powered by:
aquaomega
d-camp: fun and inclusive home away from home for kids with diabetes
“it’s one of the only places where our kids aren’t thinking about diabetes, ironically."
6 minute read
tala (centre) and her friends being dropped off at d-camp for the 2025 summer season.
tamer sobeih
summer camp is a pivotal experience for children. being able to establish a level of independence, forge new friendships, and learn through new experiences is something all children should be able to participate in.
but for many children, going to a typical summer camp isn’t always the safest option. that’s where d-camp comes in—a specialized summer camp run by diabetes canada that brings together kids from all walks of life who share one thing in common: they live with diabetes.
“the overall look and feel of our d-camps experience looks very similar to what you would expect from a traditional summer camp down the road,” said lauren linklater, senior manager of the national d-camps program with diabetes canada. “but all of their diabetes care is taken care of. we like to say that the world runs on diabetes time.”
the camp programs operate similar to any camp, with children getting to participate in swimming, archery, mountain biking, rock climbing, and everything else you can think of when reminiscing about all the fun to be had at summer camps.
but their approach is tailored to a unique group of children and their families.
over 95 per cent of the program staff live with diabetes themselves, with 100 per cent of the staff undergoing significant training so they’re well versed in “everything from diabetes 101, diabetes at camp, their role in diabetes, as well as everything you need to know about facilitation, debriefing, lifeguard safety, safeguarding child protection, feelings of missing home, you name it,” according to lauren.
advertisement
essentially, diabetes canada has created a safe place for children to go where diabetes is always taken care of, but it’s never the elephant in the room.
for tala sobeih, who has been attending d-camp for half a decade, and her father, tamer sobeih, d-camp has been somewhat of a saving grace, offering two-fold benefits. tala gets to be away from home, establish independence, and form new friendships with other children who understand what it’s like living with diabetes. at the same time, tamer can put away his parental worries in the process.
“we don’t even think about the girls when they’re at camp. we know they’re in safe hands,” said tamer. “everything is so meticulously thought of, and they know exactly what they’re doing.”
according to lauren, “it also provides really critical breaks for our caregivers” in the sense that “it might be the only week where our parents and caregivers aren’t having to think about diabetes” themselves.
an enriching experience that takes the pressure off
for tala, much of her life revolves around managing her diabetes. from watching what she eats, counting carbs, and ensuring her blood sugar levels are where they need to be, it can be somewhat isolating. while she does have friends outside of d-camp, their lack of understanding of her condition can make it hard for her to relate to them in some ways.
sponsored by:
diabetes canada
advertisement
“if you went to a normal camp, you have to sit there, count your carbs by yourself. you’re kind of just on your own. no one’s really paying attention to the same things you are, food-wise and everything,” she said. “but at d-camp, it’s more of an everything thing. before eating, everyone would go to the same place to do the same thing as me. it’s not like only me doing it.”
with staff training and other children of various ages who are all familiar with the ins and outs of diabetes management, the entire experience revolves around diabetes in a way that makes it feel like less of a burden on campers’ shoulders.
“it takes off a lot of the pressure on me. it’s much easier just knowing that people are there to help you,” said tala.
while many who hear of d-camp may think that creating a camp dedicated to diabetes only puts the condition front and centre in the minds of the children who have it, it was designed in a very specific way to allow children who are constantly reminded of their condition in day-to-day life the opportunity to forget about it for a little while.
“it’s one of the only places where our kids aren’t thinking about diabetes, ironically,” said lauren.
when diabetes does come up, the conversations become so natural that it’s not clinical, or frightening, or another chore that they have to deal with.
advertisement
“you can see that growth in those organic conversations happening from walks between the cabin into the dining hall, of ‘oh, i think that i want to put my pump site here today. oh, that’s cool. do you want me to come with you?’ and nowhere in the world would you ever see two 10-year-olds having that type of conversation,” said lauren.
learning independence at d-camp
along with having fun away from home and taking a much-needed break from focusing on diabetes, the children at d-camp can also learn new insights into their condition, as well as potential new routes and tips for care.
tala and her family, for example, had been considering getting an insulin pump as a new route of administration, but never took the plunge. it wasn’t until tala eventually spoke to her friends about it at d-camp that she was able to take what she learned and make a new decision about her own care pathway.
“she met a lot of peers that have them, and she asked lots of questions and saw them, how they would use it throughout the day, or five consecutive days,” said tamer. “last year, she was like, decision is made, let’s go for the pump, and it was because of her being around other girls with the pump.”
it’s not just tala who has made such a revelation about her care from her personal experiences at d-camp. many children who attend without a specific set of skills related to their condition return home not only with new knowledge but also with the confidence to take control by learning how to insert a pump site or inject insulin needles for the first time without their caregivers’ help.
advertisement
“that can feel like such a brief moment, but that is such an incredible diabetes milestone,” said lauren. “it’s something that can potentially unlock a lot of things for our campers. it could be the difference of going to a sleepover for the very first time, or attending that class trip because there is an increased sense of independence and autonomy.”
creating a sense of belonging and community that lasts a lifetime
long after the summer is over, children at d-camp can reminisce about their experience, but memories aren’t the only positives they take with them when they leave.
tala has made countless friendships, many of whom she keeps in contact with throughout the year via her phone, on social media, and some who live close enough to hang out with each other outside of camp.
she notes that camp and the relationships she’s built by going help her feel less alone when managing diabetes.
“there are other people struggling with the same things you’re struggling with; it’s not only you experiencing this on your own, but it’s also other people,” she said. “it also just helps you a lot to understand what people are going through and how you can kind of relate to in a way than just your friends who are non-diabetic.”
advertisement
children who attend d-camps also get the chance to have their condition taken care of without it having to be centre stage. it’s an organic and natural part of everyday life for all the kids there, something that is often missing when they’re at home.
“they’re so often in a space where maybe they’re feeling isolated or feeling alone because they might be the only child in their school, or the only child on their sports team who is living with type 1 (diabetes), so they’re used to sitting out of activities or practice, or whatever that might be,” said lauren. “but everyone here is doing it. so, it’s that unifying factor without it being, let’s sit down and talk about our diabetes.”
the hopes for people like lauren and the others who have created and continue to be a part of d-camps are that the positive experience tala gains from attending is felt by all campers.
“i hope that at the end of the day, all of our campers are able to walk away feeling connected and knowing that they’re not alone and hopefully empowered to live their life and know that diabetes doesn’t have to be a barrier for wherever life takes them,” she said.
to learn more about d-camps, what they offer, and how to attend, you can visit the d-camps information section on diabetes canada.
share story
