About Us – Diabetes Education & Camping Association

About Us

Our Mission

The Diabetes Education & Camping Association (DECA) unites and advances the diabetes camp community with networking, education and innovation.

Our Vision

A World Where Everyone with Diabetes has a Place to Belong!

Happy camper with Type 1 Diabetes

Core Values

Dedicated

We are dedicated to persons living with diabetes and to the diabetes camp and retreat community.  We provide personal and professional experience and knowledge about diabetes, and support to the diabetes camp and retreat community.

Equity & Inclusion

We welcome all who are impacted by diabetes and are committed to listening, learning and ensuring that opportunities at diabetes camps and retreats meet unique individual needs. Our vision is a world where everyone with diabetes has a place to belong.

Collaboration

We are a robust infrastructure of collaboration, training and best in class resources that facilitates cutting edge diabetes camp and retreat communities. We are a network of passionate individuals and organizations that understand the value and importance of camp for all who live with diabetes.

Authentic

We bring and welcome authentic and passionate leadership to the diabetes camping community grounded in honesty, integrity and quality.

DECA Leadership

Officers

Bill Vierbuchen,
Interim Board Chair

  • Executive Director, Camp Nejeda Foundation
  • Stillwater, New Jersey

Jenna White, BS,
Board Secretary

  • Executive Director, Diabetes Youth Foundation of Indiana
  • Indianapolis, Indiana

Derek Rowley, MBA, Board Treasurer

  • VP Operations, Form Health
  • Mill Valley, California

Directors

Danielle Abramson, PhD

  • Global Head of Intellectual Property Strategy & Branding, embecta
  • Towaco, New Jersey

Megan Castellano

  • Managing Camp Director, American Diabetes Association
  • Arlington, Virginia

Stephen Dauchert

  • The Redwoods Group, Chief Marketing Officer
  • Durham, North Carolina

Katie Doyle

  • AVP, Corporate Partnerships, JDRF
  • Naperville, Illinois

Phyllis Kaplan

  • Community Engagement Manager, JDRF
  • Camp Nejeda Alumna
  • Boston, Massachuetts

Ryan McDonough, DO, FAAP

  • Pediatric Endocrinologist & Co-Medical Director, Children’s Mercy – Kansas City, Diabetes Center
  • Kansas City, Missouri

Maggie Pfeiffer, BA

  • Associate Director, Strategy and Operations, Eli Lilly
  • Indianapolis, Indiana

Melissa Rearson,
MSN, CRNP

  • Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Fort Washington, Pennsylvania

Kyle Jacques Rose, MA

  • Founder & Managing Director, Delta PM Diabetes
  • Lawndale, California

Kat Shreve

  • Diabetes Camping Executive Leader
  • Marietta, GA

Staff

Lisa Gier

  • Executive Director
  • Boise, Idaho

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At DECA, our mission is to help everyone find their place in the world of diabetes camps. Diabetes finds its way into all walks of life, and therefore, diabetes camps must strongly commit to welcome all into their services and programs. We are dedicated to staying true to our mission by ensuring our camps are seen as anyone’s camp.

DECA will continue to remain current with the knowledge needed to remain sensitive to the impact of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity. We value and understand the need to actively promote and enhance diversityequity and inclusion among our campers, counselors, and staff.

This commitment will make our camps and the world a better, stronger place.

Corporate Information

Private Non-Profit Corporation

The Diabetes Education and Camping Association is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3, private non-profit, charitable corporation. 

View our IRS Determination Letter of Charitable Status.

View our IRS Form 990.

Florida Registered Charity – A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling Toll-Free 1-800-HELP-FLA or online at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. Registration #: CH47189.

For more information, please contact us at info@diabetescamps.org