2023 Summer Camps
Family Camp and Family Camp Flipped
Family Camps 1 and 2 are for families with children ages 0-17 with T1D, while Family Camp Flipped is for adults with T1D and their families, friends, and significant others.
Set against the backdrop of the stunning Sequoia National Forest, Family Camp provides unparalleled diabetes support and community for the entire family. Family Camp at Bearskin Meadow Camp (BMC) offers an opportunity for families to relax, have fun, and learn about T1D together. During the mornings, kids with diabetes and their siblings go with their peers and camp counselors to fun activities such as archery, swimming, sports, diabetes education, and art. Our staff is trained in T1D management and most have diabetes themselves, so your kiddos will be in great hands!
While kids are off having a blast, parents and adults are in diabetes education sessions led by our amazing healthcare professionals. Session topics range from managing the emotional trauma and ongoing hardships of life with T1D, to tips and tricks for daily management, to sick day care, and more. In addition, before every meal our medical team will be available for “insulin line” where you can discuss changing insulin needs based on carbohydrate intake and activity levels. A huge benefit of Family Camp is having full access to an endocrinologist and diabetes care team for an entire week!
In the afternoons families will be together and can enjoy trips to nearby Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, do activities on camp, and spend quality time together. In the evenings families participate in a range of fun group programming including campfires, night hikes, talent shows, a camp dance, and more! (See Sample Program Schedules Here)
Family Camp is a week of recreational activities and diabetes education for children and teens (0-17) with T1D and their family members.
| Family Camp 1 | July 22-27 | Tier 1: $1,200/person
Tier 2: $600/person Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | All Ages |
| Family Camp 2 | July 29-August 3 | Tier 1: $1,200/person
Tier 2: $600/person Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | All Ages |
Family Camp Flipped has the same great programs as our Family Camp, but is designed for family members, friends, and partners supporting an adult with T1D.
| Family Camp Flipped | July 29-August 3 | Tier 1: $1,200/person
Tier 2: $600/person Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | All Ages |
Camp de los Niños
Camp de los Niños is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains and offers all the summer camp fun, closer to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Camp de los Niños (CDLN) is a fast-paced, high-energy week in the Santa Cruz Mountains for kids and teens with type I diabetes. Camp for ages 7-13 will run concurrently with camp for teenagers 14-17 with some activities involving the whole camp and others split by age. Activities include swimming, sports, zip lining, hiking, a rock wall, art, group games, diabetes education and more. Camp de Los Niños offers indoor cabins which may be more comfortable for youth without experience sleeping in the outdoors. Chartered bus transportation from San Jose, CA is included in the price of camp. (See Sample Schedule Here)
| Camp de los Niños | July 31-August 5 | Tier 1: $2,200
Tier 2: $1,100 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Loma Mar | Ages 7-17 |
Kids Camp
Kids Camp offers a safe, comfortable, and fun away-from-home experience for kids with T1D. Enjoy classic camp experiences such as swimming, archery, arts & crafts, games, dances, campfires and more…with a side of diabetes education!
Kids Camp at BMC is for youth with T1D ages 7-13 who are ready for an outdoor adventure in the Sierras! Kids will be grouped with peers their same age and always have camp counselors with them. Medical staff will join each group for meals, diabetes education sessions, and as needed. Campers will do fun activities such as archery, swimming, sports, art, campfires, and more. Everyone sleeps under the stars on open-air decks at Bearskin Meadow Camp, so Kids Camp is a good option for those who have some experience with camping and feel comfortable with an all-outdoor environment. Chartered bus transportation from San Francisco, San Jose, Concord, Fresno, and Modesto is included in the price of camp. (See Sample Schedule Here)
| Kids Camp | June 25-30 | Tier 1: $1,800
Tier 2: $900 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | Ages 7-13 |
Buddy Camp
Buddy Camp is a unique program built for kids who want to share the diabetes camp experience with a buddy or sibling that does not have T1D. (See Sample Schedule Here)
| Buddy Camp | June 18-22 | Tier 1: $1,800
Tier 2: $900 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | Ages 7-15 |
Teen Camp
Teen Camp is designed to support the lifestyle and social interests of high-school aged teenagers living with type 1 diabetes. teens will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including sports, visual arts, performing arts, and wilderness, and engage in new experiences together with friends.
Teen Camp will be fun, safe, and offer the joys of camp and community that this age group often desperately needs. The teens will choose a program area of interest to them and focus on developing those skills while at camp along with peers with similar interests. Program areas may include Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Sports, etc. Campers will have a Teen Education Day led by our medical team with candid diabetes-related conversations about the difficult situations teens face in high school and college.
Chartered bus transportation from San Francisco, San Jose, Concord, Fresno, and Modesto is included in the price of camp. (See Sample Schedule Here)
| Teen Camp
|
July 8-16 | Tier 1: $2,900
Tier 2: $1,450 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | Ages 13-17 |
Leaders in Training Programs
Leaders in Training programs are for older teens with or without diabetes who are ready to take the next step in developing their leadership skills.
We are proud to offer a two-year Leaders in Training (LIT) Program at Bearskin Meadow Camp. Participants may or may not have type I diabetes. Many graduates of the LIT program become paid summer staff at BMC once they turn 18!
Due to the necessary advanced preparation time for these specialized programs and a pre-acceptance interview for all applicants. All applicants who apply during this window will receive an interview regardless of the order in which applications are received. Participants will be selected and notified by March.
LIT 1 – The first year of the LIT program is for 16- and 17-year-olds and focuses on general leadership qualities and skills. The first week will be spent doing team building activities and shadowing camp staff while the second week will put those new skills to the test with integration into the kids’ groups at Family Camp for junior counselor responsibilities.
| LIT 1 | July 24-August 3 | Tier 1: $3,300
Tier 2: $1,650 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | Ages 16-17 |
LIT 2 – Year two of the LIT program is for 17-year old’s who have successfully completed LIT I the year prior. The program starts off at Staff Training as the LITs learn alongside the summer staff in topics such as advanced diabetes management, child development, and risk management. Some LIT-only fun will take place during the break between the end of Staff Training and the start of Kids Camp but then the challenge will really begin! LITs will be assigned a Kids Camp group and camp staff mentors to spend the week with; they will be in full counselor mode while learning in real time what it takes to care for a group of young kids with type I diabetes at summer camp. LITs will be challenged and will experience a lot of personal growth during this impactful program.
| LIT 2 (previous LIT program experience required) | June 14-22 | Tier 1: $3,100
Tier 2: $1,550 Tier 3: Scholarships Available |
Bearskin Meadow Camp | Age 17 |
Note Regarding Summer Camps
Independent Camps are ideal for youth with T1D who are ready to spend some time away from their family and gain some independence. Independent Camps also offer a much-needed reprieve to parents who are exhausted from 24/7 diabetes management. Kids will have a traditional summer camp in a safe environment surrounded by diabetes experts including camp staff with T1D, nurses, endocrinologists, general practitioners, dietitians, and certified diabetes specialists. All diabetes care will be fully supervised by our medical team and help with injections, pump and CGM site changes, and BG monitoring will be provided on varying levels based on each child’s comfort level.
Please feel free to call our office to discuss the right fit for your child so that we can ensure they are set up for success. Independent camp requires a certain level of maturity and readiness that not all kids currently have. We do generally suggest at least one year of Family Camp for families new to T1D and/or DYF, particularly if the child is on the younger side.
Registration for these programs begins on January 10th, 2023 and we hope to see you there!
If you have any questions about these programs, please reach out to the DYF Team at info@dyf.org or (925) 680-4994.
2023 Covid-19 Guidelines at DYF Programs:
In respect for your family’s health and safety, all DYF staff and volunteers will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and we encourage eligible participants to do the same. Our COVID-19 policies for 2023 programs will be made with current information from the CDC, state and local health authorities, and under the leadership of our Healthcare Professional Advisory Board. Specific guidelines and requirements will be tailored to each program and released at least 30 days prior to the program start date. Should you have any concerns about these guidelines once they are released and you no longer feel comfortable attending a DYF program, we will provide you with a full refund minus the $50 non-refundable deposit and the corresponding processing fee.