Partner Spotlight: American Diabetes Association
By Allie Hylton
August 30, 2024
Victory Junction is thrilled to announce a heartwarming success from our latest initiative: a summer camp session specifically designed for children with diabetes, in partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This exciting opportunity, which took place in August 2024, marked our first diabetes-focused camp since summer 2019. In this session, we proudly served 38 campers with diabetes, offering them a tailored and supportive environment to enjoy a full session of camp activities.
Our collaboration with the ADA was a significant step forward in our mission to cater to diverse medical needs. Working closely with ADA’s dedicated team of medical professionals and volunteers, we were able to integrate intentional diabetes care into our traditional camp schedule. This ensured that every camper could participate in our wide range of activities, including boating, fishing, arts & crafts, and horseback riding, while receiving the necessary medical attention.
The ADA’s involvement was instrumental in making this session successful. Their team, which included experienced medical staff and enthusiastic volunteers, joined forces with our Victory Junction Medical and Program Teams.
Together, they ensured that daily medical checks for diabetes were conducted without detracting from the campers’ opportunity to experience the spirit of Camp. This collaboration not only allowed campers to engage fully in all camp activities, but also allowed our teams to feel confident that every child’s diabetes-specific needs were taken care of by specialists.
One of the standout features of this camp session was the presence of ADA volunteers who accompanied the campers throughout the day. These volunteers played a crucial role in monitoring campers and providing additional support whenever needed. Their presence allowed us to maintain a vigilant eye on each camper’s diabetes management, ensuring they could enjoy all aspects of camp life without concern. Our camp programming remained diverse and engaging, featuring all of our traditional camp activities, including NASCARnival, unit chants, and dance parties. The integration of diabetes-specific care into these activities meant that every child could participate fully and safely, experiencing the joys of Camp while receiving the necessary medical support.
The feedback from campers and their families was overwhelmingly positive. Many parents expressed their gratitude for the thoughtful preparation and attention to detail that made their children’s camp experience both enjoyable and safe. Families appreciated the way our team and the ADA worked together to create a supportive environment where children with diabetes could feel included and cared for.
By adapting our programs to meet the specific needs of children with diabetes, we illustrated our dedication to providing a fun and fulfilling experience for all campers. The partnership with the ADA not only enhanced the camp experience for these children but also reinforced our mission to offer meaningful opportunities for kids with various medical conditions. As we look forward to future collaborations, we know that this successful session has set a new standard for how we approach specialized care in a camp setting, and we are eager to build on this success in the years to come
Our partnership with the American Diabetes Association has proven to be a remarkable step forward in our mission to provide inclusive and supportive camp experiences – specifically for the diabetes population. We are grateful for the chance to work with such a dedicated team and look forward to other opportunities to collaborate in the future.
