MUSKOKA, ON – A local camp that helps hundreds of families with children inflicted with Type 1 diabetes each summer is holding an open house.
Camp Huronda, located in Huntsville, is the only camp operated by Diabetes Canada throughout the entire summer. The facility houses roughly 450 kids aged seven to 17 each year.
The facility is holding an open event Sunday, June 23, for families to come and see what they are all about.
Lauren Linklater is the manager of the camp and said there will be activities as well as an information session.
She got involved when she was eight-years-old as a camper after being diagnosed with the condition at five.
“As I like to say, sometimes diabetes is the most challenging 24-hour job that you are ever going to face,” Linklater said. “It faces a lot of stigmas. People are often misinformed about diabetes as a whole. They aren’t aware of the challenges people living with Type 1 and those supporting them face on a day-to-day basis.”
The camp manager said it is set up to support the kids 24/7. There are 26 people on the medical staff which range from doctors to nurses, dieticians, medical students and a social worker.
“On top of that, we have a massive program team who are committed to supporting all the children and youth living with Type 1,” Linklater said.
The manager added she knows first hand how important the camp can be for kids who feel out of place in regular social situations.
“It is super important to me and I recognize that I may be biased here,” Linklater said. “The community and support we offer is so special and so unique. It’s an opportunity for those living with Type 1 who often feel isolated to feel part of a community and that they’re not different from everyone else.”
She compared life with the condition when she was younger to learning a skill set that no one else at that age around her had to learn. She said while she was with other kids being taught how to hold a pencil and tie her shoes, she was also learning how to give herself insulin shots and recognize the signs of high blood sugar.
Linklater added new technology has made living with Type 1 diabetes much more bearable for a lot of people, but it is still something no one with the condition can turn off.
“It is something always going on in the back of your mind. Sometimes you have to ask yourself if you’re thirsty or if it is just high blood pressure.”
The manager added the camp gives parents a piece of mind that their children are safe and well taken care of. Linklater said it is often the only time parents get a chance to go on vacation, because taking care of a child with Type 1 diabetes is a full-time job.
Anyone looking to donate can do so online at Diabetes Canada’s website.