K.I.D.S. CAMP
CHILDREN LEARN TO MANAGE DIABETES WHILE ENJOYING SUMMER FUN
Kids with type 1 diabetes have a lot to keep up with—blood sugar, nutrition, insulin shots. Managing their condition takes time and often sets them apart from other kids their age but that’s not the case at K.I.D.S. Day Camp which took place recently at Camp Preston Hunt right outside of Texarkana, Ark.
K.I.D.S. stands for Kids Improving Diabetes Safely and the camp provides kids information about healthy living for diabetics but it’s also a whole lot of fun.
“We do your usual summer camp activities like archery, hiking, arts and crafts and swimming,” said Mary Jackson, camp director. “Along with that throughout the day we’re constantly teaching how to control your blood sugar better.”
Jackson founded the camp in 1993. She was inspired to do so because her son is diabetic.
“My son had gone off to residential camps in Texas and Arkansas but there were no camps locally for kids with diabetes to attend,” Jackson said. “There were a couple of diabetic nurses I met because of my son and we got together and decided to do a local day camp for one week in the summer.”
From the campers perspective, having the chance to meet other kids who face the same daily challenges they do is refreshing.
“This is a way they can meet other kids with diabetes and it helps them feel not so isolated in their daily routine dealing with blood sugar,” Jackson said. “We also want to encourage them that diabetics don’t have limits as far as hopes and dreams for the future. As long as you control your diabetes, you can be whatever you want to be and diabetes shouldn’t be the reason you don’t participate in an activity.”
The camp is completely run by volunteers. The main funds for the camp come from a grant from the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana.
“We couldn’t do it without all the donations … and our medical staff is all volunteer. The nurses at the camp either have diabetes themselves or have kids with diabetes and they volunteer their time,” Jackson said.
Many of the camp counselors are former campers.
Allison Brown has been a camp counselor for 15 years, since she was 17-years old.
When she was a kid coming to K.I.D.S. camp made a big impression on her.
“It helped me realize I wasn’t the only one going through this. Some of my best friends are from this camp. It’s nice to know there are other kids going through what you are and you’re not an island. You feel normal when you come here,” Brown said.
Kendyl Gray is a former camper turned camp counselor. She said the accessibility of K.I.D.S. Camp makes it special.
“Most med camps are very expensive
but this is completely free to the campers and is run by volunteers. It wouldn’t happen if people didn’t volunteer their time. This area has a big population of type 1s and many wouldn’t be able to afford camp if not for this,” Gray said. “I volunteer because this camp was here for me as a kid and it’s my turn to give back so future generations can come.”
Campers enjoyed the beautiful setting at Camp Preston Hunt which includes wilderness trails and a beautiful big swimming pool.
Brothers Rowan, 9, and Penn, 7 are both type 1 diabetics. Penn said his favorite activity was swimming at camp while his brother Rowan was more impressed with the archery.
Dawson Cole, 16, has been coming to camp for eight years.
“I like it. It’s fun and you get to see what other people struggle with and it’s something you struggle with too,” Cole said.
Jackson is happy to see it K.I.D.S. Camp still going strong.
“This is our 25th summer. The kids love it. … This helps campers understand how blood sugar functions in a camp setting. After this they are better prepared to attend Boy or Girl Scout camp or church camp. We don’t want diabetes to be the reason they don’t do something. You just need to know how to control the diabetes involved,” Jackson said.