YOUR FIRST CAMP EXPERIENCE STARTS HERE
What to Expect
For many families, Camp Hickory Hill is their child's first experience away from home with diabetes. We understand that can feel both exciting and a little overwhelming.
From the moment campers arrive, they are welcomed into a supportive community where diabetes is understood, friendships come naturally, and every child is encouraged to grow in confidence and independence.
While every day is filled with new adventures, campers quickly settle into a routine that combines fun, friendship, learning, and expert diabetes care.
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Camp begins with a welcoming check-in process where families meet camp staff, medical volunteers, and counselors. Medical information, medications, insulin supplies, and diabetes management plans are reviewed to ensure each camper receives the support they need throughout the week.
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After check-in, campers move into their cabins and meet their counselors and fellow campers. One of the most meaningful parts of camp is discovering they are surrounded by other children who understand what it is like to live with diabetes.
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Each day includes a variety of activities designed to help campers build confidence, try new things, and have fun. Campers enjoy swimming, outdoor games, climbing activities, arts and crafts, campfires, nature exploration, and much more.
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Campers learn diabetes management skills naturally throughout the week. Whether checking blood glucose levels, counting carbohydrates, or discussing challenges with peers and medical staff, campers gain confidence while developing greater independence.
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By the end of camp, campers leave with more than memories. They return home with new skills, greater confidence, stronger independence, and a supportive community that continues long after camp ends.
Adventure Around Every Corner
Every day at Camp Hickory Hill is filled with opportunities to explore, learn, and have fun. Campers enjoy a wide variety of activities designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork, and create unforgettable memories.
Whether they're climbing the rock wall, cooling off in the pool, creating tie-dye masterpieces, exploring the woods, participating in team challenges, or gathering around the campfire, campers are constantly discovering new strengths and interests.
Many campers arrive feeling nervous about trying new things. By the end of the week, they are often surprised by what they have accomplished and eager to take on their next challenge.
Learning Confidence Through Experience
At Camp Hickory Hill, diabetes education doesn't happen only in classrooms or lectures. It happens throughout the camp experience.
Campers practice real-life diabetes management skills every day while participating in the activities they love. They learn how to check blood glucose levels, count carbohydrates, recognize patterns, make informed decisions, and develop greater independence with the support of experienced medical staff and counselors.
Perhaps most importantly, campers learn from one another. For many children, camp is the first time they meet other kids who wear insulin pumps, use continuous glucose monitors, or face the same daily challenges of living with diabetes.
Those shared experiences often become some of the most meaningful lessons campers take home.