Clara Barton Camp

“ I could say searched the world a thousand times to finds my rhyme, but I say, I already found it in our time, my haven in a heaven, a fire side and you…Good-byes, no such thing, only goodnight…" Good-Night A song about Clara Barton Camp by Allison Hubbard.

I just got back from camp (again) and I have to say ten years is not nearly enough time at Clara Barton Camp.  When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I was only 6 years old, and I was scared and felt very alone.  A friend of ours in the Lions' Club suggested that my parents take me and my brother to a family camp session the next month.  Being at Clara Barton made me feel like I belonged, and not only has the experience helped me, it has also helped my friends and family understand, and to help me with my diabetes.  While at camp instead of being homesick, I can say that for myself and many others, when I am home, I get camp sick.

I miss the sunshine filled days, Gaga (the best game in the world!), the pond, all of the campers, the cookie bake-offs, eating spoonfuls of peanut butter when your blood sugar is low…I do not know where to stop or where to begin.  In all my years as a camper, and now a staff member, I have never seen anyone not have fun at camp.  Between the camp dances with the Joslin boys (Camp Joslin is the boys camp right down the road, an equally wonderful place) and counselor auction, you never run out of things to do.  Singing songs by the campfires, dancing around the dining hall singing about a bog, boa constrictor, or a chicken in the air, and having a polar bear swim (swimming at 6-6:30 am) are just a few things that never lose their charm.  Friends made at camp are friends for life; the memories will always be there.  After waking each other up at 11:00 at night, or at 1:00am, to go to healthcare, or go to check blood sugars, you cannot help but look back and smile.  All I can say is, that now I cannot imagine my life without CBC, it is my home, and my family is there too.

Comments  

 

#3 kristi0819 2009-11-30 19:44

Hi! My name is Kristi Gallagher and I am not new to diabetes camping; however, it was my first year at the DECA conference and I learned alot and had a great time!!! Thanks to the hosts of the conference and all of those from the DECA who helped to make it a big success!! This past year was my 25th year at Camp Setebaid, and my second as the Program Director, I am looking for new and exciting programming ideas for both young and teen camps, so if you could share any of your own camp tricks with me I would greatly appreciate it:)

 

 

#2 shelleyyeager 2009-10-08 15:54

Well, I'm back at "camp" again. This time it's Camp Seale Harris in Jackson's Gap, Alabama. We are about to start DECA's annual conference. Camp folks are arriving from all over the country donned with their favorite camp t-shirt and ready to go to campfire tonight to share stories and songs. Tomorrow, we'll start a whole bunch of workshops that will help all of us prepare to make camp even better.

Diabetes camp staff share a special bond. At lunch today, just the early bird "setter uppers" were here, including young staff members from Camp Seale Harris. We were introducing ourselves and each of the young staff commented - "I've been here for 12 years," or "I've been here for nine years," or "I'm new, this was my sixth year." Well, you don't come back to a place you don't love for six, nine or twelve years (unless you are a glutton for punishment). And the older folks? Some of us have been doing this for 20, 30, even 50 years!

What is the power of diabetes camp? Who knows, but what I know is that when you get diabetes camp people together (staff or campers), there's an incredible shared experience built on passion, friendship and fun. I'm excited to be in the land of grits and fried okra with fellow diabetes camp friends from across North America. And if you are home missing this, well - don't miss the next one. You need "the power."

 

 

#1 shelleyyeager 2009-09-29 11:42

Reading Allison's piece about Clara Barton Camp makes me remember my eighteen years there. As Director, I witnessed the power of camp and its influence on thousands of campers and staff. I worked alongside passionate volunteers who believed in making a difference.

Today, I'm excited that DECA's new website can bring camps worldwide together. There are over 400 diabetes camping programs out there. They serve tens of thousands of campers and their families. I hope you will use this website to get and give resources that will help other camps; communicate with your camping community, reach out to camps in need and stay connected with camp friends.

Let's all try to use this website actively so that when camp is not in session, we can still work together to enhance our own programs and help others expand. Let's live and love camp like Allison and so many others.

 

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