Educating, encouraging, and empowering children with diabetes and their families to live well.
Our Purpose
The mission of Southeastern Diabetes Education Services (SDES) is to educate, encourage, and empower children with diabetes and their families to live well.
Camp Seale Harris is our comprehensive diabetes education and support program that providing knowledge-based diabetes education, self-care skill-training, and peer support in hands-on recreational and social activities.
A diagnosis of diabetes is life altering for a child. Blood tests, carbohydrate counting, insulin calculations, injections and expensive medical devices quickly become a daily routine, just to survive. Many feel like they are the only ones trying to manage a never ending, 24/7 condition that doesn't feel "normal." But at Camp Seale Harris, Type 1 diabetes is normal. Over 600 kids and teens each year meet at a place where everyone knows diabetes. No one is the only one. And when diabetes disappears, they see what makes them special, not what makes them different.
Camp Seale Harris is not just one place on a map. It's year-round, shared experience and TID community. At medically-supervised camps in locaions throughout Alabama and NW Florida, campers try new things, learn the latest skills and diabetes technology, and make life-long friends.
Founded by Dr. Samuel Eichold in 1949 as the first diabetes camp in the South, Camp Seale Harris is now operated by Southeastern Diabetes Education Services, a 501c3 non-profit supporting children and families. Until there is a cure, Camp Seale Harris teaches kids to live well.
"My favorite thing about Camp Seale Harris is I'm not different or weird at Camp... Everyone has diabetes."
"At Camp Seale Harris I learned that my diabetes can't stop me from being healthy if I take care of myself."
Parent response to “What is the most significant benefit your child gained from Camp Seale Harris?”
“That she is not the only one out there dealing with diabetes on a daily basis.”
“Feeling like a normal child”
“My child looks forward to camp every year. The biggest benefit he receives is the constant learning that happens while he is simply enjoying the day."
“Learning to interact with his peers and talk about his diabetes. Just being away from home was a big deal.”
"Everything. From learning to be more independent when it comes to taking care of his health, to making close friends he keeps up with throughout the year, which I think gives him strength and encouragement knowing he's "not alone".
“My son came away knowing that he's not alone in this fight and there are many, many other kids just like him that have to deal with this. He is now better educated and has better practices in dealing with his day to day handling of his diabetes.”
"[My child] was able to participate in activities & not have to explain what her pump is, or what's "wrong" with her, or asked a million questions about diabetes. She was just like everyone else.”
Our 2023 Camp Seale Harris Overnight and Day Camps programs successfully met goals to improve the health of children with diabetes.
Sessions were staffed by volunteer healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, diabetes educators, cabin counselors, and activity leaders. The majority of counselors live with Type 1 diabetes, serving as peer models and teachers. Education stressed confidence building, consistency, treatment skills and decision making, and independence in diabetes care. Activities, education, and resources served needs of the child with diabetes as well as family members.
Volunteer Certified Diabetes Educators delivered excellent education sessions focused on hands on learning. Counselors and medical staff provided individual instruction to campers as "teachable moments" occurred. Key goals included training in nutrition, physical activity, and medication management utilizing insulin injections, pumps, and Continuous Glucose Monitors. "Diabetes Technology Educators" worked one-on-one with children helping them understand how to effectively utilize insulin pumps, glucose meters, and continuous glucose monitors. Our outcomes surveys showed that we made great progress in all areas, especially in “self-management of diabetes” and “knowledge of diabetes.”
A total 237 adults volunteered to serve as volunteer camp medical and activity staff, 91 of whom were living with Type 1 diabetes, demonstrating effective diabetes management, mentoring, and inspiring our children. The campers were motivated and empowered by the examples and the specific strategies taught by the daily struggle with Type 1 diabetes.
At camp, kids learned about taking care of Type 1 diabetes every day and experienced the latest advances in diabetes technology. We focused on basics like giving insulin shots, insulin pumps, checking blood sugar, counting carbs, and how much insulin is needed. We learned how to get the most from “auto-mode” insulin pumps, and how to adjust for activity levels or diabetes emergencies. Medical staff used a state-of-the-art network to monitor campers wearing continuous glucose monitors day and night. Most importantly, campers learned independence and were empowered by the knowledge that they can do it. This is the secret sauce that keeps them happier, healthier, and safer after they go home.
Campers experienced fun activities like canoeing, swimming, ziplining, fishing, and horseback riding, all in a place where diabetes is normal. Friendships were built in same-age cabin groups mentored by young-adult counselors who also live with T1D. No one is the only one. And when diabetes disappears, every kid can show what makes them special, not what makes them different
Sixteen-year-old Emsli returned to camp for the second time this summer. “My favorite part about Camp Seale Harris is that we’re like a little family,” she says. “Everyone understands each other and everything we go through … I feel like everyone gets me.”
Nine-year-old Sam’s mom said, “This was my son’s first year. He was very well cared for, and I love knowing there are so many well-trained people there to monitor and treat him. I love that everyone is so excited, positive, and encouraging to campers and other counselors. I love getting a few days “break” without constant worry, carb counting, figuring out dosing, dealing with highs and lows, and stress over diabetes. He came home excited about getting an insulin pump! He’s more confident handling diabetes care in public now. Thank you for doing all this!”
Children are learning how to better manage their diabetes through their participation in our diabetes education camping programs. This reduces stress on the family, school teachers and nurses, and childcare providers. Improved diabetes management has been proven to lower hospital admissions and reduce long-term risk of health complications from diabetes.
For more information on diabetes, the children of Camp Seale Harris, and how you can help a child with diabetes live well and give hope to an entire family visit CampSealeHarris.org or click the link at the bottom of this page!
Email us at: info@CampSealeHarris.org
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