CAMP FOR CHILDREN LIVING WITH DIABETES
We are proud to offer a summer camp for children living with diabetes. Camp Ko-Man-She is held annually (typically in July) for children with diabetes.
Camp is held at the beautiful YMCA Camp Willson Outdoor Recreation Center, located just outside of Bellefontaine. The staff of Camp Willson is wonderfully accommodating, whether it’s the camp cook modifying meals for our campers’ needs, or the Conference Director helping to work exciting new activities into our camper’s schedule.
Children enjoy a variety of camp activities such as swimming, hiking, campfires, wall-climbing, archery, horseback riding, field games and culminating with a dance on the last evening. In addition to making new friends who are living with diabetes like themselves, diabetes education is woven into the fun, helping the children to become more knowledgeable and better skilled about how to manage their diabetes.
Camp Ko-Man-She
Since 1963, Diabetes Dayton has been offering summer camp for children. Its goal was and is to offer children living with juvenile or Type 1 diabetes an opportunity to enjoy a fun outdoor experience with other children like themselves in a safe, medically supervised setting.
Today, Diabetes Dayton partners with Dayton Children's Medical Center to bring together an exceptional team of doctors, nurses and registered dieticians who, in addition to our terrific counselors, provide quality care 24-7 for our campers. Not only does staff receive special training and undergo background checks, but almost all of our counselors are young adults who attended camp themselves as children, so they understand what it’s like growing up with this disease as well as the value of camp. Most even take a week’s vacation to come out and work with the children. Campers endure 6-8 fingers sticks a day, along their required dosing of insulin shots, but the emphasis is on making friends, having fun and becoming more confident.
This camp is funded by a grant from the Dayton Foundation’s Harmony Camp Fund, The Royal and Select Grand Council of Masons, Dougie Apple Tree Scholarship Fund, other generous donors and sponsors, and through agency fundraising.
Diabetes Dayton is an agency of LifeCare Alliance. 100% of the monies raised stay here locally to support programs like our 60 year old camp.
