer and Community Impact for the ADA. “It’s incredible to see the change in confidence that happens when kids are connected to someone who is living a similar experience.”
ADA Imagine Camp features counselor-led activities to be done safely in campers’ homes and neighborhoods, virtual challenges, cabin time to unwind and connect with new friends, exciting guest speakers in partnership with Beyond Type 1™ and Rob Howe of Diabetics Doing Things™, an adventure series in partnership with Riding on Insulin™, leadership training in partnership with the College Diabetes Network™, and parent support in partnership with Children With Diabetes™.
Our first camp session began on June 8, and aims to engage, educate, and connect campers through dynamic virtual programming led by counselors and medical staff trained in our traditional tracks and also in digital program delivery, ensuring another year of safe, healthy, and fun “camping”.
By connecting campers, employees, traditions, and communities across the country, ADA Imagine Camp is bringing diabetes and camping partners together like never before. We hope you will join us on our newest adventure!
Managing and operating camps across the country, virtually or in-person, requires a significant investment. Because ADA Imagine Camp is offered FREE to all campers, our partners’ contributions help to fill the funding gap to provide the programming that helps them grow in confidence and independence, and to build the relationships and skills they need to thrive with diabetes. Leading the way for the 2020 Camp season is National Strategic Sponsor Novo Nordisk. The Camps program is also supported by a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and sponsored by longtime camp supporter Lilly Diabetes.
Learn more about ADA Imagine Camp or our 71 year history of diabetes in camping at diabetes.org/camp.
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About the American Diabetes Association
Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
