Florida Children’s Diabetes Camp

The Florida Diabetes Camp for children location is 898 Camp Winona Road DeLeon Springs, FL 32130.  YMCA Camp Winona has been home to the Florida Diabetes Camp since 1990. Winona is located in a rural setting on Lake Winona just outside of the Ocala National Forest.

The diabetes camp provides camping experiences for children with Type I diabetes. Campers are divided into two groups according to ages. One week of campers accommodates ages 9 through 12. One week is assigned for ages 12 through 14. There is also weekend diabetes camps for children and their families that are involved in providing care of a child with diabetes.

Florida Diabetes Children camp depends on volunteers. All sessions are staffed by pediatric endocrinologist, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, diabetic educators, dietitians, mental health counselors, and psychologists. All volunteers have their backgrounds checked and screening. They attend training in diabetes management. Some of the volunteers have attended the camp when they were young. This is a positive experience for the children to interact with campers that attended when they were young.

There are many fun activities for the children while attending the camp. Swimming, canoeing, sailing, water slide. There is a nature walk and archery classes. The children play team sports, cabin challenges, beach parties, dances and scavenger hunts.

The children are assigned a cabin. The cabins are equipped for the child to have special space for diabetic management in a quiet zone. The cabin for meals is set up so each child calculates their carbohydrates and monitored by the counselors. Each counselor carries a backpack at each activity with the child’s individual medical records and emergency supplies.

story submitted by Lion Fran Pullin, Lake Alfred Lions Club

Editor's note - see photo gallery for pictures