Type 1 Residence Camp

Education at Camp

Education Goals:
The camp setting is an optimal environment for campers to gain valuable knowledge and skills to improve their diabetes management. Diabetes education is integrated in all camp programming and takes advantage of many “teachable moments.” The primary educational goals of Camp Ho Mita Koda result in the development of lifelong wellness habits. Camp Ho Mita Koda strives to support, encourage and teach diabetes management skills in a fun, interactive and age-appropriate manner. Our diabetes education goals at camp are as follows:

• Campers will learn new skills and reinforce existing knowledge through planned participatory activities, observation, and individual and group instruction. Such activities may include swimming, boating, hiking, archery, climbing, and team building.
• Nutrition education will be offered as an elective activity at least one activity period each day.
• Diabetes education will be offered as an elective activity at least one activity period each day.
• Carb counting will be taught and reinforced at all meals and snacks. Grams of carbs will be used to determine overall carb servings.
• Campers will develop a sense of environmental awareness through interaction with the natural environment.
• Campers will improve self confidence, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution skills through the camp experience.

Nutrition Education:
Nutrition education occurs in all forms at camp. Dietitians, dietetic technicians, diabetes educators, and dietetic interns from DAGC and other institutions around Northeast Ohio are involved. The education that takes place most often is informal education. We take advantage of the teachable moments at camp. Informal education is done during swim period, while walking to the climbing wall, during breakfast, or even while fishing. Nutrition staff builds on nutrition activities done earlier that week and answer individual questions. All nutrition education is focused on healthy eating and is only to supplement the nutrition and diabetes education that is regularly occurring throughout the year.

Dietitians and nutrition interns are available to answer questions during check-in. The nutrition staff will go over the children’s completed diet history. A prescribed or set carbohydrate range will be used for each camper. If a carbohydrate range isn’t routinely used at home, the nutrition staff with determine one that is flexible, safe, healthy, and acceptable to the camper and their parents.

Carb counts will be provided on weekly menus and will be visual during meal time carb counts. Carbs will be counted at all three meals and all three snacks. At each meal, the nutrition staff will help each camper count carbs and ensure they are eating a healthy meal. This education is also a way to ensure the correct of amount of carbs are consumed to match the insulin coverage.

Each day the nutrition staff teaches a cooking class. The campers have the opportunity to sign up for these classes at the beginning of each week. We make healthy snacks, reduced fat recipes, and fun treats. The kids also learn about proper hand washing, food safety, and kitchen safety. The kids really enjoy these activities and most are very excited to make these items at home.

The nutrition staff also does nutrition education classes for the entire camp. These classes are interactive, age appropriate, and general. Main principals of diabetes education are covered like carb counting, heart healthy eating, physical activity, and the food guide pyramid. This is also a time that we would address any special dietary issues like food allergies and intolerances. We cover celiac disease in almost every session.