Big Shots Camp
2024 Camp Dates: June 20-24, 2024
Designed for campers ages 13-17
What is Big Shots?
Big Shots is designed specifically for T1D campers aged 13-17, combining traditional summer camp activities with fun and interactive diabetes education. Age-appropriate programming gives campers the ability to bond and relate to one another in a traditional camping environment. Each year's theme brings a new set of activities, so whether it is your first year or not, there is always something new to try! Some of our regular activities include:
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Heated Pool and Diving Well
- Archery
- Tie Dye and Crafts
- 50ft. Alpine Tower
- Talent Show
- Water Slide/Slip N Slide
- Theme-based closing activity (Mechanical Bull, Rollerskating Trip)
Our staff is comprised of nurse practitioners, nurses, CDEs (certified diabetes educators), young adult counselors, a registered dietitian, and mental health support staff. Most of our staff manage diabetes or treat patients with type 1 diabetes every day. Nearly all our counselors live with Type 1 themselves! They are highly qualified and are great mentors to our campers. Ordinary interactions become diabetes teaching moments — we don’t need a classroom!
Included in the schedule for the week is diabetes education. We conduct hands-on activities and watch for real life education opportunities to teach diabetes skills such as practicing carb counting, trying new injection sites, cooking classes and opportunities to ask about growing up with Type 1 diabetes. We combined fun games and group discussions to make sure that the campers leave camp with extra tools to manage their disease. We have also worked with people living with T1D who are professional athletes, firefighters, top-charting musicians and more to speak to our campers and inspire them to reach for the stars.
We strive to make sure that every kid is having fun and learning at camp. We are proud that 100% of our camper parents would recommend camp to another family. If you have questions or concerns about Big Shots Camp, please contact our Camp Director, at 419.291.1238 or [email protected]
A typical day at camp looks like:
9:00 am – Breakfast/Dosing
10:00 am – Canoeing | Archery | Craft
12:45 pm – Lunch/Dosing
2:00 pm – Swimming
3:00 pm – Snack/Change/Break
3:30 pm – Free Time | Alpine Tower| Softball
5:45 pm – Break
6:30 pm – Dinner/Dosing
7:30 pm – Group Discussion – Teen Issues & Diabetes
8:30 pm – Snack/Talent Show
10:30 pm – Cabin Time
11:30 pm – Lights out
Big Shots Resident Camp Fee: $600
Pictures from Big Shots 2023: Through the Decades
