Diabetes Education & Camping Association
12557 New Brittany Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Office Phone:
+1 239-984-3554
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Get Involved
Get Involved
You can find a role in helping DECA and our member organizations give children living with diabetes the very best in diabetes education, support and care.
Join DECA!
As a DECA member, you can
- Network with other members
- Receive a discount for attending the annual conference
- Access members-only resources
- Be on the list to get periodic newsletters and offers
And more!
Monetary Support
Our member camps and DECA are always challenged with fundraising and donations to support critical missions, and meet the needs of all children living with diabetes. No camp wishes to turn away a child or family because of money. You can make a difference in the life of a child with your gift!
Corporate Support Opportunities
Valued corporate supporters invest in our training programs, education resources, networking opportunities and operating support of diabetes camps. These initiatives help diabetes camps as they provide encouragement, education and motivation to children living with diabetes and their families. We are sincerely thankful for their support!
Volunteer!
“I just received your letter thanking me for volunteering for camp. But, honestly, I should be thanking you. I learned so much and had a BLAST.”
Each diabetes camp and program has different needs for volunteer staff. All equip their volunteers with the training and supplies they need to succeed, and require background checks, interviews and references. Please look for a camp that interests you in our “Find A Camp” directory and learn about its specific needs and application process.
As a general guideline, here are the typical volunteer roles at camps and programs:
- Cabin Counselors: Two to three counselors guide and provide oversight for 8-10 campers. Counselors live in cabins or bunks, sharing meals and activities with their campers. They help each child make friends and get the most from new experiences, and they guide behavior. The day starts shortly after dawn, and ends when all are sleeping. Cabin counselors report each child’s blood glucose levels, carbohydrates consumed, activities enjoyed and other factors to clinical caregivers. Counselors are assigned to colleagues and cabins based on experience, personality and knowledge about diabetes.
- Logistics and Activity Staff: These volunteers put the fun in camp by setting up activities and evening programs, delivering mail and iced water, leading games and sharing skills (arts and crafts, sports, cooking, and more). Here’s where your creativity or organizational skills flourish. You may also be assigned to work directly with campers, providing breaks to cabin counselors.
- Medical Personnel: Camps need nurses, doctors, dietitians, social workers/psychologists and other medical professionals. Some medical staff members are devoted to general health needs (skinned knees, sore throats) and some specialize in diabetes management and education. Camps have standards for who is able to make insulin dosing and other critical diabetes management decisions. Oversight is provided by the most experienced on the medical staff, and support abounds for new medical volunteers.
In between program sessions, our member organizations can also use help from
- Office Volunteers
- Event Volunteers
Please check out the websites of organizations of interest to you, via our Find A Camp directory.