Diabetes Institute’s Cat Camp 2024 connects youth in southeastern Ohio through education and community

From June 10-14, the Diabetes Institute's Cat Camp opened its doors to children and adolescents across southeastern Ohio, offering a unique blend of education, camaraderie, and fun for those living with type 1 diabetes. The camp aims to empower young participants by enhancing their diabetes management skills while fostering friendships and a sense of belonging.

Cat Camp is more than just a summer retreat—it's a lifeline for youth in the area facing the daily challenges of type 1 diabetes. The camp, organized by Ohio University’s Diabetes Institute, provides a safe and supportive environment where campers aged 8 to 17 can connect with peers who share similar experiences. Although the camp is mainly for kids with type 1 diabetes, there has been an increase in kids with type 2 diabetes wanting to attend.

“Cat Camp is an opportunity for kids in our region living with diabetes to see that they are not alone,” Dr. Amber Healy, associate clinical professor in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the camp’s medical director, said. “Some of these kids are in classes or in schools where there are no other kids or few kids that they know who also have diabetes. It is also an opportunity to have fun in an environment where everyone is counting their carbs, dosing insulin for lunch, and being monitored for low blood sugar. Kids learn from camp that they may need to adjust insulin doses if they are going to be really active to prevent low blood sugar.”

Throughout the week, attendees participate in a variety of activities designed to educate and inspire. Mornings are dedicated to interactive workshops led by healthcare professionals, where campers learn essential diabetes management techniques, such as blood sugar monitoring, insulin administration, and nutrition planning. Afternoons are filled with outdoor adventures and team-building exercises, including hiking, climbing the rock wall at Ping, canoeing, and arts and crafts. Camp also ended with a talent show which has now become a tradition.

Kelli Radford, a mom of one of the campers, emphasized how influential the camp was on her 10-year-old son, saying after the first day he was so happy he was already asking if he could attend next summer’s camp and wishing it lasted longer.

“It was really nice for Blake to be able to connect with other local kids who have Type 1 Diabetes and truly understand all he goes through every single day. As a parent of a T1D child, it’s always hard for me to relax when I’m not with him but knowing that camp staff handle T1D like a boss allowed me to have the peace of mind away from him that I rarely get. Cat Camp was a wonderful experience, and we can’t thank the Diabetes Institute enough for all they do,” Radford added.

This year’s camp welcomed 19 campers from 10 different counties in Ohio and West Virginia. Out of the 19 campers, 10 were returning with three having attended camp for five or more years.

According to Healy, something that makes this camp the highlight of her summer is watching the returning kids grow and change every year, both in education and height, as well as seeing what the new campers take away after the five days. A sentiment echoed by the Director of Operations for the Diabetes Institute Karie Cook.

“Witnessing campers grow in their diabetes self-management confidence during the camp week is very rewarding,” Cook, who is also the director of camp, said. “Campers return year after year and become an encouragement for younger campers and those who have had a recent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The camp environment demonstrates the importance of building a supportive community for youth with type 1 diabetes and their families allowing them to learn from each other and build enduring friendships.”

Cook and her team were the primary catalysts behind creating this camp six years ago. They wanted to provide children with diabetes from the region an opportunity to experience a safe and educational environment without the need to travel far.

“There are overnight experiences toward central Ohio that are great, but overnights can be intimidating to some families, so this camp provides a little different type of experience,” Healy added.

Cat Camp 2024 was made possible by generous support from OhioHealth, Gallia Community Foundation/FAO, Marietta Community Foundation, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons, Camp Angels, Lions Club District OH7, Sisters Health Foundation, Shrivers Pharmacy and Wellness, OmniPod, Dexcom, and private donors. Funding and donations support camp scholarships and keep registration costs low for families.

For more information on next summer’s Cat camp and 2025 registration, visit https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/diabetes-cat-camp.