Camp Blue Hawk 2018

Send a child with type 1 diabetes to camp!

Camp Blue Hawk is a residential camp program for children and teens with type 1 diabetes that focuses on improving our camper’s quality of life. We do this by: increasing patients’ confidence and diabetes self-management skills; enabling children with diabetes to meet and share their experiences with each other; providing respite for families of children with diabetes; and most of all, having fun!

Camp Blue Hawk consists of two overnight camp programs: Summer Camp & Teen Retreat. Summer Camp is a 5-day, 4-night expreince for campers age 9-17. Summer Camp attendees enjoy a variety of camp activities including Gaga Ball, High Ropes Course, Swimming, Canoeing, and Diabetes Education. To sew what Summer Camp looks like, check out our 2018 Wrap-up Video below! Teen Retreat is a program focused specifically on teens with type 1 diabetes. The Teen Retreat is more of a support-group style experience with some fun adventure activities as well. 

We are excited to offer a medically-safe camping environment, supervised by OU Harold Hamm Diabetes Center - Children’s board-certified pediatric endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, nurses, registered dietitians, clinical psychologists, pharmacists, and medical counselors. These staff work together to create a camp experience that allows children with type 1 diabetes to connect with each other and learn valuable life skills, while also having the kind of fun associated with a summer camp, such as archery, hiking, arts and crafts, swimming, canoeing, ropes course and more.

The Need

Diabetes camps were the first illness-specific camps created; while the introduction of insulin changed what was once a terminal illness into a manageable disease, it required a tremendous amount of education to manage diabetes effectively. Camp Blue Hawk uses experiential and structured learning to instill self-discipline, promote self-confidence, and impart good disease management skills to prevent long-term health complications caused by type 1 diabetes. In addition, camp staff provide campers opportunities to work on character, self-esteem and self-confidence, all of which are critical components of child development and disease management.

In both our OKC and Tulsa clinics, we see a number of children who would benefit from camp, but cannot afford to pay for camp attendance. In fact, about 60% of our camper population experience significant financial barriers to attending a summer camp. While we do charge for campers to attend, no child is ever turned away because of a lack of financial resources. Your support of our campaign help us maintain that standard and care for as many children and teens as possible. 

How can you help?

It costs about $500 to cover the registration fee for one camper at Summer Camp - between the fun, camp experience and the medical supplies, medications, and expert personnel required to run a safe camping experience. Please consider making a gift – any amount helps us send another camper to camp! Other ways you can help include sharing this campaign through your social media or email relationships, or volunteering your time! Every dollar, share, or volunteer hour go a long, long way towards helping children with this chronic illness. Thank you!!