Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation

Camp Colorado

June 28-July 3, 2009

Proposal to:

Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation

Mission Statement

The mission of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. People with diabetes, their families and friends, health professionals, research scientists, and volunteers work together to make our mission a reality.

Brief History of the American Diabetes Association

The ADA was founded in 1940 as a professional society of physicians with the objective of promoting the scientific study of diabetes. Their work helped to greatly advance diabetes knowledge within the medical community. In 1970, the ADA came to realize that diabetes was just as much a social concern as a medical concern and expanded its mission to become the leading volunteer heath organization concerned with diabetes. Camp Colorado, the only weeklong summer camp in the state for children with diabetes, was introduced in 1957 and now enters its 52nd year of success.

Current Programs and Activities

One of the ways in which the American Diabetes Association works to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes is to hold and support a wide range of community programs. The Colorado branch of the ADA has listened to the changing needs of our constituencies and based upon these needs we have collaborated with health care professionals, schools, businesses, government agencies and other non-profits to develop a variety of programs. Some of our programs offer education, support, or networking, while others work to heighten the general public awareness of diabetes and to raise funds for diabetes research. In addition to Camp Colorado, here are some of the programs the American Diabetes Association supports in Colorado:

The Diabetes Expo took place at the Colorado Convention Center on May 7, 2009. It is a a conference and consumer tradeshow, offering a comprehensive array of diabetes products, services, and information all in one location. It includes lectures, cooking and exercise demonstrations, product demonstrations and free samples, free health screenings, and an interactive educational area for children. We had 8,000 participants join us this year.

Por Tu Familia is a Latino initiative program that reaches out to educate Latinos throughout Colorado on diet, exercise, and overall health. The rate of diabetes among Latinos is almost double that of non-Latino whites, making diabetes an urgent health problem throughout the Latino community. Publications available in both English and Spanish, along with culturally specific community workshops and screenings, comprise the backbone of this program. Por Tu Familia helped educate 6,212 Latinos about healthy living and diabetes in 2008.

The Wizdom Kit is an interactive, educational, and entertaining kit for kids with diabetes and their parents. The kit was developed by the ADA to act as a survival guide for children and their parents to help get them through the first 3-6 months after diagnosis; which is a very trying time for families. The kit consists of two books (one for kids, one for parents), a binder to keep all diabetes related information, and everything needed to get “wize” and manage life with diabetes.

PlanetD Website is a website designed specifically for kids with diabetes. From meal plans and insulin schedules to exercise and social networking, the ADA has all sorts of information that kids need to know about diabetes. The website features fun games and other interactive, educational attractions for kids. The website also has a teen area exclusively for teens with diabetes where they can chat with other teens on the message board or look for tips to help manage blood glucose levels during sports and other activities.

Family Connection of Colorado is a parent-led community-based initiative providing opportunities for families to get information about diabetes and to support one another in managing diabetes everyday. Parent volunteers reach out to families of children who have just been diagnosed with diabetes and connect them with support activities and information. In 2008, the Family Connection reached 502 families across Colorado. In addition to this, 25 of these families were able to participate in our first ever Family Retreat, which provided them with the opportunity to learn from and support one another as families of a child with diabetes.

Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes is our annual walk/fun run to raise awareness and support in the fight against diabetes. Communities and corporations of Colorado unite by collecting contributions and walking a few miles to help find a cure for diabetes. Last year the walk had 1,500 participants and raised 250,000 dollars for diabetes research.

The Need for the American Diabetes Association

Diabetes affects 23.4 million people in the United States. Every 20 seconds another person is diagnosed with diabetes and it’s estimated that 57 million Americans currently have impaired glucose tolerance.

Here are the current statistics:

·  Diabetes is now an epidemic. It claims 8 times more lives than AIDS and 3 times more lives than breast cancer. Diabetes has increased in the US population 50% over the last ten years.

·  Diabetes related complications will claim the lives of 250,000 people this year.

·  The risk of developing type 1 diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe chronic childhood diseases and the incidence of diabetes is climbing in youth and teens in Colorado.

·  Type 2 diabetes in young children is quickly becoming an epidemic of its own.

With these staggering statistics, more and more families are faced with the reality of living with a diabetes diagnosis in one of their children. This diagnosis sends shockwaves through the entire family, causing them to express an array of emotions: denial, anger, depression, guilt, fear, and anxiety. Most commonly, however, families go through an initial grieving process upon diagnosis. We usually think of grief only in connection with death, but a diagnosis of diabetes can feel like a death to both parents and children; the death of their previous way of life (which often seems carefree in retrospect), the death of spontaneity, and the death of the idea that they can protect their children from all harm.

For a child with diabetes, daily life presents challenges with which he/she is ill equipped to cope. Faced with having to take anywhere from two to five insulin injections in one day, sticking their finger to chick blood sugar levels three to six times a day, and closely monitoring their diet, children with diabetes often feel different, alone, and alienated from their peers.

Studies have shown that good blood sugar control can significantly reduce the risk of complications such as vision loss, heart disease, amputations, stroke, and kidney failure later in life. For this reason it is critical for youth and teens to be motivated to take responsibility for learning about diabetes and how to care for themselves. Community programs and outreach provided by the ADA focus on providing education and support to youth, teens, and adults with diabetes to empower them to control the course of their disease; to view their disease as challenge and not an insurmountable barrier.

The Goals and Objectives of the ADA Camp Colorado

Specifically, the four objectives of the ADA Camp Colorado are as follows:

1.  Provide a fun and supportive social environment for youth and teens to meet and associate with others in their peer group who also have diabetes.

2.  Empower children to develop independence and self-discipline in their approach to life with diabetes.

3.  Under the supervision of the ADA Medical Direction, the volunteer medical staff works closely with the children providing consistent education and diabetes self-management techniques.

4.  Offer a wide range of challenging physical activities enabling each child the opportunity to assess and monitor their individual reactions to physical activity with the supervision of medical staff.

Camp Colorado understands the issues raised by diabetes and accommodates the health concerns of these children and their parents. The camp, held annually since 1957, is a mountain retreat located at Eagle Lake near Woodland Park, Colorado. The camp provides a caring environment and promotes confidence in campers while enjoying typical summer camp activities. The American Diabetes Association ensures the health and safety of all campers by providing full medical staff and all of the necessary diabetes supplies including insulin, syringes, test strips, blood glucose meters, and ketone strips. The ADA also employs a camp dietician who creates a meal plan and helps the camp kitchen staff with meal preparation to provide appropriate meal plan for the campers with diabetes.

Camp Colorado offers three different programs: an equestrian camp for girls, a teen challenge camp, and a more traditional residential camp. Here, children with diabetes ages 8 though 17 can enjoy an experience that is typically closed to them at other camps.

The problems associated with a child with diabetes attending a typical summer camp boil down to safety and belonging. The average summer camp has little or no experience in how to manage a child with diabetes or what to do should, for example, the camper’s blood sugar drop. Furthermore, if the child is totally dependent on a parent for blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections, then a typical summer camp is out of the question. The belonging problem stems from camp staff and other campers’ ignorance to diabetes and all that goes with it. For instance, campers without diabetes may not understand the need for finger pricks and insulin injections or limitation on food intake. This can lead to feelings of isolation and depression, feelings that have no place at summer camp.

Camp Colorado provides one trained diabetes councilor for every four campers. Doctors, nurses, and trained volunteers are at hand to help monitor blood sugar and insulin levels as well as address any emergencies that may arise. Additionally, a full orientation is provided for all of the full time camp staff to address the special needs of children with diabetes. This is perhaps the only times in the lives of the campers when all of their peers share the same daily and lifelong challenges they do. The camp experience encourages them to empower themselves—an important skill since they will be dealing with diabetes every minute of every day for the rest of their lives. Many will arrive at camp having been dependent upon a parent for monitoring and control. They will leave camp a “first timer”, having learned to take responsibility for their own health by monitoring their blood sugar and injecting insulin for the first time.

The teen campers form groups to discuss the issues they face including the changes happening in their bodies during puberty that must be handled while keeping their diabetes in control. They also talk about the social aspects of adult life that will soon pose a threat to proper diabetes management such as the college cafeteria, irregular sleep habits, and peer pressure. Camp teaches children with diabetes that, with proper control, their disease need not limit them.

Camp also gives parents a break from the rigors of their child’s diabetes management. A well-trained volunteer medical staff handles any crises that may arise, giving parents the peace of mind that their children are well cared for.

Collaborative Efforts

As it stands, there is nothing like Camp Colorado in the rest of the state. We are the only camp targeted specifically at children with diabetes. Despite this, the ADA is not the sole force behind Camp Colorado. We collaborate with both the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes and the Pediatric Endocrine Associates to promote and staff the camp. They help distribute promotional materials through their clinics and recommend the camp to families of children who are newly diagnosed with Diabetes. Furthermore, the doctors, nurses, and other staff at these clinics volunteer their time and efforts to train the volunteer staff and oversee the wellbeing of all of the campers.

Program Timeline (September 2008 – August 2009)

September 2008: Start submitting grant applications to past contributors. Schedule and hold camp reunion.

October 2008: Meet with Eagle Lake and Medical Coordinators to assess Camp Colorado 2008 and begin planning Camp Colorado 2009. Meet with Camp Planning and Implementation committee to review the American Camping Association and American Diabetes Association camp related policies and procedures to assure local compliance. Identify further sources for 2009.

November 2008: Meet with Camp Planning and Implementation committee to schedule camp personnel training sessions. Develop food and supply donation request packet to be sent to parents. Decide on time, place, location, and funds needed for a camper reunion event.

January 2009: Review camper application packet and brochure; modify as needed, review diabetes counselor packet; modify as needed, have current Camp Committee review changes and make edits for upcoming application distribution. Finalize contract with Eagle Lake and send deposit check. Conduct quarterly 90-day Camp assessment; identify needed adjustments. Process camp personnel background checks as staff are recruited. Review camper registration process with administrative personnel. Prepare camper application packets. Update local web pages and nationwide camp lists. Develop and print brochures. Distribute brochures through mailings, clinics, diabetes educators, and physician’s offices for camper recruitment.

February 2009: Coordinate camp volunteer, camper and parent camp presentations to clubs and organizations; conduct second club and organization solicitation mailing. Begin processing camper application packets, as well as camp personnel application packets, including submittal of background checks. Begin the process of orientation and training for camp personnel. Identify camp staff vacancies; develop and implement a recruitment plan to fill vacancies. Begin soliciting medical supplies for camp. Complete insurance application.

March 2009: Maintain database for camper registration. Mail camper medical forms packet and camp scholarship applications to interested families as registrations are received. Evaluate scholarship application needs and notify families as funds are allocated. Develop meal plans under the supervision of dietitian and work with Eagle Lake dietary staff. Begin solicitation of food and medical equipment for in-kind donations.

March – April 2009: Develop promotion, integration, and media strategy. Create, design, and order t-shirts. Arrange medical waste disposal.