Harrisburg Diabetic Youth Camp:
Philosophy

For over 30 years, the HDYC has first and foremost been a camp for children. Our primary purpose is to give each camper an enjoyable camping experience – the pond, trails, daily activities, camp songs, and evening campfires. Camp is a time to make new friends, keep the old, and meet new role models.

The difference at the HDYC is that every camper happens to have Type 1 Juvenile diabetes. Campers are able to experience life where everyone has diabetes (all of the campers and most of the staff). Having diabetes becomes the norm, not the difference. Diabetes care is built into the program as a part of the daily camp day. We know how to fit blood glucose monitoring in with the fun, how to teach by example, and how to deal with high and low blood sugars. We can help children give their first injection, help with new pump sites, or help teens begin to grasp the principles of keeping their blood sugar in balance despite changes in schedule and activity levels.