TYLER, Texas — Registration has opened for children age 6 to 17 with diabetes for the second annual Diabetes Day Camp hosted by Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Registration is open until Friday, May 31 and costs $75 per camper.
According to the Children's Miracle Network, there are thousands of East Texas children with diabetes who are unable to participate in traditional summer camps due to health concerns.
"For these kids, and for our kids last year, it was a chance to meet kids that have diabetes," Rebecca Meester, pediatric diabetic educator nurse, said. "They've never been around anybody who has it before."
This year's camp will be held on June 18 to 20 at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Tyler. Medically trained staff and nurses will be present to assist campers by monitoring blood sugars and tend to the health needs of children.
"A lot of these kids are just getting started in their diabetic journey, and others have been at it for quite a few years," Shelby Hooten, pediatric diabetic educator nurse, said. "And so it's just kind of all coming together to really show these kids that they're not alone, that there are other kids that are having the same struggles and going through shared experiences with them."
In addition to activities like water parks and scavenger hunts, the Children's Miracle Network will be educating campers on the struggles of diabetes and how to take care of the needs that come with a diabetes diagnosis.
The Diabetes Day Camp is made possible by community donations toward the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System. Anyone interested in registering their child can do so here.